The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-07-22
FLORA BULLoCK.l

The GU de.books and railroad adver-
tisements will tell you that Edgemont Il
the gateway 70 the Black Hills. by
taking the northward branch OF the
road from this place, you can strike very
soon into the real Hill country on the
way to Deadwood. The other branch
turns somewha, to tho west and foI
many dreary miles you trail along q
track that lies like a braid upon the
western edge Of the hills. On your right
all the way are the hills, slate gray al
first, then showing more and moro the
greenish black Of the pines and the
gr.enish brown Of the range grass; IN
your left as far rs you care to look ID
sage brush. cage brush, gray and bunchy
30 that in the distance you think you
see herds Of dirty sheep. The irrigation
bitches. made cavernous in places by oc.
casional deluges. are encouraging; you
can trace them across fields by the real
Nebraska green Of the grass and bushes
which grow 90 luxuriantly beEide them
Occasionally you pass few acres az
pronounced in color az Cass county
corn field, and afterwards, when you
learn something Of the ways OF irrigs.
too, you appreciate what such field
means.
II Edgemont il the gateway to the
Hills, Newcastle must be the doorstep.
1t ia the first considerable station in the
territory Of our rather new neighbor
from whom, it seems to me, We have
hardly yet borrowed our initial friendly
cup Of salt. though we have. 10 business
fashion. bought from her. train loads Of
coal. and eaten Of the fat Of her land fol
due consideration. Kansas and Mime.
sofa we have known 90 we'll that We beg
for the "loan" OF q chancellor, q
loans go sometimes. But Wyoming
may not even be invited to
our ueighborhood parties unless We sre
strongly moved by geographical princi'
pies. The reason is, OF course, that Wy
oming lie new state. Not only because
it has been but few years since hel
star took it's place in our flag, but be-
cause her territory has been 90 mac
cessible. Newcastle lie but ten yesrs
old. Up to the time this Billings road
was pushed through, a large section Of
the state could hardly think OF itself Al
Wyoming. Tor it really seemed to belong
to Dssdwood, South Dakota. The stor,
Of the way in which this land has beer
rescued from arid useleesness will som'
day be considered not the least 10 ou
national "book Of heroic deeds."
Newcastle lie real Hill town. Ito al
titude 10 only 4.1l9 feet, but 1t maintain
a fresh mountain breeze that make
even the hottest day endursble and !
not encouraging to the fan msnuiactur
ere. The red brick school house stand
among the pines 90 hill which 10
path OF knowledge itself and saves tn
school. board any expense for gymnas
ium. Once up there you can look 10
miles and miles across the ssge-brusl
prairie-a semi.level country dotted her
and there az far 40 you can see will
strange shapes that you take for hay,
stacks until you are told OF the buttes
One is made always memorable to you
under the the romantic name OF Pump
kin Butte. 1t is seventy miles away
and forty milesfrom postofiice. There
are places further than this from the
daily newspaper. to be sure, but il
seems far enough to be interesting
Once out there. reflected, one might