The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-13
0. K. la HOma!


An eastern friend of. Whitcomb Ri
ley.is said to have written to him asking
his advice in regard to his locating In
the West near where the poet was then
living. Riley, in his characteristic
quaintress, answered on q postal card
as follows:
This dadburned climate way out here
Makes me homesicker every year
The DAYS are short and the nights are long;
1t takes two birds TO sing one song;
One sings pee-and one sings wee
Stay where you are old pard.
wish was this postal card"
To tenderfoot arriving in this coun-
try in the last few days, these words of
Riley's seem, at first, to be very appro-
pirate. SEQ ,ss
left Belle Center, Thursday, May
%, in response 70 telegram, calling
me here at once, and this will account
to many of my friends, whom did not
have opportunity to see, for my seeming
neglect of common courtesy. When l
left Belle Center, it was sprinkling rain
and at Bellefontaine IL was raining
harder. One was SO good rs to say they
were showers of blessing" Upon
whom shall not attempt to answer. l
no Je, on us all.
Iarrived at st. Louis about six o'clock
the next morning via the Big Four
route and left at nine o'clock. via Mis-
souri, Pacific, for Kansas City. in which
place arrived at half past four O'Clock
10 the evening.
I had always been of the opinion that
1 looked like a person of ordinary intel
igence, but found l was mistaken when
I landed in Missouri.
In the seat just behind me sat an old
gentleman and as 1 felt lonesome, I
concluded to engage him in converse
tion. We were then travelling along
the Missouri river. We talked Of the
river, the country and general subjects;
finally he asked where / was from.
said "Ohio." He asked me from what
part 1, thinking of that "pretty little
village, in the grand old Buckeye
State, told him Logan County.
His next remark started me to
thinking as to my appearance. He
said, "Well, Sonney. you won't see any
wild Indians and buffaloes in Missoury." +"
laughed, and thought of the story
of the son of royalty, who asked of our
Representatives at 9 foreign court, how
far he would have to walk from New
York City, to kill a few Indians and
buffsloes before breakfast-ah! Ap-
pearance is sometimes deceitful, any
way, thought l.
The scenery through Missouri was
very attractive, especially along the
river. The crops were far advanced,
and broad acres of waving grain gave
promise of abundant hsrvests.
left Kansas City Friday evening
over the Chicago. Rock Island g. Pa
cific railroad, and awoke the next
morning near Wichita, Kan. The vast
fields of wheat out in head stretched
for miles to right and left of the track.
In one mans barn lot counted twelve
Mccormick binders being put in condi.
tion for work in the fields. As far as
eye could see there seemed to be moth.
ing to see but wheat. To recognize
something of the agricultural resources
of our nation one need but travel
through this western country.
In one herd l saw what estimated tC
be about 500 head of cattle. 1 said to g
| gentleman riding in the seat with me
That's more cattle than l ever saw in
one herd before. He told me OF one
drove of 5000 head and of q company
that owns aNpasture 200 miles in length
and claim to have a herd of $50, 600 cat
tie. There were sights and food fol
reflection for me. | saw great fields O
corn and great fields of cotton, and
thought to myself, truly, we are ia
vored nation.
AS we neared the northern boundar.
line of Oklahoma we were informed
that the roadbed was washed out neal
Enid, and we were compelled to take ,
circle from Blackwell, Kan, to Guth
rie, o. T., then across to Kingfsher, o
IT. We were able to make only abou
ten miles an hour because of the dan
gerous condition of the track. On,
bridge over the Checaskia river wa
out of line it seemed about foot, but
rode on the step of the coach (ready II
Jump while the train slowly crept owe
to the other side.
1t was dark when we arrived a
Kingfisher, and after delay OF abOu
two hours we started on into Indial
TERRITORY. The night was clear, tn
moon shone brightly, and the ''girl Il
the moon" smiled blandly as she locke
down on US, while I thought Of spend
ing a night alone in q hotel among tn
Indians of Indian Territory.
Il l arrived in Chickasha, in the west
ern part of the Chickasaw nation c
Indian Territory, about ii O'Clock ths
night, and went to hotel, at least tn
sign said "hotel" l made up IN
mind to try not to appear "tenderfoot
as started down street awhistling an
. searching for restaurant. finall
, found one. and ate until l was satisfied
then strolled leisurely back to tn
hotel. The landlord conducted me to
} room which was in the attic of b
\ building; the door was fastened by
little wooden button ON the door franz