The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-28

I
W. F. White, who was the general pas
senger agent of the Santa F'e in 1881
when the interstate commerce law
pruned the pass list. The letter IS as
follows:
Hudson, Wis. March 90 1887.
W. F. White. Esq. General Passenger
Agent Ttchison, Topeka & .a.sta Re
Railroad, Topeka. Kan.
Dear Sir:-I inclOse herewith annual
pass No. Q035 for self and family over
your justly celebrated road during the
year 1887. I also return your photo
graph and the letters you have written
me during the past five years WIZ you
kindly return mine2 And so this brief
each must 80 his own way hereafter
Alasi
To you this letter may be easy. but it
brings a pang to my heart which your
letter of the 4st inst can not wholly
alleviate.
Whenever hereafter you look upon
this speckled pass win you not
think of me2 Remember that you have
cast me from you, and that am wan
dering across the bleak and wind
swept plains. sadly enumerating the ties
of my way to eternity
do not say this TO reDroach you
for I fear that you care for another
and so we could not be happy again
together. But. oh, do you pause to fully
comprehend the pang It costs me 10
return this pleasant faced little pass
with its conditions on the back2 should
you see me even now. as I write these
lines turning away ever and anon. lay
ing aside my trembling pen 10 90 and
sit I'D by the crate and shudder and
weep and nut out the IRE with nay
bitter tears. your heart would soften
and you would say. Return. on. wan
derer, return. You do not say in your
letter that I have been false to you. or
that I have ever grown cold You sim
ply say that it would be better for eaeH
+arrfr q
my several ways are passing away
passing away.
It is all very well for you to talk
about going your several ways you
have every facility for doing So HUt
with me it is different Several years
ago a large northwestern cyclone and
myself tried to pass each other on TIE
same track. When the wrecking crew
found me I was in the crotch 81
/ butternut tree with a broken leg since
that time 7 have walked with great
difficulty and to 20 my several ways
fhas been a very serious matter with me
But 1 do not want You to think taar
1 am murmuring. L accept my doom
calmly, yet with a slight tinse OF Afiz--
Vailing regret.
some time. perhaps. in the middle of
the dark angry night, when the colo
blasts wall through the telegraph wires
and the crashing sleet rushes with vice
and impetuOus fury against the WIZ
dows of your special car, as you Jas
warmly ensconced in your voluptuols
berth and hear the pitiless winds ~slth
hoarse and croupy means chase eacn
other around the Kansas haystaczss or
shrek Wildly away as they HgnL out
for their cherries home in the u7d
lands will YOU not think OF me ais
grope on blindly through the keen ana
pitiiess blasts. stumbling over cattle
guards. falling into culverts. and beat
ing out my rare young brains against
your rough right OF way VIII you not
I ~ Ill So a. 1rf
but I do ask this as we separate for-
ever AS you whizz by me do not treat
me with cortumely or throw crackers
at me when I have meekiy turned OUT
to let your naughty old train 20 by
have always spoken Of ycu in the hiEh-
est terms. and hope you viii do the
same by me.
especially so for those who have 20
walk. Walking has already shortened
my life a great deal, and Wouidn
be surprised If the exposure and bun
ions of the year 1887 carried me on
leaving a gap in American literature
that will look ike new cellar
Should any Of your engineers OF
/ trackmen find me frozen IN q cut next
winter when the grass gets snort ana
the NIGHTS get long. will you kindly ask
them to report the brand 10 your sii-
ditor and instruct MIN 70 allow ny
family what he thinks would be rlgnt
hate to write to you IN TINS 0e1e1Eatl
manner but YOU can not understand
how heavy my heart is today as ren
these lines.
wish you and your beautiful read
,,nraitieated success It is a good road.
for I have passed over it and enjoyed H.
How different the country VIII iooE %
me as 7 go bounding from tie 70 tie.
slowly repeating to nyset the IIte r.
mark once made by the governor %
North Carolina to the governor OF South
I hone YOU may never know what it is
.~re re-
Junta with the dust Of many z mile
llpon YOU and the thirst OF 2 long TN
eventful journey in your throat hope
congress viii not pass law next year
which viii make it felony for rail-
road man TO say gosh" without per-
nit I hope your life VIII be chuck fun
of hurrah and nallelujah- even If mine
should be always bleak and 1oyiess
Can I do your road any good, either
at home or abroad2 Can J be Of any
service to you over your right OF way
bv collecting nuts. bolts old iron. ~
other bric-a- brace I would be glad to
influence immigration or pull weeds 81
you would only be-willing 10 regard me
as an erlploye-
young features OF your pass before
fnally sealing this letter How sad "a
see an annual pass cut down IN Iife.z
young morning ere one-fourth Of its
race has been rum How touchful TO
part with II forever
What a sad year this has been 50 FAR
Earthquakes. fires. storms. railway dis
asters. and death in every forra have
visited our country and now. like the
biting blasts from Siberia or the min
ping frosts from Manitoba. comes the
Congressional cut-worm. cutting on th-
early crop of Towering ANIMALS Just -
they had budded TO bloom into beauty
and usefulness.
I viii now close this sad letter ~ 81
over into the vacant lot behind the rfgr
board fence. where can sob il an H.
! fefteTed Wav without Ensfrfu-- the .-r-..--
out Of my easement.
Yours, with a crockfui OF unshed tear.
BILL NxE.