The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-24

start conversation naturally This drum
rler or this farmer has no time for
useless talk. he wants 10 know II there
IS a chance in your territory for the Ezy
Phit shoes or for a desiccated-esg prepar-
alton. the farmers second query viii &C.
''How's the crops down IN your part
OF the country
The farmer is thinking OF selling his
place in Missouri. and going out 70 Ok
lahoma or down into western Texas. for
his boys are growing Up. ad most OK
them must get out. anyway He like 70
see them started in their new home be-
fore he dies-his daughter was married
last Oc;oher-and he has a friend VINO
bought a splendid farm on the Cana
dian river. a man who used 20 live near
him in Missouri and followed year after
the big rush 10 Oklahoma Chances are
not so good now. but you can never tel
what a man might strike. He's going to
look around.
The farmer chews tobacco. openly. Wig
orously; he crowds an ample portion into
his mouth. then offers the plug 20 the
traveller
This man is the type OF the Middle-west
farmer. grained. direct. straight
driving The ohservant traveller has not
been piqued by his curiosity FOR there was
the explained purpose behind It. The
farmer got 70 the bottom OF the riatter
by diving straight down. He was not
likely 10 buy a gold brick from any man.
ror invest in a piece OF land that Is sub
ject to drouth. Here he was. Davis. OF
Yellow Springs. a born and bred farmer,
acquainted with his own mind. and de-
sirous Of getting from his companion
whatever information OF value he pos
sessed. Take him OF leave hint was
immateriai TO Davis. There was no mis-
taking the West he represented.
Across the aisle from the observant
traveller. who had passed from the
smoker 10 the chair-car when the drum
mer began 20 make up hts orders. WAS
little family party that promised another
type. The father. a mere boy OF twenty.
was stretched in the chair sound asleep.
in spite OF the heat and the flies that
iocked about the baby face and overran
his own cheek. The mother seemed
mere child very slight and unnaturaiiy
white for a countrybred girl. She sat
on the end Of a stuffed black imitation
alliEator-skin valise. playing with the
baby. who sat IN the chair behind the
father.
The little one was eating doughnut. in
half-nstiess. satisfied way. while the
mother talked 10 II in the folish dialect
that men. including the observaut travel
Ter do not understand. Presently. the
baby conceived the idea OF sharing the
doughnut with the father; tiny fist
crowded the remaining fragments into
the half-open lips Of the sleeping man.
and a triumphant little chuclIle caught
the attention Of the observan, traveller
The father sputtered a moment then
rose up. shook the little one roughly ny
the shoulder and ordered II. with an en-
phatic damn. to Leave me sleep. Will
yen'
So the little frightened mother took
the whimpering baby TO quiet II. and IN
short time had II Growing 70 another baby
across the aisle Then the little one
wanted water. The mother started 20
raise it in her arms for the uncertain
journey down the swaying car 70 the
watercolor; but the ohServant traveller
taking her china mug. begged the privi-
lege Of bringing water 70 the child.
In a minute the mother was saying.
while the observant traveller listened
with no thought Of the informality;
He nodding 10 the sleeping young
husband. Is going out TO Colorado. at
Pueblo. 20 work IL the s;eeiworks there.
Seems like the work IN the Eas, is about
played out"
Where has he been working"
oh he was al Joplin. here in Missouri
but he says wages is better out there
than in the East" Here was a rev view
OF East and West. another Illustration Of
the --smparative insiEnifcaacs OF terms
The little mother gave the baby her
breast. and turned TO the travciler-to
continue her story.
II was a typical tale. Underneath her
qualifying ifs and through her thin veiled
receptions were showed plain that young
vagabond's history. The spirit OF unrest.
aggravated BY natural Incidence and oc-
caslonally drunken sprees. was sending
him from one mine srnsifer 20 another.
and would 20 on urging him forward until
the little wife was buried 81 some
smoke grfnled cemetery and the child was
sent 10 is maternal grandnnothsr. Ard
the West ina; demands 80 many voicsiess
sacrifices. will claim another victim and
this third type will 70 on pulling down
home affairs and scattering household
goods 70 the tire, winds For they never
turn back 10 the East.
JOHN N. OKKIsoN.