Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-05-02

The Union Pacific; The Pacific On
ion; Topeka Memorandum
It was raining great warm, fruitful
showers out of briskly hurrying clouds
ON the evening of April 10th inst. when
your correspondent donned watershed,
and with escort hied away to the east
bound Union Pacific train. Within an
arc of lore, s'to the public" the result our
import of which was "quid pro quo" we
were officially vested with the right OF
live weight, first class transportation, Wa
Keeney to Topeka, Kan. At 6:45' OF
thereabouts, that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
bred of the ages, steel ribbed and brass
limbed, with impetuous dash brought up
the train O. wheeled palaces Through the
hospitable doors, the traveller, entering.
finds comfort, kindness and courtesy.
To those philosophers who have urged
that there is nothing ina name We sug-
Qest the argumentum ad hominem, self
introspection.
There is more than magic in the word
pacific, whether falling on the tympanum
from the lips of impassioned speech, or
borne by the eye to that wonderful labo-
ratory where live the realities of THE NOR
tai sphere. T here is world Of safety, of
solace and sobriety in the term.
The pacific Union Of states traversed
by the Union Pacific railway, presents the
Rrandest landscape which genius may
ever essay to delineate.
Relics from ruins, older than the theo-
logy of many peoples, proclaim pro-
gress in art rivalling the best OF the pre-
emit age; but no excavation of buried city
or crumbled pile has yet disclosed a pal
ace car. Until new and superior ideal
shall fruit from the blooming, fragrant
progress of this generation, it seems i'm
possible to excel the art or elegance of a
modern palace car.
I am here reminded that palaces are
not pacific prophecies to any people, but
must dismiss this reflection with the re-
mark that there is no good but may be
perverted to greater evil.
The palace car in Kansas, however. is
open alike for rich and poor, learned and
unlearned, upon the payment of one
price, and that established by the people.
Probably no where else are the diversi-
ties OF human pursuits so strikingly pres
ented. The laborer and the professionals,
the farmer and the wealthy idler, all take
passage. Poverty and aff1uence. mendi-
cant and millionaire, erudition and igno-
rance, chastity and lust, lamb and
vulture, honesty and venality, power and
imbecility, honor and disgrace, innocence,
purity and beauty; guilt, corruption and
deformity; each pays the fare and rides.
But for that Pacific Union of States this
incongruity of deathless antagonisms
were impossible. Thus, however, in that
crucible where gold and dross are for
ever dissolved, the silent, potent energies
of the race, are building the perfect
stature of noble manhood.
The musical prattle of children, the
tired complaining of weary babes, the ex-
blosives mirth of youth, the steady meas
ured speech of maturity, the linguistic
gymnastics of the colored porter, all COM
mingle to voice the heart of that moving
palace. Some with glad haste from long
absence were returning home; some
obeyed summons to the bed
side of the sick; one to meet her afianced;
some from business disaster thus were
turning in search of better fortunes; One
to escape her iege lord: some represent
ing the commerce of interior cities: some
in obedience to the voice of state. All
these lines and purposes interlace and
Irvine about the swiftly moving axis Of
our palace car.
The rain, soft spring rain, scattering
the window pane, and the voices within
oommingled with the buzz OF the flying
feet Of our speeding thoroughbred.
A few cleaning lights in thefarm house
windows tell the rate of our going, and in
a space little longer than you have been
leading we were at the division station of
Ellis.
Still the gentle rain is falling, and its
spell has given sweet and gentle cadence
to every sound. We must yield to moods
until we cease to be part of nature. 20
minutes during which supper is discussed,
our palace is swept and busted, some Of
our passengers reach their destination,
and other new ones get on board, and
again we 60, natures joyous tears
streaming down the window panes- :
Hays. City! Hays C-i-t-y-l lis the
pleasant annunciation made by the ubi-
quitous son of Ham; and again some get
of and others get on board as the patter-
ing rain still brightens hope in the Gold
en- Belt.
Thus quickly sped away the hours OF
the night, while the people went and