The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-01
rHE pRAlRIEs oE KANsAs

palette The tints and shades Of the far
reaching plains that stretch 70 the hori-
zon. with only here and there q tree 10
break the broad expause. are a record
Of the months. weeks. and DAYS. The
awakening Of the sod is a never-faillns
scene OF glory, ana IL is a delight alike
TO the lover Of nature and to him who
sees ii its changing colors only The pos
sibiiities Of cCmmercialisn-
a tedious. nervous-straiuinE period for
the prairie farmer is the vernai season
If he IS FAR enough east 10 combine with
raising Of stock the production Of wheat
and corn. he watches with keen appre-
hension the passing days. are there 20
come out Of them the long, tempestuous,
drying winds that wither the wheat
plant and make the prospect for corn
doubtful? or viii there be succession
Of rain aud shine sufficient to carry
through the crops. upon which SO much
depends? 4 single day may decide the
profits Of the farm for the season A
week may determine whether OF not the
mortgage is to be fOreclosed- The news
papers herald each drop Of moisture and
place black headlines over the DAYS OF
hard winds The wheat is assured
and saved a dozen times. and the
threats of danger 10 the corn and oats
are as often exploited
So i is that the more subtle features OF
the coming spring on the plains escape
the eyes OF the many. They do not see
the varied forms OF its heralds or the
charm Of its advance.
We go often TO a beautiful rolling prai-
RE that stretches IN uudulations without
fence or boundary for miles. II is raised
high above the valley of one OF those long
prairie rivers that take a SLOW, winding
course for hRlf-a-hundred miles before
Joining the Missouri. From the sweils
OF the prairie one can watch the trans
continental train as il rolls, like toy, far
along the valley Of the Smoky HLl- In
the valley, on either side Of the rail-
way. are orchards and well-dlled farms,
some with cOmmodious white houses. and
others with more modest dwellings. We
have seen it when the valley was one
great wheat-feld of a speculator, and,
again, when it was but beginning 10 be
settled, and its present-day appearance
is a visible evidence Of the success OF the
farmers toll.
But ride on into the slough OF the prai-
RE sea, between the rising bnlows OF sod.
and it is all lost. In every direction is
nothing but the unbroken plsin-and sky.
1t is as If one were suddenly transported
into the untrackeG home Of the savage.
Not a house is in sight. not a curl OF
smoke finds its way over the horizon.
The dun brown OF the grass has but one
tone, the sourry Of the ground-squirrel
or the lazy drifting of the clouds is the
only sign OF life. Not even in the path
less wood can one be more alone with na-
ture.
Here It Is that there comes the first
hint Of spring. Up on the tops Of the
hills the grass IS dead. Along the slopes
the same unchanging brown has its me-
notonous coloring. But in the draw at
the depth OF the valley, where the slough
grass has made a start, where the wa
ters running down with the heavy sum
mer storms have worn steps and eitches
here peeps the first deep green OF the
new generation Of grass Il may be that
snow will come after. Bitter winds may
vet cause losses In the sheep-fold ana
hardship IN the herds; but here, shell
tered by last years growth Of sun
flowers and hedge-like weeds. is promise
Of better days.
After that we go out to see the green
climb the hills.
At first It shows most where the cattle
and sheep have eaten the last season
pasture closest to the soil. or there may
be one vast blackened waste where a
prairie-hre has. during the fan and win
ter, destroyed the vegetation. Late IN
to the spring this may happen. the high
winds driving the deadly blaze across
the plains. scorchins the new growth by
the feeding OF the old. Yet here It IS
that there comes the most glorious green
Of the prairie's beauty Like a shaven
lawn Il seems. every young blade as per-
feet as its fellow. Not q hoof has press
ed the new sod, and the fires scars are
hidden. II Is as il Nature were ashamed
of her nakedness, laid bare by tho
thoughtless hand Of man, and sought 20
make correction as speedily as might
be The prairie-fire was once an hon
ored institution Of the plains; It is so no
longer. There are now at stake the
homes, fences, hedges and orchards that
are in danger when the wild course has
been run. Still II lights the night full
often. and the mark Of its passing mars
the beauty OF the prairie.
In the town is another sort OF welcom-
ing Of the new season. Prairie towns
are not vet grown. In every house are
cherished hopes OF the coming adorn-
ments to be added TO lawn and dwelling.
The nurseryman has made his rounds
while the snow was beating against the
shingle. and has held out fattering hopes
OF the highly colored fruit shown IA his
sample-books No one ever raised such
fruit, nor ever will, but the desire OF the
heart of the westerner is FOR shade and
the product OF tree and vine Before
the first-comers lay ali the possibilities
Of orchard and vineyard. Their success-
ors are each year planting more Or
chards and more vineyards. Sometimes
the process must be repeated IN whole OF
III paEl- me 4 bALaA W r1-2AA4tA NNAAA
have delighted the Apostle Paul He
"beiieveth sll things, hopeth all things"
He sees q vision Of the old Eastern home
and the rich acres that have given JOY 70
long generations, and seeks 20 make his
new home as attractive. IA the course of
years, he forms new ideals and modidea
his plans according 20 the environment
that moulds his hfe- he ands many
things that cannot succeed Many tines
he has to admit that he has attempted
too much. u makes no difference how
ever. The struggle continues. Even far
out toward the short-grass country.
where there e little hope Of success. the
spring sees the same sowing and hop
ing.
The cottonWocds and box-eldeTs are the
first trees % show q color of green. prsn-
cipaily because they are go largely in
the majority. The cottonwood is the set
tiers friend Z; IS plebelar- II haz
little beauty OF form. and = sheds its
annual product % cotton. until the
ground around fs white. IFS rsdeeming I.
feature is that e IS of rsp.d growth. ard f
on the hllls or in the valleys on The hiEh f
prsiries OF down ~ the river. 20 makes F..
shade But for the ccftouwo1t. macy F.
a woman would haze died ~ lonesome &
ness on The rfa-ric-olalm. and many
tiru her crossing attempt &c satisfy Uncle 4
sam would have fsfied. i ls the fash i
ion nov O. deride the cottonwood. 7e1 I
the slaughter goes cn 20 fast iH fhe 4
prairie towns th8t feF ~ the ci1-tue I
trees VIII Be- srsre6 Thr e-m ARD tre T
maple are taking che placs - the de-
throlea king. TIE new generation FL
pleased but TIE f-raf-cersers are earF4
TO them. the cottonwood has IcUoTite 4
connected With early efrlEaie aid 1riF4-
ron. ard its departure Eeeulz hzo The
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