The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-09
Stores of an Inland State.

Sple1dently Wnlte, as III II were ftesbiy
Furnished. and when flowers and grass and
growing grain are all laundried anew. The
cleaning process extends also 70 the a.nos-
phere for the sky itself, after ling dust
storm, appears to have been dashed into
wa h-tub rinsed with an aGded portion OF
bluing, and then put through the wringer.
And with this trifiing change in Natures
asI ect, the souls Of The peOple who twen
with her on the farms, undergo identifying
in a most marvellous way.
They wash the dust out Of the:r eyes, put
on fresh clothing, blackan .hei- shoes-kan-
sas people invariably blacke1 their shoes
on muddy days-and stroll OFT into the gun
shine, sleeping their hearts IN its rays, ex-
banding with thankfulness at the chsnge.
The farmer, pudding about in the rcsiii-
ent soil, rejoices inwar lily an declares with
an enthusiasm which becomes audible even
IN soliioquy kansas is the best state in TIE
Union" The music IF the clucking hen
is sweet to him, and the vhia1y Of his
horse and the boo Of his COW ans the l'aba
Of his sheep, and the coGatNtable grcan Of
his wallowing pigs cheer his heart in a
truly marvellous way.
Old John Wright sloshei ont in the main
road beaten down smoothly as a polished
oaken floor, under the heavy rain and
gszed away over the hills IN the direction
of town. The smooth wet road was broken
at intervals with CLASSY puddies, shifting
whitley in the glory nf tle morning sun
light.
He sloshed back again and sat down II
the back-porch among the vines, pulled ont
his pipe. struck a match, held ii 10 ire
bowl and then put thu match out by s;iok-
ing it head down into :he soft, wet soil.
He was nightly Pleased with the NOM
ing, but his soul was troubled.
He feared that ne FAD made fool OF him
self the night before at :he political meet
'rg. He had risen TO reouke the yoa:h-
fuI candidate for Congress- in good faith.
IL still believed he yang man needed re-
bike. He was certain that once in Ger
gross the young Ia wyer would gel the far
mers out. But he hai a disagreeahle recol-
lection that he had not rebulsed him as ne
though he wodid when b. lad first arisen
in ! is passion. His words didn't come r:grt
ana he hadn't made L strong and dra natic
er0ugh-he had not, In ine. voiced the sw-
full despair which had niled his breast.
He wished he coui1 rave the young man
here for quiet little talk now. He dij
no. mean to interrupt his meeting for the
propose of attraC ting attention to himself
although he knew tha. three-fourths nf the
audience accused him OF that. Re merely
wanted to warn him that the farmers would
elect him and that he would go down to
Washington ard be wheedled into treason
TO the farmers by the lobbyists Of the rich
corporations which were against the far
mer. He now thought out several telling
phrases which he did not think of when he
was on his feet and wished warmly he
might have another trial at the candidate.
He arose and strolled out to his hog pens.
He looked his 'porkers'' over fondly and
scratched their backs with cobs and smiled
with contentment. He admired the hogs
greatly and called the hired man to see but
he orly grunted approval and disappointed
TIE farmer by his 'ack Of enthusiasm.
A second later he turned to the house and
was surprised to see a double carriage, a
surrey standing at his back door and full of
gentlemen.
With that peculiar self-restraint and arti-
fetal Indifference Characteristic of farmers,
he reduced his speed and moved slowly and
laZily towards them.
One man. well dressed. with q shining
silk hat, jumped out and said:
Whose place is this?"
''AIine," said John Wright
"And who are you?"
John Wright"
''Mr. Wright, may we get drinkr'
Certainly"
He went into the house and brought out
a glass pitcher ami two sobleis and drew
the water for the gentlemen.
''Eho ale your" asked old John Wright
;c I'll
Pacific and General Manager Wilkes. anJ
I'm Traffic Manager Fc1le. We're driving
over the country for the pleasant effects
of the air and to see the farms We're
going across to the Branch at Prairie
View
John Wright lifted his head and started.
Here then were his finely clad enemies
the enemies who stole part Of all the grain
he raised with their cut-throat rates.
And he had them right here where he could
defy them. But how could he do II? Not
by refusing to let them drink. That would
be little. He wished they would open up
on him with question and he would skin
them alive. Supposed they asked: "You
seem TO be prosperous, Mr.. Wright?' Then
he would sail in.
But they had asked only drink OF water
and he could not refuse that.
At the same moment one of the men had
bounced out Of the carriage and had trippej
over to the pen and was ex,olling the worth
of the porkers he had found there
The other men crawled out and followed
him. They, TOO, broke into expressions OF
admiration. 1t pleased old John Wright
70 hear his pigs praised. He followed them
"Berkshires Mr.. Wright" one asked.
poland Chinas." he answered
How much does that one weigh?'
six hundred pounds 1 would say"
THAT is certainly the finest hog ever
saw
The hard features Of old John Wright
broke into an accommodating smile.
II was at the Worlds Fair in Chicago"
said the President. And / want TO say
right here that there WASH, pig In the
lot that compared TO this one"
Whit" said John Wright all aslow. Let
me show you my pride
He LED them quickly around the barn and
there revealed a fine SOW with ten silken
pigs launching at her tea,s.
Wonderful" said the President
Wonderful said the Traffic Manager.
Wonderful" echoed the General Mana
ger.
And old John Wright just giowed.
The President went down il his pocket
and drew forth a long cigar with gilt
label about its center and said:
Mr.. Wright, have cigar"
John Wright did rot buy cigars-he was
too poor-but he liked them.
He took i; and lighted IL and talked
pleasantly 10 the gentlemen. asking them
II I rained all the way 10 Stogs' Center.
They answered pleasantly and compliment