Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-02
Kansas Birthday.
war;

Sunday vas Kansas birthday ami.
yersary. On January 20, 1861, tie
State was admitted into the union
OF all the eulogies that have appeared
this year TO welcome the Sunhjwer
State into its thirty third year OF
existence we know Of none prettier
than the following by,W. A. White, a
Kansas Iurnalist who, to use a trlte
fUrmula, needs no introduction:
Thirty-twO years ago Kausas came
INTO the world. II was dark day IN
ths nations households; Uncle Sam aud
Columbia were talking ugly things
about divorce. So, poor Kansas had to
suit for herself. Like PIP" In
Great Expectations she was brought
~ by hand. Wrapped In "A soldiers
blanket with cannon balls for rattle
b xrs and with mu ,kets Tor her dolls,
she grew into glrlhOod with no SWEET
and tender mUlhrrlngs such as her
older sisters knew. Sull, shs was AL
attractive child. Pluched aud often
hollow eyed by want, the harsh lines Ut
care were smuothed away from her
brow by the hand Of hope; and all who
knew her loved her; yes loved and
/, sang to her for what she had endured
and what she would be.
: linus when Kansas was In gawky
: girlnood, lug lis said:
i Kansas exercises the same fascina.
, ton over inc that she does over all
+, who have yielded to her spell. There
A are some wOmsn whom to have once
= loved renders II impossible to ever love
Il again. AS the gray aud melancholy
=, IN ,in is to the sailor; as the desert IL
II the Brdouin; the Alps to the noun
=, tainerT, so Is Kansas to those who Low,
her."
But even then the depth Of, ant
y Az eetness of, her eyes ~ blue, Thu
! rugged grace and vitality OF her hgur'
u aud eyanpscent glow on her vino
Al blown cheeks, we're beautiful. The!
II promised much for her aud when sh,
y x CIV up strong aud finn OF limb anI
II round Of form these prophecies cam'
! true. Then how men sung her praises
" East, west, north, south, on land
IT beyond the sea and ON the islands o
|, the distant deep, the fame Of Kanss
n spread. Then came the crowds to d.
2. her homage; meier had Oriental qutel
T. such cOftagr; ne'rr had princess mon
~ adorners. To each she gave smile
Is Tor each she had some especial tokeI
y of love; to each she whispered words .
II hope. Aud TO all she kept her prom
! lses. But one day to her palace
d through the rlden portals of her wall
of corn, over the steps ct her terrace
Il, hills. across her broad, green gardens
=. came n snrering Doubt. lie told mel
=, she was tickle and they listened
N scoWled and left her, and the day wa
=, cloudy.
1t IL not all sunshine now. "rher
=. are some women whom to have ono
4, loved renders II impossible ever to low
M again" Those who left her vii
~ return. Kansas is today in the tai
=, power Of her wOnianhoud more beauti
~ ful, more lovablr, more full of wor
l., aud happiness than ever she ras been
~ Her LIES best achievements are betnr
a. her; her highest possibilities are wal
=, ing for her; her greatest triumphs al
"A to come.
a, On her birthday everyone shoul
,a wish rrjDy, No words are litter Il
"A this purpose than those nm old tin
!, lover said: They call Kansas II
'Sunl Iwer State not because IL
1g over run with noxious weeds, bl
N because AZ the Huuhiw turns on /
I'd stem to catch the dr't beams Of III
AZ morning san, and with its broad dit
re aud yellnw rays follow the great orb ,
ng day, NJ Kansas turns tn catch the ir
cs rays ~ every advancing thought I
an civillzing agency, and with her bros
A" prairies aud golden fields, welcome
Yi and follows the light"
~.