The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-02-20
A Month in Oklahoma.

1t was on a Thursday evening /
when a Rock Island railway train
steamed up to the Cashion depot,
and a passenger stepped oil 10
walk on cafth to him unknown. !
The sky was overcast with drift
ing gray veil through which the
stars peeped mischievously, and in
the west could be seen streak OF
yellow light which lllumlned the
pathway OF a newcomer. A dis !
tance OF three miles was yet to be
reached and means nt convey
ance being obtained,a stranger was
soon being driven westward over
the prairie. The wind blew mourn
fully through the dry weeds and
wlthered grasses, aud above the
"voice OF the windn could be heard
the deep measured clank Of
rapidly VIII irling wind mill.
Through the fast gathering dusk
shone the dull red lights from the
scattered farmhouses.
The driver by a leather stimulant
frequently reminded his stee1 OF
the importance OF his mission, and
briskly were two travellers taken
over the surface till, after short
time, journey that had been so
wearisome and fatlguing was at
end.
Being refreshed by the slumbers
Of night, there arosein the morn
ing another inhabitant to gaze up
on new world. The day began
with clOuded sky, and the wind
rustled through the turdy branch
es of the elm and cottonwood trees,
which fringe the banks Of an adj
jacent stream. To east, west and
south We're stretching afar beauti-
ful whoatfelds ; and looking to the
north could be seen the forest of
the Cimarron River, which in its
distance looked like a menacing
stormcloud. Like child who had
first stayed from the doorstep these
new surroundings we're as wonder
fully strange. But icing for a
month regularly associated with
these unaccusiomed lands and
these new people, 1t seems more
homelike.
The people OF Oklahoma are
hospitable, generous, and progress
live. Instead Of the sol house they
live in homes of the most modern
design. Agriculture is more sue
cessfully carried on thar it is in
many places in the east. A farmer
who lives among the hills would
be required to study the use OF the
farming implements something
: less than year before he would be
permitted to enter farm as
, laborer. 1t is an easy task to plant
from seven or eight acres in a day
/ Ibis is fine country for a lazy
, man to farm. He can do the mos
, OF his work riding in a comfortable
seat. Ground can be plowed, corr
dropped and covered simultaneous
ly with the same implement.
The school system is excellent II
: this territory, Educational ad
! vantages far exceed that in grea
many OF the old states. There is
, we'll furnished schoolhouse on eacl
, three miles square, making, at thu
;, greatest, "a distance OF one mil'
( and half for the pupils TO wall
D to school. The teachers wage
5 range from forty to seventy-fv
dollars per mouth. The schoo
= terms are seven, eight, or min
months as the board direct; ant
the district pay the teacher at tn,
end of each month.
There are numerous churches i
\ this country. There are Sunda
Y schools " hich are regularly attenC
\ cd. Much money is beirg spent
a promote the cause OF Chrlstianit.
I This prairie which formerl
| ,ened a desolate p ain is indeed
Z a rapid state of progress. Whel
! once roamed vast herds OF buffalo
z now are eX tenslve wheat and cor
fields aud there are numerou
y railroads running through I'll
N country fac iIitating the transport
q ton of tho farm products. \
\ more are heard the hideous cries
y the wolf, the distressing wall
II the coyote, or the prate OF Il
\ prairie hen; and the dusky rd
n that was once u monarch of the
: prairles has become so subdu,
III that now civilization reigns 5
premely. And like the farmers
le Grand Pre- which are so beautiful
ne discussed in LongfeIlow's Evang'
@, line, the farmers OF Oklahoma a
rt living at peace with themselv
and the world. Leslie SwetnaI
sh The Easy Pill.
DeWitts Little EaIly Risers
ly not grippe nor weaken the syste
Il