The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-22
WHERE IS THE WEST?
A Question Arising as to Where the
Line Should Fau-Ben Worsham's
Senseless Dog--Irritation.
Don't Toss the Baby-Fo1ded Hands
To Diminish, Noise-she was
q Contralto-so Wise.
AQuestioM in Ethical Geography.

II there is, as legend says there is,
eyes, as an "effete East" what are its
precise territorial limitsp In other
words. where does such an East really
end and the West begin? Or, to state
it still differently, at what point on the
map may one, if SO disposed, put ones
finger confidently down and say. "Here
is the spot where the etfeteness OF the
arrogant East abruptly ends, and in
its stead is the une.ypended fecundlty OF
a liberal, untrammeled West. While
the matter is not one that will, appar-
emily, in the immediate future give
rise to serious International complica
tfon, it is, nevertheless, of no little
domestic moment, and may, at some
'dislent day, even call for state inter-
ference and adjudication at tie hands
of a boundary commission, to be chosen
from the impartial outlying districts in
the extreme north and south.
In reality, the problem of geograph-
ical separation would be one extremely
difficult to solve to the complete salts
faction of all concerned. It is, for in
stance, not merely broad question
between Maine and Oregon, between
Eastport and Portland, or even, possi-
bly,, between New York and San Fran
cisco. On general grounds, it might
be admitted that somewhere in the in
teryening space the line would cer-
tainly fall. On somewhat closer ex-
animation, however, it will be found
that facts other and more minute than
mere latitude and longitude must be
seriously taken into consideration.
1t may even be not unfairly assumed
that the fundamental idea of East and
West itself is only relative, and cannot
be thus recklessly applied. Schenec-
tady, where Daisy Miller lived, is west
of Jersey City; and we all know that
Osffkosh lies far to the westward OF
Kalamazoo. If, in the inquiry thus
set on foot, the reasons for the neces-
sary distinction were still more closely
inquired into, it might even be shown
that they who have thoughtlessly used
the epithet in question themselves may
fall under it's ban.
When the division is finally made, i!
must be wholly irrespective of any
mere sectional prejudice, to which it
should rise superior. The West, it may
De SuppOscu, VIII dCCtpG tuc utSluoAI
joyfully; while the East, from the very
nature of the case, will be sure, wher-
ever the line is drawn. to regard it
with its accustomed equanimity. Only
those who, in possible redistribution,
may now, for The first time be includ-
ed under the term East will become
even little more intolerant than they
who have longer borne the name. For
purely practical reasons, apart from
mere sentiment. the distinction here
suggested ought soon to be made. 1t
was on the island of Grand Manan,
down in the Bay of Fundy, last sum-
mer, that a comment was made upon
the scarcity in the community o.
young people of both sexes. How il
it," we asked, ''that we see so few
young men andwomen here?" 'Well,
The captain replied, "a great man,
haye married and gone west.' "West?'
we said. "To what part of the West?
"Wen," said the captain, ''mostly tt
! ID