Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-05-13

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Ii is the home Of the sandstormso
qulcksand. There l have seen a
succession Of sand hills hundreds of
yards in circumference and very
high whirling, swirling, shifting and
changing base in the furious wind.
Ihat part of Oklahoma is MANS
sorrow, woman's purgatory, the
travellers nightmare, the raiIroader,s
torment, the farmers blight and
curse.
The very prairie dogs appear
thin and sad, and the loafer wolf
howls dismally as he scents the
desert air. But of its worser fea.
lures | may have occasion to write
In future, so will pass on to the
sunny plains Of the Pan Handle.
1t was late in the afternoon we
were trying to force the wild cattle
OF the plains into the stock yards at
Panhandle City. They were obstre.
porous, in deep fright, and milled
till it seemed that those in the center
OF the whirling mass must be crushed.
Then they broke away but the cow
boy was in the saddle and such rid
ing and horSemanship have rarely
witnessed.
With one boy, of not more than
fourteen, | was well pleased. He
was chasing a steer. His pony
would dart to the right or left, turn
upon his hind feet and though going
at top speed, follow every quick
movement of the steer and kent at
his side till landed safely in the herd.
But only part could we get into the
pens for dust and darkness hindered.
The next morning at break of day
the effort was renewed and success
full.
Our early rising was rewarded for
with the rising of the sun the cedar
brakes, canyons and buttes of the
foot hills far away and out of sight
appeared in full view. After break
fast we returned 10 the stockyards
and at nine O'Clock while standing
on the fence we looked away to the
east and there where the early morn.
ing mirage had been was a long
range of mountains. For perhaps
an hour dozen of us looked at it
with pleasure and surprise, toward
the north the mountains were covered
with snow, the sOutherly part of the
range seemed to be timbered with
the black pines of Idaho and were
free fom snow.
1t was glorious vision, splendid
scene, happy optical illusion.
1t was not in the air but on the
ground as all the mirages have seen
were. There were no clouds.
But two trains carried away the
cattle and at Superior Nebraska we
unloaded in the night. The wind
was up, the lightning flashed and
the rain came down in sheets. We
were to our ankles in mud and water
and when nearly through a runner
came rapidly shouting, "Close the
gates, for hundreds ofcattle are trail
ing through the Streets"
We followed the trail in the storm
by the lightning's flash, rounded
them up, but hundred men-yes,
twice that number-could not have
corraled them, careless man had
failed to fasten gate securely. BY
the morning light we gathered
them.
And now they are grazing on
Southern Nebraska's green prairies.
For the early springtime is here,
leaves are putting out, quails are
mating, doves are cooling, hens are
cackling, wild flowers are blooming
and the farmer is busy gardening and
corn planting.
On Sunday for the first time Ne
braska's tanned, but pretty maidens
doffed the winter and dOnDed the
spring apparel. a look at their
sweet faces and the sound of their
melodious voices does much to re-
lieve one of the weariness of travel.
CHoCTAw.
TOLD OF New YORK. 1t is stated
that more than 76 per cent of those
who people New York today were
of foreign mothers, while more than
40 per cent were themselves born on
foreign soil. Peter Stuyvesant ruled
i'm his day over 400 New Workers.,
who conversed in Is different
tongues.
The population of New York can
not be called church going one.
There are less than 600 places of
Christian worship, seating only about
300, 200 persons.
The most valuable spots on the
face Of the earth are believed to be
the four corners where Wall street
touches Broad. Not long ago 81 ,500,-
600 was paid for five lots on Broad.
way, opposite Bowling Green.
1t Is said there is scarcely nation
upon earth which has not eating
places of its own in New York,
- with its own viandS and drinks, its