The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-04-28
Then for MACHINERY, steam


electricity!
Meanwhile he had accomplished won
ders. Hundreds of labor saving devices
benefited the city; candles, soap, glazed
pottery, spinning wheels, improved
looms, beer, yeast, pulley hoists and
many other valuable fruits of civilization
had been introduced. While he was fin
ishing his furnace he had made molds
for casting plOwshares, haTrOws, anvils.
CRATES, axes, hammers and other nipple
ments of cast steel, and he viewed the
outlook with supreme satisfaction. His
iron works were some distance from the
city-down in the canyOn-Where he had
discovered the remains of ancient smelt-
ing furnaces forgotten long ages since
and almost buried in the debris of the
shady cliffs. Remains like these have
since been discovered in other parts of
the region and show the facilities which
the prehistoric races possessed for smelt-
ing and casting ores. The Atzlans had
traditions only of the times when their
forefathers mined and worked their ores.
He had built as nearly perfect Besse-
mer furnace as he could with his mate
rails, and it promised great results.
He had erected a stone dwelling for
himself outside the city walls in a wood
ed spot facing the river. On the APP
proach of autumn he moved into it with
all his belongings. 1t had three rooms,
with modern fireplaces, and windows
with glass of a poor quality, but home
product. The walls were hung with the
great, gorgeously colored Atzlan blan-
kets, and furs covered the antique pave
ment of the foor-a treasure rifiad from
an old portion of the city.
Iklapel had long before assigned to
him body servant named Jan-ila,
dark, active lad of twenty, Ainee's only
brother, who cared for his wants with
pious zeal. Jan-ila-or johnnie" as
Eric was fond of calling hi1n-slept in
one of the smaller rooms, his master in
another, while the larger apartment
served as a general Office, dining aud
council room. Jan was so apt Il pupil that
! he outstripped both Kulcan and Iklapel
in his knowledge of mechanics, arts and
language under Eric's tuition, and of
] modern ideas he was most eager i'm
biber.
All of Gilbert's reforms and improve
ments had been accomplished without
in any manner usurping the functions
which Iklapel exercised pending the
election of new governor. He had al
most entirely left his priestly duties to
Kulcan, who performed them with a
laxity born of increasing distrust of the
efficacy of the religion of his fathers.
This the crafty Chalna had observed, and
he used it as d pre1e2t for fOnentiDg the
fears of the priests. lie painted in
strong. fervid colors, and with potent
logic, the decay of their ancient faith,
the downfall of priestcraft and the loss
of their fat hvings. He 81 wrought upon
their fears at every opportunity by
these forceful pleas that he had already
formed fairly strong following.
Familiarity with Eric had esS2ned
, their az, VIII lie it had increased their
admiration of him. They were already
, willing to ablndon their belief in his
divinity. and We're beginning to realize
that instead of a being from another
world he was a man like themselves
The events which now occurred aided
, Chalpa's plans and strengthened his Pc
sition as a candidate for the governor
, ship. Both Iklapel and Kulcan were
aware of a growing feeling among TIT
priests in favor of Chalpa's candidacy
but they did not believe that he coulC
! gain adherents enough to affect the re
, suit of the election, which was to occu
! in the early spring, week before tn
s feast of the Katun. Eric and Iklapel hat
determined to divest this feast of 1t
a horrible, sacrifcial, murderous char
acter, and the old priests powers wer
!. all bent in this direction while he lei
the electioneering to Kdlcan.
. All of the younger priests could b
counted upon to favor his advance
= views, but only few of the elder coul
= be expected to depart from time hon
. ored and powerfully potent religion
. custom. While only a few of them ha
. witnessed the last Katun feast, hfty-tVG
: years before, yet the barbaric rite ha
many firm adherents. The subject ha
. been approached 1T great tribal meeting
!, In the circular estufas, but 1t had bee
handled so carefully that even Iklap
: could form no opinion of the strength
\ the new movement.
!, The blast furnaces had proved su
= cessful; men were even now grindlT
: the new axes to an edge with inten
a eagerness and satisfaction, and eyel
n one of Eric's castings had turned O
- perfect, much to his delight 1t W
s midwinter before they were hnishe
. and his assistants had worked indoo
5 and converted one part of the greatten
= ment into q huge factory. where {