The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-30
SPIRIT OF KANSAS
David OVermyer's Scholarly Ad-
dress at st. Louis.
Depicts in Eloquent Terms
Development of the State.
LONGS FOR AN INGALLS,
Says That Only He Could Do
Occasion Justice.
Supremacy OF Agriculture
Makes Kansas Great.

St Louis. Sept sO.-One of the most
eloquent addresses delivered at the
Kansas exercises at the exposition
grounds today was that of David over
nyer. His subject was The Spirit of
Kansas"
The following extended synopsis is
given:
Mr. Overmyer's Speech
Who shall truly tell the story of
Kansas? -Four hundred miles long,
200 miles wide; lying between the
thirty-seventh and fortieth parallels of
north latitude, in the climate of the
primitive Aryan race; extending from
the western border of Missouri to che
foot hills of the Rocky Mountains; ris-
ing from 500 feet on the east to 1900
feet on the west above the level of the
sea, drained by great rivers; fertile,
sun-lit. salubrious, teeming with every
product of the temperate zones rich III
coal and stone and other minerals. nat
ural gas and oil; her green and purple
plains. her smiling valleys, her walls
of corn" her endless wheat fields, her
countless herds and happy homes, pre-
sent a picture OF abundance. exhuber-
ance and eXultatiOn-
All Kansas, like "An Gaul,' is divid-
cd into three parts; not designated like
Caesars conquered provinces, by the
tribal names of their inhabitants, but
by altitude. atmosphere, soil and pro-
duction. The eastern third may be
called the corn belt, and produces in
great abundance substantially all the
products known to this country The
central third, gradually rising higher
and higher. embraces perhaps, the
greatest wheat region OF the North
American continent While the western
third, towering aloft into the mountain
atmosphere. arid. rugged, silent and
sublime. is covered with short, greentsh
grey grass, exceedUgly nutritious, call
ed buffalo grass. This region has been
named the short gtass country The
land is fertile. and needs only mois-
ture to make it valuable for cultiVa-
ton. At present this highland heath
grass sustains countless cattle, sheep
and horses. and many of the inhabit-
ants of the short grass country are
among the wealthiest of the state.
Only an Ingalls,.
So much for physical Kansas, her
length. her breadth, her har-
vests. her fruits her vines, her
heIds. her substance and her material
might. but what of her spirit? 1 ask
again. who shall tell her story? What
pen can fifty, truly write her history?
What tongue can tell of her tribula-
ton? What thinner can portray the
marvellous lights and shadows cast up
on the canvas of time by this young
commonwealth The one Master.
whose strong, deft hand. could WELD
the brush. and touch the profound
chords sleeps his last deep sleep in
her friendly soil. Ingallsi The incom-
parable Ingalls,
His intellectual strength and integri-
~ forbade deception. He dared to
speak the truth as he saw it. respect
ing everything and everybody: to tear
the mask from the face of history, an
Gent or modern. and expose talSehOOd,
superstition and imposture wherever
found ErTatic. eXcentric, cynical. but
sincere, his genius, his learning. his
wisdom. his candor and courage chal-
lenged the admiration alike of friends
and foe. In the maturity" and prime of
his great powers he was suddenly
gathered to his fathers. Would that
he were here to speak. as only he
could speak, for Kansas on this great
day.