Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-03-08
some weslern Kansas LEE

The term '.out west calls 70 mind
~ the eastern visions OF ranches, cat
tic and cowboys. To the Kans4ns it
Ineans the great wheat belt" For
merry the home of the buffalo and In
dian, it is now the home of the self
binder, the header-barge the thirty
inch separator and the harvest hand.
The latter is the power which makes
it possible to use the vast resources of
the wheat region. All parts of the
country contribute to the army OF
harvesters. Some few pay their way
on trains. The great majority come
in wagons, in cattle cars or on the
"blind baggage, but they never walk.
Worth at retail two dollars day and
board, they know their value. Board
is always included, for the harvester
is very popular individual and must
be humored. He arrives a few days
before harvest begins with his over
ais, straw hat and harvest smile.
New oVeralls usually mean a new
hand while those which show the
signs of age, especially il patched, are
the uniform of veteran. The smile
is the magnet which draws a job. A
farmer, looking for hands seeks the
loudeSt smile and connts himself
blessed, when from his back porch he
can hear the men on the farther stack
laughing at their work.
If the harvest hand is good natured
and jolly, he Is also a man Of serious
and earnest purpose. He goes Steadi-
ly about his work, complaining little
and enduring many hardships. His
object is to earn as much money as
possible. When harvest is over he
draws his wages and yaniShes as quick
IL as he came, leaving the field clear
for another character to become pro-
minent.
This is the mule. How much the
west owes to the mule can never be
estimated. Yet he has never been
represented in his right light, always
unpopular, always slandered. He
seems to feel that he is not appreci-
ated and there is always a pathetic
appeal in the eyes Of even the worst
kicker in the country. His is the lot
of a worker. He ploWs the fields, plants
the seeds, haulS the grain to the ele-
vator, furnishes the power which lifts
the grain to the bins and keeps the
wheels Of progress in motion. How
ever vacation comes to him in the
fall, and who can blame him if in the
ecStacy Of joy he does take few liber-
ties with the hired man? Every Sat
urday the farmer bitches the best
mule to the buggy and takes his
daughter to town.
The farmers daughter is the crown
ing product OF the west. She has
grown up on the broad prairies OF
Kansas, tanned by the Kansas sun
and freckled by the Kansas wind.
Work has but added grace to he1
movements. She carries her head
with an imperial poiSe and can man.
age team of horses with the air OF a
| Fif9h Avenue heiress. She has I'm.
bounded health and good nature. HeI
accomplishments vary from making
biscuits for breakfast to playing. rag
time on the parlor organ for the en-
tertainment OF the hands at dinner
What if her clothes are not the --latest
cut; If green ribbons and glass beads
are too prominent; or if her hat is ,
facsimile OF the s'hand me down" hal
of the general merchan disc store JUS
after the war. She is adviser of hel
father, the friend OF her mother ant
all that is perfect and lovely to thu
young men Of the district. She il
popular and happy and rules he
small empire with the authority of {
conquerOr.