Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-07-22

Harm. &c II the 0Dborpln8 pfODAou
Of the politician, the suggestion Q
tie preacher. the basis Of the bust
ness mans plans.
| Shall the congregation build al
addition TO the church? Yes, 1
1.-THE harvest Be fair Shall th'
daughters room have new furniture
Ives, II the wheat be q success.
AS harvest time draws nearer there
are anxious looks at the fields and
the townspeopIe take long drives into
the country to look over the stretches
Of green. later turning to gold. The
next day at the street corner; q
drove forty miles yesterday and never
saw the wheat more beautiful. 1t ia
going to be a good crop"
To be sure there were years when
the story was less roseate, when
there were tales of bare fields, when
the stand" was not good in some
townships, when heads were shaken
and advice was given to take in
sail on business operations.
But nothing like that has been
known for decade. Each year
with the regularity Of the summer
sun has come the glory Of the wheat,
and each year the tide Of prosperity
has risen with the richness Of the
harvest. Expansive plans have been
put forth, and each year have been
carried to more perfect fruition.
When the final scene comes, when
the binders and headers have gone
rafting through. the streets toward
the farms, when the army OF imni-
grant harvesters has dropped on
the night freights and the strangers
have taken up their abiding places
in the village park; when the farm
ers drive sweaty horses to the hard
ware stores and throw heaps OF
binding twine into the wagons, then
hurry away to the cOuntry--it is the
climax.
Not much doing in the Kansas
town in harvest time. The streets
are deserted by farmers teams.
The high school and college boys
have gone to the country to earn
their 81 day ana to gain a hand
some coat Of tan on faces and arms.
The townspeople furnish the audi
ences for the moving picture shows,
and the band concerts. The business
activity is in the country.
When a farmer comes to town
on an errand he is surrounded by
eager questioners.
How is the wheat turning out?"
Pretty well--going twenty BUSH
els to the acre in our section"
The merchants smile. The bank
ers nod their heads with approval.
The newspaper men take On item
for the weekly issue and for tele-
grams for the city dailies.
This Is something like. It means
that there viii be money I'd spend
for Injuries during the autumn and
winter. 1t means that the town
stores will sell big bills Of goods. 1t
means that there will be another
year Of good times-for SO long as
the rain falls ana the sun shines at
opportune periods :here always will
be good times in Kansas.
\ On Sunday the automobiles of the
towhtolks are put in order tor long
runs. The roads are dry and fhe.
skies dear. All aboard for he conn
try to We tbs harvestl ont OTsI the
river bridge. across the wide bottoms
where the wheat is in shock, and on
up the slopes to the uplands.
Here It Is that one sees the beauty
Of harvest. The car climbs to the
high road and stretching for miles is
the undulating prairie cut into
squares Of green and yellow. Tie
corn is just in its summer vlgor. The
wheat is outlined like great spots OF
deeper sunshine. Stacks Of grain,
shocks, bundles and yet waving ac-
res that reflect the glory Of the day
are spread as far as the eye can
reach. It Is the most beautiful pic
lure the plains can give.
Here and there an anxious farmer
has considered 1t no Dissertation Of
sanctity to gather his wait
ing grain, The hum Of the binder
borne far in the summer breeze adds
! touch OF life to the presentment.
A silent threshing outfit stands
ready for It's whirring task in the
sarly morning.
10 be sure there is WEAKNESS in
harvest. The farmer and his family
look forward to It as time Of in
tense application ami are glad when
The end has come and the reddish
vatfnry traSauro a aafa In fhh ornn-