The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-09-01
UNDER AGnDm DOME.
BY FLORA BULLOCK.


Dee Moinss people have been anus
Ing themselves and trying to tide over
the hot season by pursuing the Rev.
Rollin Lynde Hartt's facetious pen pic
lures Of The Iowsne," in the August
Atlantic. They read the thing in in
stsilments, survive, and 60 on their
common place way rejoicing that tho
writer's Of "copy" are not with them al
ways. 1t ID easily surmisable that the
writer Of this jaunty Characterization
got oil Of his material in Dee Moines.
He probably came through the state
in the night. stayed around in the city
day or two, quizzed the natives. climbed
to the gilded dome Of the great capitol,
glanced at the backs Of the volumes in
the library. took out his pencil, got into
his cleverest mood. and proceeded to
describe the Iowans. I appreciate his
temptation. and am likely to succumb to
. similar one q sit on the high portico
and look out over the vigorous capital
Of worthy state. But neighborly feel
ing ergenders sympathy for the latest
victims Of Mr.. Hartt'e humor. / won
der, II the writer can key himself up to
such heights Of fervor in describing
what he considers the humdrum exist
ence OF the tribe Of Iowans. what wells
Of eloquence will be LET for him to draw
from when he ''does up" the Nebras-
kans. This. according to his own init
nations. would require much greater
warmth and spirit.
am lead to doubt il this writer ever
saw IN Iowa farm or any other in any
closer way than from Q car window.
1t might be well for Boston magazine
mongers to hire western rancher to
edit thsss impeachable descriptions.
Snap shot writer's might then be saved
the unhappiness Of shedding team Of
psthos over the imagined doings Of
things that are never done on Iowa
harms nor anywhere else In the world.
-
Thin bluish-white lines Of smoke that
hide low smoke stacks around among
the hills explain in largo part Why the
Iowa capital 10 twenty-five years ahead
Of our CITY on Salt creek, and 10 likely to
always distance us in industrial lines.
The hills are full Of coal, parts OF tho
town arc built above mine tunnels, and
If you credit the stories told by ma
tives-miners are blasting down below
you even now. So Des Moiues 10 Q city
Of smoke stacks; the coal is no sooner
dug from the hills than it is converted
into SCOT and smoke and the roar that
denotes the city. The men who cit in
Basy leather-back chairs under the
gilded dome on the hill. and the solons
Who sojourn here to make laws betiwes
IRE not permitted to forget that they
ire servants Of q thriving people. For
the insistent noise of the conflict rises
and fills the pillared portico and broad
balls with its clamUr.
The capital end some Of its perquis-
ties came trekking from Iowa City be-
lore people had thought much about it.
Nov the golden dome looks down on Q
ity chanting the ceaseless song of in
auuery. 4 city with the population. the
3irt, the noise that belongs to . con.
rested center Of trade and manufacture
but Tor the rest not. to my thinking,
which I realize ID worth very little. not
It ell capital city. 1t 10 . Chicago.
not . Sprjug6eld;s Milwaukee. not .
Madison; an Omaha. not . Lincolu.
That ie my impression. in spite Of tho
act that cit on the great pillars Of the