The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-26
Saline County, Kansas.

May ~, l9U9.
Dear North Topeka People and Edi-
tor State Journal:
This evening finds me at the home
of one of the well-to-do farmers. Like
many of the other men of this county
my host has become wealthy by rails
ing wheat 1 see evidences of this
prosperity all over the place. The
house is two story, frame building
and shows considerable architectural
taste. 1t is fitted up with many mod
ern conveniences. Water for both
farm and domestic use is supplied by
q small stand pipe which is filled by
q windmill pump.
The man of the place is also think
ing of installing an electric dynamo
and motor to furnish light and power.
At present the house has phone, as
is the case of nearly all of the farm
houses in this county.
AS I write 1 hear the farmers light
haired, blue eyed daughter playing
classical music on the piano. When
she gets tired of playing the old man
will set a first class graphophone to
going or may take her over to Salina
in his automobile.
This is something of a sketch of
prosperity, but the farmers here have
come by 1t honestly. Most of them
came in the early days when land was
very cheap, settled and lived through
the grasshopper season and subse-
<the grit to stay became fairly pros
perous after the years of good wheat
crops came. Truly wheat-not cotton
lis king here.
In the harvest time the country is
swarmed with harvest hands MANY
of whom are transient hobos. Others
are young men from eastern COL
leges who come out to see Kansas and
buffaloes and go back full of aston
ishment. and sunburns and aching
limbs from the toll in the hot sun.
I understand that at harvest the far
mers get up at daylight and work in
the fields until it is too dark to see.
OF course a days delay costs many
dollars.
However, when it is all said and
done, wealth does not always bring
complete happiness. This afternoon
I was canvassing a mother in one of
the homes like the one in which I am
stopping tonight. AS 1 was talking
and showing views. her girl entered
the room. I did not notice the child
closely, but upon showing the woman
picture of a large dog and child I
suggested that such a view would
please her own girl. The mother
shook her head quickly and choked
back sob. Just then the little girl
came close to me and turned up her
xace to mine. Through a bay window,
filled with plants and beautiful flow
ers, the sunlight fell full upon the lit
tie ones face Then I understood
the cause of the mothers grief. Her
daughter was stone blind.
felt very embarrassed and sorry
but tried to pass the incident by with
out remark.
-. am getting Sc the glimpses of the
! little tragedies of everyday life do not
affect me so very much any more. 7
have come to the conclusion that ev-
eryone has his troubles, and that each
is inclined to think that his troubles
are worse than those of anyone else.
So. do not take things very seriously.
Not so these Swedes: The story is
told that one of the reporters for a
Salina paper approached a Swedish
woman at the depot and asked her
where she was going, ETC.. afteS the
method of Salina Journalism. The
woman replied. in a solemn voice.
MY hoosban hae will tell you ali
about it." The reporter thought from
the somberness of her tone that some