The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-01-24
TALE OF ALOST TOWN
II Was a Lively Place While 1t w6'
on the Map.
Wnswn - Runynede, Kansas Ana
WAs the Abode Of Many imi-
tstion CNwboys and CeuA-
teSfeit DAA meA.

AnUE0 was - wCWe -
has lost its place on the map II was
named Runymede, but 1t 10 no mora
says the Philadelphia Press.
Capt. Charles Seton, who was form
erly an officer in the British army. 70.
surned recently 70 this country ana
when he read Of hunt for Lost towns
IN Kansas he told the following Story
about RuDymede; -
"You must first know, said me-
~that Runymede was o continuation
Of British inexperience, British crec'
uiity, British money. considerable
oockneyism and . ludtcrous attemPs
70 live on foolish hopes and foonAn
promises.
"The immigrants who came from
England 70 Kansas expected 10 gro"
rich over night and then return to
England to live ON champagne anu
venison.
at took two years to wear on tho
varnish, break the bank and turn GU.
the lights. And Rome-or shoulo
say Runymede-howled in the inter-
val.
"Runymede was created by north
of Ireland agitator named iurnley'
who hao lost money in the cotton
business in the United States. MS
son Edward bought 100 acres OF lanu
at $3.50 an acre in Harper county ano
began advertising in England that ne
was lord Of western paradise, where
golden birds sang in the trees and siA-
YER rivulets ran tinkling to the sea.
"For $500 a year he engaged to
teach the sons of English gentlemen
the mysteries of successful farming
and stock raising, provide for their
pbysical needs and administer such
educational tonics as would enable
them to hold the winning mana
wherever they might be-
"Runvmede, ~ miles northwest OF
Harper, in the middle of bound iess
prairie, with only one tree in slgnt'
was founded as the center 81 TINS en-
terprise, and at Runymede congregat-
ed the good souls who listened 10
Turnley's tinted tales.
"It was to be the great commercial
depot of the west. 1t was with glow
ing hearts that my party OF 10 men
and women sailed from England IN
May, 1889, for the new world.
$50 anxious was to find agreeable
quarters at the end of my journey
that, with fearful extravaganza l
sent a long cablegram to TURNKEY 10
build me a house forthwith and have
it ready for me upon my ARRIVAL
When | reached Runymede there wa s
no house in sight, and we were glad,
likewise disguised, to find lodging az
the ranch house, where we braVed the
terrors of corn bread and fat bacon
until houses were built.
"Some of us had considerable
money. None of us had any financial
sense. While we waited for miracle
to be performed that would trans
form our arid home into blooming
garden, and the town Of Runymede
into a vast metropol "'sted ano
danoed and made m .oyed
Al, tho snorts dear I. carts
and dressed in the wonce!.-i gar
ments we had brought from the land
whose white cliffs look across the
channel TO Calais.
"Kansas was known as prohibi
ton state. and one guileless fattel
thought that Runymece would ne tht
salvation of his son. who had ACQUIRED
a big thirst for liquor. The lad kept
the trail hot between Runymede anc
Harper and maintained an irriga.inl
plant that would have overwhelmeC
the children of Israel. He always hae
some kim of a jag.
Kansas prohibition was failure il
Runymede. The good livers brongh
whole cargoes of the very best whisky
from Chicago. One youth fell heir II
$4,000 a year. and the thermore;e
in Runymede went up several degrees
What time he had.
THE men imagined that they wer,
in the very heart of the west, wher
the blood ran widest and redGest
They wore cowboy outfits, and an ar
senal of guns and knives ratified ol
them as they walked. They you'll
not go outside the house unless armet
TO the teeth. They were fond of pos
ing for their portraits in plot g~apl
galleries at Harper and Wichita, an
4 tremble even now at the terrible Ges
peraGoes that gaze at me from tn
faded pictures. Capt. Faulkner wa
an especially fierce-looking 'ccwboy
and was almost afraid OF himsel
when in full regalia.
Every fortnight there was racing
Rnnymede had a steeple course whic
afforded much amusement. Tn
riders bedecked themselves in all tn
glory of Solomon. John Lobb was tn
beau of the Steepiechase. Upon on
occa sion he appeared wearing a whit
stiff-bosomed shirt, collar and
flowing necktie, a black alpaca Goa
checked trousers that reached hal
way to his knees; white socks, dane
ing pumps, granger hat and laveI
der kid gloves.
Neigh borIy Advice.-Mrs. Nexdoo
My daughters getting to be quit
an enthusiastic piano player" Mr.
Peppery-"Yes; why don't you get he
, 70 join the union7" Mrs.. Nexdoor-
: Join the rninu?" Mrs. Peppery-
Yes; she wouldn't work more tina
light hours day at It then."-PhilI