The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-11

d
wheat to signify that THE Reaper,
Whose Name is Death has made his
visit. Another design consists Of two
palm leaves, the stems being tied to-
gether and the whole forming an oval
design. This is to denote honor"
1t cannot be foretold whether these
new ideas will meet with favor, but it
would certainly be quite a departure
from the orthodox customs The palm
leaves and the wheat are not imita-
tions. The wheat is bleached and tied
in the form of a small sheaf. Where it
is tied is a small cluster of artificial
flowers, sometimes pansies. The
whole is tied with a white ribbon. There
is no black to be seen. The palm leaves
are of their natural green color and
are vanished to preserve them. They
are tied with a white ribbon and a
bunch of artificial roses is caught up
under the ribbon
Some undertakers claim that many
of their customers ask for insignia, not
as gloomy as crepe, and they predict
that the new ideas will meet with IA
VOr.
The approaching auction sale of the
Kansas Pacific railway no less than
the recent celebration of the eity's 43d
birthday, is calculated to call up rem
iniscences of early history In proper
ton to the population of Topeka, per-
haps but small number of her pres
ent inhabitants recall how nearly the
city came to losing the Kansas Pacific
at the time the line was located.
When the surveying party having in
charge the establishment of the route
of Kansas first railway, reached Cal
houn bluffs, north of Oakland, instead
of following the river, as the railroad
now does, they continued to skirt the
foot of the range of hills north of the
city, crossing Soldier Creek in the vi
cinity of where the reform school is
now located. From there on westward
the line of stakes was driven close to
the. creek as far west as Menoken. Not
only was the route established as de-
scribed, but the ties were delivered
along it.
Those were bright days for the old
town of IndianOla, situated less than
railroad. 1t was a f1Ourishing village
then, with two hotels and a number of
stores. Located on the road traversed
by the great caravans, engaged in the
the Missouri river across the plains to
Denver, Salt Lake and even to CalifOr-
mia, it enjoyed a trade out of all pro-
portion to its population.
Almost the entire community was in
trade. There was nothing else to do.
Scarcely a day passed that did not
witness the passage along the single
street of the village of at least one
wagon train-usually more. There were
invariably 26 wagons to the train,
each wagon drawn by six mules or six
pairs of oxen. Occasionally a train ap-
peared in which the wagons were
known at once that it was a Mexican
caravan, bound for Santa Fe.
The people of Indianola were pros
porous and contented and took little
account of railroads, looking upon them
as something a long way off, until one
winter morning a stranger appeared at
the principal hotel and in the course of
the day made 1T known that he had a
contract to supply the necessary ties
for the coming railroad.
1t was a new experience for the peo-
pie of the town and the country there
about to be able to sell the products of
the land and their toll to somebody
other than travellers, and they were
stirred. 1t was not long until the ring
of the ak could be heard all up and
down the creek and great stacks of ties
soon stretched across the prairie
Then dark days set in for IndianOla.
1t was discovered that the railroad
contractor, who had given his name as
Jones, was not in his accustomed
haunts. The laborers and the men who
furnished the timber, had not been paid.
They waited. What was at first a sus-
piciOn grew to certainty. Jones never
came back.
Scarcely had they recovered from
this shock before it was announced
that the route OF the railroad had been
changed and that it would follow close
ly the north bank of the KaW. From
that day the town was doomed. Those
who owned property, sold it for what
they could get. Some of the houses were
The town which had once been a for
midable rival of the state capital,
struggled a few months longer and
Few. if any, of those first ties ever
reached the present rOadbed. They dis
appeared mysteriously and rapidly.
Some of them can be found to this day
in the framework of barns and corn
cribs.
An unusual incident occurred at the
Topeka club last week when three men
in whose families successful operations
for appendicitis have been performed
within the last three months, We're seat
ed at dinner together.
The gentlemen were Dr. Neely, Uni
ted States marshal E. ]. Douglass of
LeaYenworth and e. ]. Dallas of Tope-
ka. DR.. Neely and Mr.. Douglass were
at dinner when Mr.. Dallas arrived from
the hospital where the operation upon
his son Everett had just been compile
ted.
will he endowed with good luck. We
have passed through this experience
successful" said DR.. NeeIy.
Mr. Dallas sat down between the two
gentlemen. Dr. Neely's daughter and
a son of Mr.. Douglass were successfully
operated upon.
1.-THE snow last week reminded me of
the only time that I ever got beaten
by a woman and the only time that I
ever knew that same woman to be
beaten in a bit of sharp practice" said
Col. J. w. F. Hughes. Il had a young
calf and during the night it got out of
the barn and strayed away. I easily
followed the tracks in the snow and
they led to the house of neighbor of
mine an old lady [ knocked and ask
ed if my calf had been seen"
:. Yes replied the lady, ''it is in the
barn. It came around here this morn
ing and the man put it in with our cat
tie"
4 am very much obliged to you for
your trouble" said l.
well, much obliged does not pay for
the hay it has eaten, so cents please"
was the rejoiner.