The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-08-12

state or North Dakota; but when I
say that I do not want you to under
stand me as in the least discounting
the splendid people of the North
west"
The speaker was Hon. John l.. Nc
Laurin. He was telling a representa-
tive OF the Yorkville Enquirer about
some of the experiences and observa-
tions during his recent canvass of the
state In aid of the Non Partisan
league. Most of the time was taken
up with speech making and the like;
but, nevertheless, he did not fail to
take advantage of different opportun-
tiles to learn something Of the numer-
Gus customs and general mode of life
of the people.
That North Dakota country, ac-
cording to geologists. was once COW
cred with water, whether fresh water
or salt cannot say; but it was most
probably both. General the country
Is quite level; but occasionally there
is a rocky eminence that was once an
island and frequently there are lakes.
that were at the bottom of the sea.
Some OF these lakes are fresh water
and some are salt, or alkaline. Every
where the soil is as rich as it can be
and seemingly without any bottom. /
do not exaggerate when / tell you
that generally the soil is of a nature
which. IL brought away in sacks and
offered toordinary South Carolina up-
lands would be as beneficial as most
or the fertilizers we get here.
But the great drawback" Senator
McLaurin continued, 'is the climate.
which is extremely cold throughout
the long winter and dreadfully hot
during the short summers. MANY Of
the people out there-most Of them,
In fact-are now comfortably estab-
hshed, but when you inquire into the
conditions that confronted them when
they first arrived, and consider the
situation as you find it now, you can
not help being impressed with the
idea that you have had detailed to
you the development of a miracle.
THE head of one of the homes in
which 1 was entertained was Swede
by the name of Ole Oleson. The home
is an eight-room house Of brick. stone,
and stucco. 1t is surrounded with a
thick grove Of cotton wood trees. or
saplings, the largest of them about
six inches through. The barn so yards
away Is much larger than the house
1t is built in the side of an eminence
half above ground and half under
ground, with rows of trees hedging IL
in to the north anu northwest. The
family circle consisted OF the wife and
mother. two stalwart sons and three
strong comely daughters, all of them
apparently accustomed to hard work
and plenty of it. Another son lives
with his family in another house
something like a quarter of a mile
away.
II took dinner with the Olesoni
family one day. 1t was pretty Sc
we're dinner and l can't say that I en-
Joyed anything about It except the
honest hospitality and the knowl-,
edge that everything was clean. For
instance, the principal dish was fresh
pork, something l never touch in the
summer time; but there was some !
roast chicken that was good. There
was also some nice bread. Pork. |
chicken, bread. milk and butter. and
Kind of highland berry somewhat
suggestive OF the gooseberry, but the i
like OF which had never seen before.
completed the spread. There was SUI
gar. salt and pepper. of course, and "a.
have said before a most kindly weTI
come with 1t all.
"Mr. Oleson is about 60 years of
age, and is grizzly giant, six feet,
six inches high and weighs about $50
pounds. His head and face are sug-i
gestive OF the sculptor's conception of
Greek or Roman gol, and his gen
orally gentle toned conversation, still
further softened by the hight of his
kindly eyes. gives you a swift and
lasting impression that his only con.
cern is for those around him and
those to come afterward.
After the dinner accompanied the
old Swede and several members of
the family to the living room. which
was furnished with tables. chairs.
bear and buffalo skins. On the walls