The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-01
MISS ClTiZsN ABROAD.

To the Editor Of the Eagle
How far is abroad? do you ask? To
one it means across the sea; but to the
farmer boy it is going to town; 1t is no
where 70 the typical drummer, but 1t is
everywhere outside the round Of radl-
ance of the nigbt-lamps to home loving
PEOPLE. So Miss Citizen claims to have
been abroad, though still within almost
hand reach Of the electric thread that
sews the world together.
We need not 60 across the ''big pond, y
or even to the worlds fair, to find grain
for our intellectual storehouses or nuts TO
stow away for cracking in the
long winter evenings, when we
watch the furious volcanoes Of the
Goals. There is nut, large and hard
shelled, which Miss C. picked up in the
back weeds Of western Kansas, which
she has been helple-sy turning over
and over, having 10 hammer heavy
enough to break it.
How can the soul of man-that illu-
sive, winged bit OF heaven-dwell in
the homes SO often given il? The word
''soul' covers multitude of meanings,
but let US here understand it to be the
good and lofty aspirations of which no
one is enairely bereft. Did you ever
stop to wonder how they exist:
Just step out Of the groove Of your
own life and peep into the ruts near by.
There is "a river of woe in each
che. and it is not Calamity" or a
than that-it is COM
monpiace. But through it all
the aspirations live triumphantly. We
may vainly ask how and why, it
flashes out, like the tightening, the
more vividly against the dark sky.
This part OF the country resembles
scorched. badly turned pancake; it has
had drought enough to turn all vegeta-
ton into resurrection plants unresur-
rectei, and 10 cause even green people
TO wither and wrinkle up like russell
apples left on the trees. Even the sun
flowers looked sickly and the Arkansas
burrows through the sand as ashamed to
show itself. Nevertheless the people are
far from succumbing, but with true
and grit, have faced and are
facing the adverse winds. Their hopes
and courage are simply India rubber in
elasticity!
We bow to bravery anywhere and
who is drawer than he who goes out IN
the scorching sun to pillow up the with
cred wheat, his last years fruitless toll!
or she who watches him cross the field.
and turns back to make clean and CHEEKY
as may be the bare room they call
home?
1t is truly land prolific of large tum-
great expectations, and a
hardy species of humanity. And for all
it is so like living on a board, these
western people are anything but monot-
onous, even managing 10 have great
many ups and downs. They have a
genius for surprising themselves; for in
stance politically. Like a fascinating
game of chess was the last election. with
and counter movements,
with "pawrs" and bishops" and
"kuIghts'' hopelessly mixed, and no on
lockers. One side played without spirit,
the other with half-suppressed glee.
Presto! tie result: and both are speech
less with surprise.
During the days Of turmoil another
"mot" was found: that it is not the
salary, but the glory. that makes az
cIiIAC WI VII AOi. IL "po HoSSiS
too, to see the men who played the
go home with their fingers in their ears
to get out of the noise. There is no
music in its thunder when 1T applauds
some other mans victory.
But ''all past things are in the
angels keeping" (poor creaturesD. even
the election and Thanksgiving, with
their sins and miseries.
The former has come to be quite
part of our lives, but did it seem like
Thanksgiving to you?
Santa Claus generously flies TO every
hamlet of Uncle Sans domain; New
Years everywhere causes the people to
catch breath, full of awe, mingled
with regret for the old and hope for the
new; Decoration Day is tenderly remem-
bered from east TO west, from north TO
south, for the hillsides are written over
with the graves of tue falen-the pitiful
hieroglyphics of war: Fourth OF July
finds flags waving patriotism every
where, Just rs the leaves sing of sum-
mer. But Thanksgiving is indigenous
to New England.
OF course. we are far too othodox 10
dream that we have not the same or
or greater reasons for thanks; it is the
Thanksgiving customs OF our puritan
ancestors that do not fit us any better
shan ready-made clothes.
There are few family reunions out
here. and the extra leaves of the extern
lion tables rarely come forth from be-
hind the cupboard.
There are no hacklogs - roll in. and
apples 30 not roas. well in the ashes Of
base burner. Neither does the pumpkin.
Tie grocery boy leaves on the back
porch, taste like the one you find in the
corrtield. Its lustre is gone too; and
what is the ''purpe on the grape" TO the
purple on The pumpkin!
We seem to Ouy our life like our food
put up IN cans or paper sacks-and
even the farmers children OF this west
ern country will rs readily grow in tho
ground as on trees, though tney can tell
you how much they are pound.
. tell me. We wise. will we grow into
The big garment. a New England Thanks
giving:
VIII the irrigating convention men
succeed IN growing walnut and Cranberry
nd pumpkin trees in western Kansas:
Perhaps.