Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-07-13

his hunt for buffalo on the
II Kansas Pacific west of Abilene
was written by Joseph @. Nc
~ Coy, first mayor Of Abilene
; and founder OF the cattle
trails.-Editor.
In the year 1871 the Grand Duke
Alexis OF Russia, then but youth
of about twenty years Of age, visited
the United State accompanied by
numerous high officials Of the Rus
sian government.
The Grand Duke and his cortege
were received and entertained by the
federal government as guests, and
all the attention was bestowed upon
the Ducal party by Uncle Sam that
was thought to be due such disting-
uished personages, and no reasonable
effort or expense we're spared enter
tanning, and conducting the visitors
to various sections Of the country.
Nearly all the principal cities were
visited, and the resources OF the
country, mercantile, manufacturing
and agricultural, were proudly ex-
hibited to the eyes OF his August
Majesty and his party, who were
transported over the country in an
elaborate train of Pullman's finest,
under the escort and chapronage
Of General Phil Sheridan and Colonel
Custer who were detailed by Uncle
Sam to do "the grand handsome" re-
CARELESS Of expense.
At that time the government OF
the United States, and especially the
intelligent people Of the northern
states, entertained especial feelings
and sentiments Of the tenderest and
highest regards toward the Russian
government and people, by reason of
their more than friendly attitude
toward this government in her then
late gigantic struggle to maintain
its unity and put down rebellion. 1t
was commonly believed, and not
without substantial reason, that Rus
SLAMS marked and emphatic friend
ship toward the Union government
was the chief obstacle In preventing
England and probably France, from
interfering by force In behalf Of the
Confederate government, and their
form Of recognition Of the Confeder-
acy as an existing government. Such
foreign recognition was confidently
counted on by the adherents of the
Confederate government, for 1t was
rightly held that such recognition
would assure the success Of the new
government, and when the Confed-
erates realized that their cherished
hope of foreign Intervention and
consequent prestige and aid would
not materialize, their hope Of final
success was greatly dimmed.
1t was popularity believed that a
large fleet of Russian war vesse.s
lay off the Atlantic coast for an en-
tire critical summer for the sole pur-
pose to checkmate any movement
looking toward Intervention in our
domestic or political affairs by Eng
land or any other nation. 1t is popu-
larry believed that Alaska was pur-
chased by Secretary Seward as round
about way of reimbursing Russia for
her naval expenditures, rather than
rs q desirable acquisition Of terri
tory, for at that time Alaska was
regarded as an almost worthless
realm of icebergs, an inhospitable
home of glaciers and polar bear, OF
little productive or real value, with
out an acre OF arabic, inhabltable
land.
For the foregoing reasons 1t is not
hard to see why the people, espec-
Ially those loyal to the Union, should
have had warm feeling for Russia,
and were only too glad of an occa-
zion to manifest by warm welcome,
lavish attention and luxurious enter
Iainment one SO near related to the
Gear Of all the Russians.
1t is related that whilst the royal
rain wss passing through the manu-
Iackuring towns OF New England,
he Grand Duke, beholding the we'll
dressed, intelligent looking factory
operatives that congregated at rail-
way stations to greet and cheer the
gorgeous train, asked where
we're our peasant classes, and was
lstonished when told that he was
ooklng at Americas lowest classes
4 laborers. Evidently he expected
o see thousands dressed in sheep
md goat skins as one would see in
amllar towns IN Russia.
Among the things planned to en-