Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-09-26
MONOPOLY CURSED.
A TERRIBLE ARRANGEMENT OF
OUR CIVILIZATION.
How the Good Gifts OF Heaven Are
Thwarted by MOnOpOly-FIve Hun
dred Men own Half of the State of
California.

Thwarted by MOnOpOly-Five Hun
dred Men own Half of the State of
California.
From 1.-THE New Crisis" by Capt.
Bell: Half of California, including
more than three-fourths Of the best ar
able and pasture land, is owned by less
than 500 men. Travelling once in that
paradisiacal country, where nature
seems to have halted in awe Of the great
Pacific and emptied out her precious
load of all that could happily a world;
so rich the soil, SO bountiful and lux
uriant the fruit and vegetable world,
SO varied the climate and pure and
healthful the air, that it seemed I could
hear the gods whisper from the snow
capped mountains and the tropical val
leys, for man to come and eat and
drink and be happy, as plenty defied
exhaustion of her stores. Driving up
valley so rich, fertile and beautiful,
halted in wonder, and stood in silent
amazement, beholding the enchanting
scene. On one side the bold mountain
stood grandly erect, with snow-capped
summit that, like crowned giant,
guarded the fairy land, and the fleecy
clouds that floated majestically over
from the sea stopped to kiss the fair
cheek Of the generous king Of the west.
The mountains brows were hung with
fruits and vines, from which hung great
festoons Of ripened grapes Of natures
kind.
The forests were silent except for the
music Of the birds and the sweet purling
rills; the grass uncrOpped, except by the
timid deer and antelope; the soil un-
broken, except by the track Of the
freighter's lonely team, and the lone
some world Of beauty seemed to sigh
for some to praise and enjoy. The
smiling valley was nearly as wide as
that Of the Nile, and as fertile as that
Of the Pc. Thirty miles from q human
habitation, I came upon train Of sad,
weary, slowly-trudging emigrants.
The teams were faded and every step
Of the weary animals was a silent pro-
test against the pleading driver for an
onward movement. There were seven
teams with seven families. The men
were sad sturdy, honest and brave.
looking pioneers, with Drowned cheeks,
worn and dusty clothing; and look
and word Of subdued kindness showed
them honest and true. There were
seven wives and mothers, from the
bride of few months to the gray
haired dame, who lived again for her
children's children. And, oh, what a
sad, weary, hopeless looking group they
were as they moved like ghosts about
the campfire, preparing the frugal
meal. Their eyes were deep and slug
gish; their cheeks were brown, but
sunken; their forms were bent and
their arms lean and weak. Tired ma
ture had chased away Womanly mod
esty, pride and loVeliness. The with
cred breasts Of almost savage mothers
were unblushingly exposed, and
scrawny babes were vainly trying to
gather from the dried-up fount the
means of life. What looking children!
There were twenty. Were a smile to
come that way, the pouting faces would
brighten 1t away, never to return. Ma
ture opened her acres and seemed in
glee to cheer the hearts Of those new
corners. The rustling trees said, come
to my shade, and rest until you build
a habitation." The fertile soil said,
pillow me up, and quickly 1 will fatten
the sides Of all the weary colony" and
the fruits said, pluck and eat, for the
gods have provided for the children of
men,"
With prospects so chaming why were
these people sad? Why did they not re-
joice, like the pilgrims Of old, or the
multitudes in the oriental tale, when
they found a like country? They were
searching for homes, for a place on
which to build habitation, where they
could cultivate the soil, SOW crops, and |
rest at even, under their own wine and |
fig tree" Why were they sad and |
helpless? For ten leagues there was no
habitation, and why not bless God and
go to work?
They were hunting homes in a world
where nature placed them. They were
hunting a resting place on Gods foot
stool, where they might humbly toll
at His feet and praise Him for His !