Hutchinson gazette., 1901-02-21

a little history Of now extinct English
colony formerly located near there and
called Runnymede which brings up re-
collections OF other similar colonies
established in Kansas about the same
time by the same sort Of people, con-
Quoted on much the same plan, and al
ways with about the same result. At
ter some preliminaries about the estab'
fishing Of the ranch the story runs
@@*
Ned Turnkey con ceivcd the idea OF
starting sort OF kindergarten on the
ranch for Englishmcn, and took n trip
across the water, In n few months he
returned, bringing with him dozen
of the younger and wilder sons OF York
shire and Devonshire gentlemen also a
sprig or two Of the gentility of Ireland
and Scotland. With each he received
$500, the proposition being that for that
sum as tuition, and an additional sum
for board and washing, he would teach
them to be American farmers and ranch
men,
The fame Of Runnymede soon spread
through tn. British isles and scores
of the young men of her majesty's en-
pire came to Harper county and joined
the colony. A townsite was laid out and
lots sold like hot cakes in London, Man
chester and Edinburg. A fine hotel was
built with all modern appointments. A
beautiful Protestant church was erected
and was named in honor of St, Patrick
the only Protestant church in Amer
lea so named, Golf clubs, cricket teams
and foot ball elevens were organized.
A great many of the students brought
hounds from England with them, and a
master OF the "ounds" was elected,
The fixed duties or labors at this rural
university was limited to the milking Of
one COW, and as there were about eighty
students to milk that one COW, great
deal Of time was put in at horse racing,
cock.fghtng, rabbit chasing and other
sports and pastimes peculiar to English
men, AS a diversion, they would i'm
port few lusty prize-fghters for week
or two at a time, at the end of which
there would not be a man left capable
of even milking the COW. The younger
son Of Sir Charles Palmer, whose firm
built most the Spanish navy, was stud
ent at Runnymede, and one night after
geeting beautifully licked by Paddy
Shea in friendly bout, he took s25o
watch from his pocket and gave it as
a present to the man who knocked him
out. This same "Lal" Palmer is now
an officer Of distinction in the English
army serving in South Africa, as are also
half dozen of the other students of Run
nymede.
One summer this aggregation Of high
rollers from Runnymede brought their
ponies down to Anthony to give an eX-
hibition game Of polo at our Fourth Of
July celebration. 1t was advertised eX-
tensively, and large crowds came to see
the Englishmen play polo. They were
the whole show. and it pleased there
vanity so much that they came to the
conclusion they could run Anthony as
we'll as Runnymede. In the evening
about dozen of them went into an An
thony resort operated by Clay King, an
old-time ranger who never allowed his
six.shooter to be off duty, and when
they attempted to throw King out, he
took his shooter and beat two or three of
them insensible, and drove the rest of
them out of town. Anthony never en-
joyed the patronage of the English col
ony after that; they did most Of, their
trading at Harper, where they generally
did as they pleased
Early in the ninetes an anti-lorcign
sentiment began to manifest itself in
the Kansas Legislature, seriously affect
ing aliens, and Runnymede began to
wane About this time the death Of
Colonel Turnkey made Ned heir to the
Irish estates and his departure was the
practical end of the colony Several
years ago the original purchase by Mr.
Turnkey was divided into farms and sold
but the townsite of Runnymede did not
cease entirely to exist until it was sold
to Caldwell man week or two ago"
"."
This is a very good and true picture
of things gloriously English you know.
That is as represented by the "higher"
classes Churches and cock fights,
"hanthems' and prize fights are delight
fully mixed. But with anything like
work they won't mix bit, Is it any
wonder one boer can lick ten of them in
Soulh African And pray can anybody
give just one foolish reason even why
so many American idiots in the army, in
State ci~-' nd 10 high society should
strive to emulate them2
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Very Low Rates. 10 California,
Tho Santa Fe will sell one way oontlnous