Year: 1878




18th July, 1 will say of Kansas City that it is
one of the most thriving business places of the
west. The huge grain elevators, many rail-
roads, business blocks, and general activity
ale evidences that her merchants garner the
wealth OF the great farms and ranches OF
are elegant and command extensive views of
the Missouri liver and adjacent country.


Fnm Kansas City we took through car to
ent prsiiie land in the man isaaS PortSns
of kas ern n. Kansas are well wooded and
watered, differing in this respect materially
places they were mining for coal and shipping
large quantities of it. The houses of the cen
na1 and rural districts appear to be bull,
largely OF white lime stone, which gives the
The rocks crop out of the hillsides in walls so
regular that they look as though masons, not
nature, had done the work.


We passed through Lawrence, Topeka and
EmpOria. To one accustomed to the grade Of
eastern cities, it seems strange that while
riding through these places he should be able
of most of the country.


BUILDING Up THE WASTE PLACES.


from Larned We took a ride of about sixty
miles in an uncovered wagon. The weather
immensely, as the experience and sights were
novel to US. Our destination was the ranch of
Dr. Lawrence Wilson, an old and we'll known
resident Of Washington. The ride, shooting
and glorious air, gave US ravenous appeIites
About year ago correspondent of The
STAR Travelled through this region; and. after
trace of civilization; but today the plain is
dotted with houses for miles, and the land is
everyw here being broken for future crops
Most of the farms are taken up under the
homestead act, which requires that the person
taking The land shall live upon and improve it
seven or eight years, and also erect dwelling
that is inhabitabie and has door and a wil-
dow. 1t is remarkable what some people cOa
ceive TO be an ''inha bitatle" dwelling.


CATTLE RAISING ON THE PLAINS.


1t took US two days to reach Wilson's ranch.
We found that the doctor had not as YET en-
although his preparations and determination
are to that effect. Here let me remark that
no business offers such splendid inducements
are so mild that cattle require little or no feed,
and in summer they fatten on the boundleSS
expanse Of prairie. The labor of keeping a
herd is comparatively small and the profit is
sue.


We saw our first antelope when about 25
miles from Larned. 1t was magnificent
buck he surveyed US with head erect for a
moment and then glided away with grace
iul motion. We saw many more in the course
of the TIP, and l tried to shoot one, but being
wary, did not succeed.


Buffalo there were none, but their bones are
bleachii g on the ground everywhere. Quite a
trade indeed has sprung up from the export of





Prairie chickens, plover and snipe we found
quite Dlentifully. Quail are near wooded ra
vines and in October and November countless
corn and wheat fields. The incest % sport M tn fu Il
l ever had; however. was in shooting the
prairie chickens. They are swift of wing, and
it requires some skill to shoot them fiving.
WheD we'll cooked by some knowing ranch.
man, and eaten while sitting AROUND the camp
fire there can be nothing more delicious.
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.


We witnessed the eclipse on the % h OF July.
noon and did not at first notice it, but the sun,
which v as intensely hot, became cooler so rap.
idly we we're puzzled TO account for the change
Ihe air lost Its usual cearness and bI came
haZy, and objects assumed a wierd, unnatural
appearance. AT once my companion looked
up and exclaimed The eclipse.'' The air now
became clear steel blue, the chirp of the
cricket and other insects became fainter and
falhttr a hush that was awe Inspiring in the
extreme came over everything. Gradually the
sun ms tied away and the light became darke
VI e. One cOu d now view the sun wi h he
naked 'ye and anything more impressive
lever witnessed.


SUN RISE IN KANSAS.


The ur often rises here unobscured by a
cloud. Before dawn, while the stars are yet
visible, there comes band Of gray light in
the east. Then long pencilled rays shoot out
from the horizon. The gray becomes violet
di k TO view, brilliant red. The effect is
richer when the sun sinks amid the clouds be
low the western horizon, and night follows a
short twilight.


TO one accus toned to the confinement of an
office there can be nothing more invigorating
than journey of this kind and life in the
open air for about two weeks Try it, dyspep-
TIC; and OverWorked man OF business, and you
health, strength and spirits. Truly,