The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-06

"~'N IVY
AT THE FARM
day the prospects in the state for con-
tinued prosperity in the great field Of
agriculture are most cheering. And to
whom do we look with more anxiety for
our own veal than the farmer? Is he
not the only man who produces food
sufficient for himself and others? We
cannot eat the wares Of Mr.. Tiffany, nor
yet the beautiful fabrics of Worth. We
must look to the farmer for our bread
and the Farmers Alliance for our fun.
Farmers Alliances are not always sue
cessful in subverting established polit-
ical methods, because it is difficult for
US to meet often enough to discuss and
consider questions of moment to us. /
am a member Of the Ashield (Mass.)
Farmers club. So is Mr.. Curtis. And
vet have not been able to attend for
over a year Ny farm is situated in
Buncombe county, n. c. 1t is an OBJ
hque farm, with a fender on the lower
edge to keep the potatoes from falling
into George Vanderbilt's farm, which is
below mine on tho French Broad river.
After hard days work on this upright
farm am too worn out to attend a
meeting of the Alliance or even of our
club.
1t is so with other farmers. We rise
very early, work hard, take only an
hours incoming, and at night we are SO
WORN out that as soon as our chores are
done we are glad to leave the country in
the hands of those who have nothing
else to do That is why we fall ready
victims to the wiles of those who are in
the vile business.
We visited Rockford, H., the other
day, but when we left we were more so.
Rockford is a charming town, and when
she gets her new hotel completed the
necessity Of taking tent when visiting
the place will have been obviated. I
have been gladdened the past year by
noting. not only privately but even in
the press. the fact that American hotels
were improving every day. But Rock
ford has an inn at the present time that
would give the cave jewellers rheuma-
tism, paresis and cockroaches.
How an old established hotel can drift
away into such state of stale, senile
and soapless gloom | do not know. It
is as sad as it is to go and look upon the
wreck Of great man whose digestion
has outlived his thinker.
What can be sadder than large hotel
in the hands of receiver and cock
roach? What can cast a bigger gloom
than dark and forbidding hotel with
the bouquet of bygone cabbage in every
corridor and low order of animal life
sharing ones room, but refusing to share
the cost?
Chicago is so well provided with ex-
cellent hotels that places like Aurora
and Rockford. within short ride from
the city. are apt to suffer. | was afraid
at one time that Aurora might get the
Democratic convention, and | knew that
the Bishop House could not accommo-
date those who would naturally come.
We were there this winter. | had
cupboard there at two dollars per day,
and my copartner had the rOtunda
thereof at the same price. We had TO
step into the hall to brush our hair, but
there was radiator in my room that
would have heated the Auditorium. 1t
was one Of those radiators that seems to
have pulmonary difficulty during the
day and then TO sit MP and rlvet itself
during the night. We could not get tea
IN the dining room because some people
had come from q neighboring town to
hear our oratorio, and that filed the
dining room so that we could not get in.
But Aurora will certainly have a hotel
with more room some day. She is too
good business town TO suffer that way
for very long.
Chicago is getting ready for the con-
vention, and Judge viii not lie awake
nights thinking about where she Will
put her guests. Excellent hotels have
been added to the list in the past few
years. and older ones have been reftted
and refurnished throughout and ashes
placed on the sidewalk in front of each
entrance. Refinement is noticeable ev-
ervwhere The arm Is not inserted II
the finger bowl 50 Tar now. even on tne
West Side. Is i WAS tive years ago. and
it is no uncommon thl4g to see guest,
while removing foreign substances from
be teeth conceal himself behind his
napkin, as tnsv 40 N Europe. Wcui1
no more think now Of throwing NUT
too bone under the table. even on the
West Side. than | would at Mrs DE-
Feyster Todd MerGins. on West Fifty
seventh street, where | am very ofte,s q
guest, writing up the dinner IN frothy
and debcnsir manner and having The
privilege OF eating what is left over a
that hour.
Chicago is no longer making any spol
ogies. however. She doesn't seem u
have TO. If she can get rid of her sinoke
she need net worry about the futur