New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-28
THE PASSING THRONG

John Armstrong. OF San Francisco. wa, ,eu,-,
of certain phases OF Western life az the Ff.tb Az.
nue. Hotel yesterday and an,o-
THE WEST other stories told the soIlow,-
PREVIOUS TO Years ago" said NJ Arrnstrorg
IRRIGATION. when that great and rer,g.
stretch OF country that has ,,,.u
been made TO flourish a green bay tree ira.
In It's physical appearance bare and arid v,,.
OF land It's settlement came slowly. ard The ,,o
neers who opened II up had hard time and wsr.
OF those whom fate had treated ha-shly. In coma.
quence they were naturally deficient in this xor,F
goods TO the rneE interested in the develour,a,,
of the country IL was an open book that could
water but be brought 10 the land j would become
world But the question was how to get the
out which the land could not be made 10 bear ~
though even In those days all that the coantrv
needed some good society and a little wats-
10 make Of 1t a paradise on earth ststersss-
which I believe has also been made OF an IN
who. came in the beginning II afforded bars bare
WORK 9nd notbjng coId he ,.d 9a I e. hard
possibilities Of future misfortune. All that 4,
changed now"
''In the time OF which T an speaking howavs-.
continued Mr.. Armstrong. 'FI5e was indeed barre,
there and all Us infinite beauty
AN ACT and Hight and shade effects TIE
OF GEN u1onotoncus and steady grind :.
EROSITY. hard work had reduced 10 one dun
and uniform color. YET there ard
ct that time 7 witnessed what has aIvavs ssenas
10 me the most generous action have ever know,
Of On one OF the few farms scattered over th,,
wide expanse of territory a man and his family
had settled. To the land company a first easy nav
ment had been made, and the balance OF his scantv
supply of money had gone 10 the building OF IA,
modest house and barn and such other things "a
absolutely necessary 70 his work His srst
year he Just struggled through. and the second
season, which promised better things. was coming
on, when disease overlook him. and he straightwsy
Ia him
and died. Word Of this came 10 Yakima and I rode
out to see what could be done. In the little two
body in rough pine coffin, occupying the centre Of
me living room. A few words with me widow
proved the truth OF what 1 had feared They ware
was old enough 10 work the farm and from mona
OF their friends could they obtain assistance. as
quence absolute ruin seemed TO be their fate
When I had definitely ascertained that this was
a little speech in which sketched state Of az
fairs and the black outlook for the little family FOR
the future. 1 appealed 10 them give what
they could. and most generously was that appeal
responded to- for they one and all knew the exact
status of matters better than did, and they gave
what they could with the whole sOuled generosity
that is characteristic of the West
Finally II came to old farmer knew well
He had a few acres of ground on which
he could pay the interest. much less the principal
enty years of age hope with him was dead also
for the future could hold nc promise When his
turn came he fetched out of hts pocket greasy
wad Of paper which he carefully unwrapped VIM
in were a twenty-dollar a fve-doIlar and sons
the money he had In the world. his only srts-
guard against the possible evils OF the fuHrs.
Without word he dropped the twenty-dollar ara
hve-dollar gold pieces into my hat, and returning
what was left 10 his pocket walked silently away
In the direction Of his home. The minister. EhO
was beside me. said: Jack that is the most Christ
IKE act or generosity l have ever witnessed ard
have always thought too concluded Mr Arm
strong. "for IL marked by the absolute o.
only safeguard against the thousand and one N,
foreseen accident Of the future 10 aid those r.
Infinite need OF help in the present"
England is very cheerful Just now" said D v
r. Green. OF Chicago. who has just returned from
London over the recent British
CHANGE victories in South africa and Lon
WROUGHT BY don wears a fate day appearances
QUEENS AP- in consequence. The Queen ar
PEARANCE rived in London three days before
left. and the streets that had for
the previous two months been deserted filed u
like magic and the enthusiasm and love the people
showed toward the aged sovereign. when she made
her appearance were touching although I must
confess TO the preiudced American eye her drives
up and down London streets partOok largely o.
the appearance of circus procession and you
found yourself instinCtivey listening for the IN
spring strains of the steam cailiope. which 10 be
appropriate. you Ielt should play God save ne
Queen The change brought about by the queens
visit was wonderful. The deserted hotels. restan-
rants and streets filled with busy. jolly. hurrl
ing crowds of people. the theatres were again vel
patrOnized and the very buildings themselves
seemed to partake of the general air OF testivt,.
joty. however. there will be so-called season
In London this year. as. IL they have IL az az; y
TO go to South Africa. who can spare the money
and afford the expense. taking the cure a.
Carlsbad. which, IL has been discovered. goes ~
toward fitting one 10 stand the South African -"
mate