Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-09-30

that the magazine pays VI . WORD TOT
the piece. A lot Of it reads like
, country editors report Of an editorial
excursion to Colorado. SO filled Is It
with compliments for everybody who
helped make the trip so. But there
is some good stuff and this is part
Of It:
Next morning we we're in the game
country, and as we sat on the seat
over the cow-catcher it was literally
like passing through vast zoologi-
cal garden. Indeed no such railway
journey can be taken on any other
line in any other land. AT one time
we passed a herd of dozen or SO Of
great CRATES, cows and calves, can
tering along through the open woods
a couple of hundred yards to the
right of the train. Again, still clos
or, four water-back cows, their big
ears thrown forward, stared at us
without moving until we had passed.
Hartebeasts were everywhere; one
herd was on the track, and when the
engine whistled they bucked and
sprang with ungainly agility and gal
Hoped clear of the danger. A long
tailed straw-colored monkey ran
from one tree to another. Huge black
ostriches appeared from TINA to time.
Once troop of impalla, close by the
track, took fright; and as the beauti-
full creatures fled we saw now one and
now another bound clear over the
high bushes. A herd of zebra clat-
tered across cutting of the line not
a hundred yards ahead of the train;
the whistle hurried their progress,
but only for moment and as we
passed they were ALREADY turning
around to gaze. The wild creatures
were in their sanctuary, and they
knew it. Some of the settlers have
at times grumbled at this game re-
serve being kept of such size; but
surely it is one Of the most valuable
possessions the country could have.
The lack of water in parts, the preva-
lence in other parts of diseases harm
full to both civilized man and domestic
cattle, render this great tract Of coun-
try the home of all homes for the
wild creatures of the waste. The
protection given these wild creatures
is genuine, not nominal; they are
preserved, not for the pleasure Of
the few, but for the good Of all who
choose to see this strange and attract
ie spectacle; and from this nursery
and breed1ng-ground the overflow
keeps up the stock Of game in the
adjacent land, to the benefit Of the
settler to whom the game gives fresh
meat, and to the benefit Of the whole
country because Of the attraction It
furnishes to all who desire to visit
veritable happy hunting ground.
The day after we landed we board
ed the train to take what seems to
me, as think 1t would to most men
fond of natural history, the most in
terestlng railway journey in the
world 1t was Governor Jackson's
special train, and in addition to his
own party and ours there was only
Selous; and we travelled with the
utmost comfort through naturalist's
wonderland. All civilized. govern
ments are now realizing that 1t is
their duty here and there to preserve
unframed tracts Of wild nature, with
thereon the wild things the destruc-
ton of which means the destruction
Of half the charm Of wild nature.
The English government has made a
large game reserve of much of the
region on the way to Nairobi, stretch
ing far to the south, and one mile to
the north Of the track. The reserve
swarms with game; it would be Of
little value except as reserve; and
the attraction it now offers to trav-
ellers renders it an asset Of real con-
sequence to the whole colony.
On our train the locomotive was
fitted with a comfortable seat across
the cow-catcher, and on this, except
at meal time. spent most of the
hours Of daylight, usually in company
with selous, and often with Governor
Jackson, to whom the territory and
the game were alike familiar. The
first afternoon we did not see many
wild animals, but birds abounded,
and the scenery was both beautiful
and interesting. A black-and-white
hornbil, feeding. on the track, rose
50. late that we hearty caught It with
our hands; guinea-fowl and francolin,
and occasionally bustard, rose near