Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1893-05-12
@ad@r.
A LETTER FROM ERNEST wENDr.

A LETTER FROM ERNEST wENDT.
He Tells of Fair and Speaks of the "O Old
Settlers With Timely Hint.
Chicago, May 3rd, 1893.
FRIEND LINN: While I am sitting
here this morning with nothing to do, |
thought a few lines to the LEADER might
interest some of our folks at home.
After visiting in Nebraska and Iowa, we
came to Chicago March 1st. Since then
we have been enjoying, $50 you had it in
the LEADER,) a much needed and well
earned rest. But ] am getting a little
tired Of everyday rest, and feel like going
home, and if H. Gilbert and others come
back from California we will soon meet
them in Canton, grasp their hands and
say, we will stay right here and be salts
fed, for have not seen any place that
could quite come up to Lincoln county,
South Dakota, and no doubt Mr.. Gilbert
thinks the same according TO his letter
published. s .5 5-..s
There has been some excitement in
this city for the last few days. First on
Saturday the Duke Veragua came, and
was escorted to his hotel with great pomp,
then at twelve o'clock President Cleve-
land came into the union depot. Every
body cheered and swung their hats, and
the ladies their handkcrchiefs, and he
was escorted to his room by mounted
police, national guards, artillery, cavalry.
infantry, and a great many carriages
followed with the great men Of our own
and other nations. The foreign represen-
tatives can't see into it, that the head Of
this nation walks around among other
people in common citizens clothes, lifting
his hat and bowling to the people. They
think he ought to wear q splendid uni
form, have great body guard, and have
his breast bedecked with emblems OF hon
or. Next the old liberty bell was taken
from the depot to Jackson park with great
enthusiasm and = big crowd to follow.
We inspected it while it was IN the depot,
guarded night and day by four policeman.
Monday was the great day of opening
the exposition. We were there all day.
walking in the mud from one to three
inches deep. The procession from the
city came at half past eleven o'clock. The
president and all other high officers were
driven up to the platform built for them.
and there gathered crowd into which
we were afraid to enter. Hundreds of
women were pale and fainting. They
were all taken to the press stand, which
looked like field hospital. Just at
twelve o'clock, after a prayer by the chap
lain and the presidents little speech, Mr..
Cleveland touched the button which was
connected by electric wire with the great
engine in the manufacturers building,
which then commenced to work, and
with it smaller engines. The cannon
thundered all the stea!: whistles Shrek
ed, and every flag was hoisted; the statue
of liberty unveiled, and everybody swung
their hats or handkerchiefs, and hollered
hurrah! And SO the great fair is open,
but it will take weeks and months yet to
finish all that is to be done, on account
of strikes, bad weather and the hardness
of exhibitors. The work has not pro-
crossed as was intended, but l will say
no more of this as you will all See it for
yourselves.
like the idea Of having an old settlers
picnic for think that will take us in.
We are not of the very first settlers, but
has lived in lower town and Canton prop
er for nearly eighteen years, seen two
grasshopper seasons, have helped some to
improve the country. l have built six
farm houses with barns, granarles, groves
etc., and one house in Canton. Let us
have a good time now for we will be dead
a long time. and whatever pleasure we
have had in this life that much we are
ahead. And again some men never work
and have more money than the men that
work hard every day. But would sug-
gcst that politics be left out on that day,
in public as well as private talk. rs it
might create unpleasantness which ought
not to be on such an occasion. These
knotty questions that politicians quarrel
over will unravel themselves. If we are
not very careful and things go on as they
have of late years, there will be only two
parties in the near future-one will have
the money and the other do the work.
These great combines with their millions
behind them will soon be the ruling
power. Money will rule the world unless
the whole nation stands together like one
man to fight them. AS it is now, no man
can put on IL shoe or Il stitch of clothes or
eat {. meal Of victuals without paying
royalty to some combination, paying for
something he never gets. Unless the
farmer eats his potatoes and cabbage, and
drinks the milk from his cow out Of his
hand standing up, he is in for it to some
combination.
But will tell you now how l spend
some of my time. Three afternoons in
the week l go to Rush Medical College
where our son is a student to watch sur
geon general Sem operate, on people,
amputate limbs, remove cancers, tumors
ETC., many cases come here where others
have failed, or have made a bad job of
setting or amputating limbs. One case
where man broke his leg in his thigh,
eight months ago, and supposed it was
all right. but as it never got well he came
here, and by cutting to the bone it was
found that the two bones Overlapped
nearly three inches. The treatment here
is free to everyone, providing you have
it done before class Of students, and in
hospital they have the best of care by
trained nurses and doctors. The student
of today has great advantages over those
of u few years ago, as wonderful discover
les have been made of late years. But l
must stop rs have written now a great
deal more than [ intended. Only one
thing more would like to say, that the
LEADER has greatly improved since you
got hold of the handle, but aM afraid
1t would create pride in your heart and
therefore 1 won't say anything about that
even if it is so. Best regards to all.
E. WENDT.