The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-11
A CHARA CTERIsFIC KANSAS Kick
The Inequalities and Philosophy of a
Chicago Search Light.

To the Editor of tie Eagle.
am Kansan. l never fully realized
that until [ came to Chicago. True l
was born IN the Sunfower state, but
there is another reason more potent than
the mere locality of birth l love to
feel miserable.
| Every true Kansas has a certain ca
pacity for feeling miserable. In order
to see this clearly, you needs must step
out Of the state and view it from dis.
| lance.
That is the first thing a Kansan sees
after he comes to Chicago. Behind the
marble palaces, the iveried equipages,
| the princely robes, he sees the contrast
| ed qualities of Kansas The rush of
business, the jostle of humanity, the
hurricane of noise, the stupendous drive
of commerce, which go to make up
what a civilized savagery calls city, is
interesting enough and may attract
your eyes, but the mental reflex of it all
will deal, in spite of you, with the social
forces it engenders. The eye sees a
sixteen story building of marble, steel,
stone, bronze and silver. 1t is a monu-
mental structure worthy any mans
visual admiration. A man would be
either knave or fool not to admire it,
with the eyes.
But once seen, his mind immediate
ly, as higher court receives the case
and begins rigorous examination. Who
built this palce? A single man.
How? With great riches. Are there
not worthy people, five blocks away,
very poor? Yes, and starving, The
verdict of the eyes is reversed. The
building is not worthy of admiration.
say that the social diffsrentiations
the class excessively atfluent, the class
hopelessly INDECENT, first revealed to me
and glorifed the Kansan's capacity for
feeling miserable, the native inclination
to protest.
When a Kansan comes to Chicago, he
learns to love the people of Kansas for
their habit of protesting against the ex-
listing condition of affairs, which, in be-
ing stagnant, suffers the Inroads of
dangerous enemy. The name of John
Brown sounds with a new reverence.
The political revolutions of Kansas as
sumo new Importance and the mercu-
rial unress of all Kansas politicians, ire
spective of party, fills the kansan in
Chicago with a certain satisfaction. For
l believe that the people of Kansas are
the geese in the citadel of national safe
ty. And when the enemy comes by
stealth. as he viii, the people of Kansas
will be the first to cackle warning.
Why? Because of their capacity for !
feeling miserable. There may be some
thing in the climate or adversely may be |
its parent, but the true Kansan would /
rather kick than eat. The true Jay |
hawker is only happy when he is mis-
cradle. 1t is a great privilege to be poor |
in Kansas. 1t gives you an opportunity |
to flop around and lampoon the ungod-
illness of riches. can think of no great |
er calamity to a true Kansan than the |
sudden requirement of wealth.
Wherefore, say am true Kansan. !
And l have little plan, here in this big |
city of feeling miserable comfortably.
Whenever 1 want my fingers to Jingle |
and my cheeks to burn, and my blood to !
quicken with Indignation | stroll up and |
down Michigan avenue at night. Mi ch- |
igan avenue happens to be the aristo- |
cratic street of Chicago. 1t is very wide |
and clean and smooth. Heavy wagons /
are forbidden to touch tire in its sacred |
precincts, and poverty, unless it is |
curious, avoids beng seen here, from /
fear of disastrous contrast. like this T.
street very much. 1t satisfies my crav-
ings as Kansas. Graceful, iow-swung
victoras, ladened with bejeweled and |
befurred queens roll by me. Broughams
with private monograms embazoned on
the doors run skimmingly along. Dog
carts driven by self-satisfied youths in !
broadcloths and silk tiles rumble past
with two stolid, emotionleSs footmen,
in skin-hght, white trousers,
top boots and rosetted hats,
with arms folded and buttons
oblige, sitting behind.
Then l boil. Sometimes l glare,
IheSe are ariStocralC TENDENCIES tBat are
radically wrong. They are undem-
ocratic. These Croesuses and Mrs
Croesuses that sail up and down the
street with a single diamond probably
that is worth more than can earn IN a
year, dazzle NE.
1t doesn't seem right. The people
don't seem to be carrying out George
and Thomas Jefferson's
idea.
Sometimes pine in dreamy sort of
way for the subtle power OF turning the
whole universe topsy-turvy. know so
many poor and worthy young women.
who ia the ewes of God and man, and bv
all laws human and divine, have a right
TO the comforts OF riches and are denied
them. These / would put In the car.
riages along Michigan avenue. And
many of The young curIed darIings. who
have nothing bur an immense 3ccumula-
ton of stupidity and WAC are graced in
no arr but Incidence, / would snatch
from their carr ages and IN
troduce abruptly to the sweat Of their
cwn brows.
/ meet other pedestrians who are also
boiling and giaring. You can sse II by /
their faces. X is IN their manner. Il l.