The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-19
HAL
BOYLE
SAYS
By Val BOYLE

Hletl, d1u III IitF HeaFt she IauStieu
because she knew she was taller
than they were.
| She was taller than they were
because she had more land. And in
her heart she felt that land was
power, because she trusted acre.
more than people.
Sc .1histication and recognition
were pretty much new 10 Ga year
old Susan. Vaughan when she
cans here on visit to Manhattan
Island from Montana.
But they weren't as new as she
made out. Well. like any other
stranger in town she kind OF hung
back about telling her story, You
know how fG.ks from out of town
are---fhey can't help from believing
that the resident rascals are plain
waiting to ambush them and their
dreams.
Well. am a local yOkel and ]
sure did waylay this country girl
on her first sustained visit TO the
big city. She. was fun to squire
around, and this was her story:
She was one Of l6 children born
In Ireland. and naturally she set
tied 0ser here in small coy
place like Montana. 1t reminded
| her of h0me-it was so much ig-
ger. You have To know the people
from the old country to understand
her land hunger.
She and her man-Dan, his name
was--started with 40 acres where
that was an apology and a posi-
bility.
| The family did Let of pioneer
ing way out West where the wind
blows free and the animals Craze
when they can. Susan is pretty
proud of Dan for providing her
with the first house in her lifetime
that had hot and cold running
water and the local definition OF
central heating.
There also were five sons and
/, five daughters he gave her. Oh
course it is hard to pick among
children - in Montana or your
town. But ] don't think Susan will
ever forget her sixth child, now
known also as Susan and no more
her fav0rite than some OF the 9Th.
ers today.
Dan knew Of course he couldn't
get 10 a d0ctor--they are a long
way off In Montana. and the coun.
try isn't shrinking. Susan spread
La rug on the cold floor when the
pains came upon her and had a
normal birth and q fine daughter
all alone. Her other children wait
ed in another room. She cut the
cord Of birth and blew warm
breath upon the cold frame Of her
newborn babe.
The neighbor woman that Dan
brought said with the exultatiOn of
all women:
Il knew you would do ii, I knew
you would"
Dan went into another rOom--he
was o strong man---and went.
| In 1881 Dan gave up his long
struggle against the weather and
1.-THE land and died. He left Susan
! a widow with 10 children. and
about $50. 900 in debts.
Nobody sent me single bill, ]"
she recalls. land, of course, they
didn't really have to-
How about today? Well, the bank
er is ready to talk tc Susan any
time, back there in any town near
Miles City. She's got the bail mon
| ey ready for her herders when
they come into town after six
months or so In the hills.
Oh, maybe there's 1000 cattle or
so now. and say 1900 ewes and
1,400 lambs. But how about that
spreading patch of Montana she
contrOlsa
well, of course now they are
Hooking for Oh that way out there. !"
said Susan cautiously. you know
| just have no respect for people
who fib. ! don't respect them at
all. / suppose maybe we own or
lease about $4,000 to 100, 900 acres
or more. And some beyond that. !"
/ Pause.
But II was Dan first and then
the children who are responsible
for" said Susan, earnestly, the
little old lady in broken spectacles.
Somebody broke them by humping
into her since she came here.
She said that, city ways aside,
she had been well treated on Man.
hattan Island which is consider
ably smaller than 100, 900 acres,
which is more than $50 square
miles.
"0f course. the land here Is
more valuable, she said politely,
boxing around with no air Of real
conviction at the nearest skyscrap.
! er and added absent- mindcdly:
''You know. I once saw q COW
wrap her legs around her calf to
keep it from freezing. believe in
nature. Take our sheep. | feel
| We take care of mr. sheen fhav