The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27
cHlcAeo ANp ~ YoRk.
The Western City Is a Great Place to Mech
Acquaintance In-The Towns Compared
Especial COrres2ondence.l

Ah0 western CITY Is n Great Place to AAGeA
Acquaintance In-The Towns Compared
Especial Correspondence.
CHICAGO, Dec. T. Although less
than one-third Of tie territory between
the oceans lies to the east Of Chicago,
this metropolis, IS its Inhabitants de-
light to term it, IS nearer the center Of
the population OF the United States than
any other great city. 1T is not surpris-
ing, therefore, that the visitor here who
has any acquaintance to speak Of in the
various states, east or west, is sure TO
meet some one be knows almost every
time he goes out upon the streets
have not been in Chicago before for
eight years and have never remained
here more than a few days at a time,
yet have met on the average half a
dozen persons with whom I am &C
quainted, more or less intimately. every
day since I have been here. / arrived
early on Sunday morning, not too
wide awake, for my berth in the sleep
ing car was not conducive to slumber,
and therefore felt trifie bored when L
stepped out of the bus at the door Of the
hotel by the singular conduct Of man
who blocked my way and was looking
me fixedly in the face. "A moment later,
however, my annoyance vanished, for
the bearded face relaxed into a smile of
a hearty How are you, old boy?s
By his voice / recognized him as one
who had been associated with me 10
years before, when we were both strip
ings, in the service of an eastern busi-
ness house. He told me that he had
ranch somewhere farther west and
was in a fair way to become rich as
soon as the improving times enabled the
projectors of q certain line Of rail, as
yet unbuilt, to 20 ahead with the enter
prise, for his ranch had been chosen for
a town site. Later in the day, upon
Madison street, I was surprised by an
other old time acquaintance, whom 1
had known in Omaha. Before he and 4
had finished talking a Buffalo friend
joined us, and while we three were all
talking over old times a former Gin
cinnatian Joined the group. And so iU
has been every day since have been
here.
One popularity of Chicago that strikes
the man who has for some years been
accustomed only to the large cities Of
the east is the prevalence of buggies on
the streets. In New York's down
town" business section a buggy is all
most rare enough to excite comment.
and the sight of a dozen buggies stand
ing in a row by the curbs the horses
towns would be an unwonted spectacle
indeed. Many of the solid business men
of the town drive from their handsome,
comfortable homes, miles removed from
the pulsating heart of things, to business
every morning.
Another popularity Of Chicago, or
rather Of Chicagoans, as compared with
New Workers, is their delight in point
ing out locally famous buildings and
places to the visiting stranger. I put
the difference in this matter down to
the fact that the Chicagoan has great
deal more local pride than the New
Yorker. The latter feels serenely conf
dent Of the fact that Manhattanville is
1.-THE greatest town on earth - and that
it ought to be enough for the visitor to
enjoy its glories without having them
specifically pointed out Besides the
New Yorker reasons, every body knows
about the interesting points of New
York without being told.
The Chicagoan is quite as certain
about the supremacy Of his city, both
to size and attractiveness but he is
not so sure as to whether the visitor
agrees with him, and he is DESTROYS that
he shall. Therefore there is no sign of
WEAKNESS in the matter of showing the
sights.
an impression of size in the strangers
mind than does New York This is due
to the fact that nearly all of Chicago's
streets are long, broad and straight,
whereas comparatively few Of New
York's are long or broad, and many of
them are crooked Then, again. the
smoke Of the soft coal used here renders
the vistas dim and almost mysterious.
even on the clearest days, adding great
~ to the apparent distance Of compare
lively nearby objects
In one point Chicago is far ahead Of
New York, and that is in the courtesy
displayed toward customers by the en-
ployees Of the business houses. So far
as my experience goes at least the sales
men and saleswomen of this town are
quite a hundred times more solicitous Of
pleasing a prospective purchaser than
are those of New York, and / never
have had any cause for complaint of the
latter either. CHARLES APPLEBEE.
Bottled Oxygen.
One of the dangers Of mining seems
to be in a fair way toward reu0vaI or