Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-06-20

the smiles Of peace and plenty iliumi- |
mated every countenance.
L remarked. How strange this all |
appears!'' as the impression was still |
clinging to me that everything in Great |
Bend had gone down excepting the
stand pipe and Will Stoke, who was
still able to make living by licking
postage stamps.
We found the city like hive OF busy
bees; the mills all running on full
time,- with elevators full of wheat. j.
V. Brinkman had quit swearing, quit
having the blues, and was spending
most Of his time telling Jokes to the
happy farmers. The draymen were
busy hauling goods to the merchants,
and the people were as rapidly taking
them away. The papers were crowded
with advertisements, while the deiin
quent tax list did not occupy more
than one-fourth of column. Notices
foreclosure and sheriff's sales were not
seen or thought of. The cells in the
jail were occupied by only rats and
spiders; there were no criminals, be-
The laborers found ready employment
at a remunerative price, the hungry
wolf no longer pfowled around their
homes or stood upon the threshold of
their doors.
at Aliens corner, the center of at
traction, [ saw quite a gathering Of
people, and elbowing my way through
the crowd I found my old friend Dan
Banta delivering free coinage speech,
withoutany provisos. Judge Townsley
was standing III front Of him holding
his hat, Morgan Caraway was standing
not far away with his hat showed back
on his head, one eye squinted, the
other wide open, calculating in a loud
voice, Il told you so!'
81 again joined my friend and we
walked on. AS we passed an open
door we heard something popping in
side. Said l, Have we run into an
other nest of popping frogs?"
''Ah, nc, 7 said the old farmer, this
is one OF Governor Morrill's public sen
timent beer Saloons
l called at the Beacon office an(
found its editor bright, prosperous ane
happy, with no scales or scabs on him
I next visited the Register Office ano
found its editor il a very happy mood
lunching on strawberrys, ice cream ant
cake. I concluded from the number o
beautiful bouquets that adorned til
sanctum that he must be great favor
tie among the young ladies Of the city
Our conversation naturally drifted t
newspaper work. and its close relation
to the interests OF the people. He in
formed me that he had cut loose fror
all machine attachments and publica
tions that did not contain q singl
semblance OF truth.
would have visited the other Offices
but the editor of the Tribune was stil
at the speaking. Editor Stoke was q
the postoffice selling. stamps for Uncl
Sam, and 1 supposed his wife was run
ming the DEMOCRAT, and would hay
, lectured me on womans' rights.
Here parted with the companio
of my travels through this prosperou
country, and I started north to 10
home with my head up, looking at tn
stars.
l had gone but short distance whe
, sbIundered head foremost into tb
canal. The water was deep and swif
[ floundered around long while an
} finally caught hold of q strand Of ban
: wire, and while trying TO pull myse
: up the bank 1 awoke from my dream
! to find my wife digging me in the rib
: thinking had severe attack of nigh
| mare. It was broad daylight. II
wind was still bowling, the dust VI
5 sitting in around the window sash an
/ my eyes and nose had caught liber
? share-my face felt like it had bee
f rubbed with anvil dust. I got out
bed and got into the few old clothes
f had, which were a strong reminder
$ the old farmer when'I first net him G
/: the irrigation canal. AS soon as II
e moved the dust froms smy eyes, locke
q around for something to quiet n
: nerves. l saw the morning paper lyir
on the table Opening it, my eyes fe