Omaha daily bee., 1892-09-02
Something About Mirage.


For the edificaton and instruction of GER
tain misguided democrats ana for their rocla-
nation, il possible, to the tranquil paths of
political sanity, it will be profitable to quote
some part of a description which an observer
furnishes to the Globe-Democrat Of ST.
Louis. He is writing about tho mirage land
of eastern Texas, where you can see what
you want without asking for it and without
gett ingit.
In that portion of the staked plain which
stretches from the Pecos river to the Pan
handle the atmosphere, this citizen reports
plays odd freaks and makes strange revela-
tions. When the sun is at the proper angle
for the purpose it is possible to see belt Of
timber where none exists. A ranch may be
lifted out of a valley and set on hill. A
sheep herder grows into gigantic proportions
and his lambs become eephantine. A railroad
train in the distance looms up 100 feet high
and appears to be about five miles long. Three
or four miles to the east OF the town of Md
land II 1t be about noon of a sunny day, the
stranger will see fine little city in the
midst of a glistening lake. The silvery
water moves in gentle ripples as if before
gentle breeze. About 800 windmllls are ap-
parentIy in motion above the city and it does
not seem that the tract they stand upon can
exceed a mile square. Around this city and
the lake IS fringe of dark green timber.
Beyond the timber is q boundless expanse OF
green grass. On the prairie cattle may be
seen grazing AS the train comes nearer the
cows appear to become mastodons. The
sheep seem to be woody horses. The build
lngs shoot up into the heavens. Tho wind
mills become Elffel towers, standing on moth
ing. The people walking across tho street
tread on air. There is general repeal OF
the law of gravity. The lake has suddenly
disappeared; the city vanishes; the trees
become men and the men trees.
Then the traveller steps upon real
wooden railway platform and out into the
dusty. sandy thoroughfare of a Texas town.
He experiences of a suuden all the disbcart-
enng sensations with which the rainbow
chaser is familiar on election night.
To the overheated imagination of the polit-
ical mirage hunters endless cavalcades of
democratic recruits, deserters from the re-
publican camp are constantly marching to
the strains Of inspiring music toward the
democracy in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ne
braska and Minnesota. These states are
afame with excitement and enthusiasm.
The democratic vote is growing like Jacks
bean stalk, and the repubica vote is rap
idly shriveling into nothingness.
tariff reform circular expands until it
covers whole state like panvply. A free
trade speech, uttered 10 shrill and piping
accents to an audience OF three dudes, a
small boy and an unnaturalzed tourist from
Canada, becomes trumpet blast, in tones of
thunder reverberating through valleys and
hillsides, and calling myrads of political
volunteers from forge, loom, anvil, work
bench and factory. BY this mirage mem
ber of the New York Reform club appears
to be six feet high. His placid eyes dilate
with the fury of battle. His spike-tail coal
becomes sharpened to point and he re-
sembes the devil of fellow, his bangs
turned to horns and his crutch cane phan-
tom spade, with which he hurs the whole
republican vote into the bottomless pit of
oblivion.
AT closer vision things change, and this Is
what appears to the sober-minded citizen
divested OF his mirage phantasy: