WAVERLAND. i
MTtali of our coming landlords.
ST SARAH MABIE BRIQHA.
1
Copyri-ihUd, 1SS8.
Ugt at innt nn tha rMrri ntrrlil iif
toad gathered In the west, and we saw
Aia Neptune lashed Into fury by a most
terrific thunder storm. The great ship was
dashed from side to side like a toy. Then
I found that sea sickness is one of the usu
al penalties for crossing the ocean. Brack
ing myself with my umbrella, I was ready
to surrender all, even to my boots. All
night I heard something on my cabin floor
rolling to and fro as the great ship rolled
from side to side on the mountainous
waves, but I was too sick to care to ex-
amine what it was. When morning cams I
and the storm without and the tempest '
in had subsided, I saw my beautiful i
ew silk hat (and what Englishman is i
er without one?) with the rim worn off i
.,ni minus a crown. It had fallen to tha I
i'uui wi ma ruiiieu. a storm at bos
makes one feel very helpless. A terrible
r ' storm on land Is a trial to people's nerves,
( but there you are only threatened with
danger from above. At sea you are like an
atom tossed about, as helpless as a leaf In
the wind. I thought of the philosophy
An.l .. I I , - ' - A
of Ba
asH
of Sambo when he said, "Ef de cahs run
de track, dah ye is; ef de boat goes to
ea, whan Is ye?"
was a grand sight that met our view
as' the sun rose over the black cloud thai
i 7 bad just passed over us. The waters were
rolling mountains high and every wave
. teemed determined to engulf the ship.
V That was the only storm we had during
our voyage. After it was over I was glad
i J ef having had the experience of seeing the
1 1 mighty ocean when maddened into fury.
, One evening a call was made for the
r vouncr violinist. While she is not cnmhlncr.
ly beautiful, she has a bright look that is
very attractive. She has a clear complex
ion tinged with the rosy glow of health,
dark eyes, an expressive mouth, and slight
ly Roman nose. As she took her position
the was greeted with hearty cheers. Mak
ing a slight bow of thanks, she held her
violin in her white, tapering fingers and
With their skillful touch and the graceful
movements of the bow she sent forth the
most delicate melodies selected from her
favorite operas, and some choice gems
from the old masters she rendered with an
ease and skill that Ole Bull himself might
haV(6 tried in vain to surpass. I thought of
, Stella, how she would have enjoyed the
treat. But where was my lost friend?
, i Was I leaving her behind, or would I find
Vier in the new world scattering sunshine
1 Nand gladness ?
.There is no place where one is so tempt
ed to peep into his neighbor's life as oo
iiip board. One day as I was standing on
fleck thinking of my lost friend, the duke
Hme to me, and, placing his hand upon
i J shoulder, said:
1'A penny lor your thoughts! You look
gravel"
)J For a moment 1 was startled. I had
been thinking so intently that I had for
gotten everything. At first I made no re
jT ply; then I said:
r s "May I ask yon a question V
"Yes, a dozen if you like," he said,
,;f laughing.
'i "Have you never seen any one that you
loved well enough to make her your wife,
i. that you are still a bachelor? "
' .4 To.mj
tut mon
i TT "Yes,
my surprise he looked annoyed, but
moment said:
a young girl won all the love of
my heart once. But Bhe was not free to
') choose. When but a child her father
' promised her hand in marriage to a friend
of his. She never knew how dear she was
to me. She married the man of her fath
er's choice. Now she is a widow, beauti
ful, they say, and immensely rich. I have
never seen her since her marriage. Her
home is in Iiondon, and I often hear
,.of her, but I never care to meet her
; now. The pure, sweet girl that I have
gloved for years must now be changed into
woman of fashion, without love or sym
pathy." J I was astonished, I had thought of the
'Duke of Melvorue as a shrewd business
; man, ready for any undertaking to make
"I wonder if they are American?'
loney. liut here was a new side to uis
haracter; a fond memory of other days
eld a warm place In his heart.
"Now," he said, after a few moment's
silence, "for an answer to my question.
Of what were you dreaming when I dis
turbed your reverie?"
'l was dreaming of one I long to see. I,
too, have loved and lost, but not in the
way you did. My love was among the
tumble class, not rich or proud, but a
; iood, pure woman, who gave me the first
impulse toward a useful Me tnat ever
stirred in my breast. I was a careless,
thoughtless follow, when she came to Wa-
verland. Then her active, happy life made
me ashamed of the idle one I led. From
her Influence I have tried to do some good,
My father was an absentee landlord, and
hit estate had been neglected until the old
house itself was going to decay. She came
as governess to my little sister, and toon
the was governess, housekeeper and al
most estate keeper. By an unfortunate
word from my mother she was made to
feel her dependence, and the left Waver
land one day when I was away from home.
Bhe did not know how dear she was to me.
Though I have sought her far and near, 1
an find no clew to her whereabouts. That
It my story. It was of her that I was
thinking when you came to me."
"I have often thought what little things
can change our IJves," said the duke.
"'Yet they are not the little things; they
etre the real, sensitive, living, though un
seen, parts of om existence."
After that exchange of confidence the
duke Mid I were greater friends than ever.
We had many pleasant visits ere wi
reached the new world, whose first centen
nial birthday was still fresh in everybody'!
mind. We reached Sanely Hook at night
Tha water was made brilliant by the har
bor buoys, each of which carried a won
derful electric Usrbt. .
1 followed tne duke. We extricated our
elves from the throng at the wharf, and
were soon comfortable in our rooms at th
hotel. Aftr a good night's rest we weut
out to see the wonders of the city. A ride
on the elevated railway gave me a pecu
liar sensation. It seemed as if we were
flying through space, only we could look
luto people's houses in oar flight. We
visited the art galleries and were sur
prised that American artists can hold to
high a' position in the world of art.
One day we were standing near the court
house steps, when a fine looking gentle
man, little past the middle of lift), passed
up into the building.
"That," said the duke, "is Mr. Arthur,
the ex-president of the United States."
"A fine looking man," 1 said.
"But what a 'queer way they have here
of disposing of tliose who have held the
highest office in tne nation. They do not
have even a badge of honor preseuted to
theinl
"When ex-president Grant was In En
gland I attended a reception given him on
one occasion. The diplomatic corps were
Invited to meet him. A question was
raised as to who should occupy the seat ol
honor at table. The embassadors who re
presented their sovereigns would not ac
cord the seat to Mr. Grant (u private citi
zen.) But at last an airangcinent waf
made by which no one held the seat ol
honor. It was a most awkward position
lor the generuL"
"It seems to me that the ex-presidenU
Bhould have some well defined official
rank. As wealthy us this people are and
as proud as they are of their grest nation,
it is strange that they will permit thosi
who have been extdted to the highest plod
in the gift of the people to settle back lntc
the rank of private citizens again," I said
"That is their Idea of democracy. It de
ttroys distinctions in all, rather than foa
terthem." i
"But a man's knowledge after a term ol
service would be of vulue to this country.'
"So it would, but they choose to deprive
themselves of that and send him back
anions the people, merely as an object ol
curiosity. But they are beginning to talk
about it, and some honorable position with
proper pay will le provided for ex-presi
dents and perhaps for ex-senators also, one
of these days."
At the close of one of our busy days ol
syht seeing, as we sat in our room enjoy
ing a rest, I said:
"I do not wonder now, where Parnell
got his Independence of character when 1
remember that his mother was an Ameri
can woman."
"Why so?" asked the duke, looking puz
zled.
"These people have such a live, energet
ic way. I see now where the nerve and
pluck came from that dared to make Bos
ton Harbor into a huge teakettle, and tc
put a whole ship load of tea into it for one
steeping."
"That's a new idea," laughed the duke.
"But the Yankees are a shrewd, brave
people, that will dare anything for prin
pb." "The very air has caught the spirit of
the inhabitants. There is no drowsy fog
to keep one in bed till teu o'clock in the
morning here. I would caution the na
tions of the old world to look ulive before
they pick a quarrel with this strange peo
ple," I said.
"But with all this energy, pluck and
thrift, they are allowing one of the most
vital principles of their institutions to pass
out of their Dossesslons. Their lands are
being sold, stolen or given away at an
enormously rapid rate. In a very few years
not a foot of land worth the having will
belong to the government, or be in reach
of the common people."
"1 am surprised at that, for with the ex
ample of ancient Home, and the later one
of Ireland, with its terrible want and suf
fering which has risen from the unjust
iun 'I monopoly, I should think that they
would tako warning and keep the land
for the many and not grant thorn to the
few."
"The people have not awakened to the
tnjli of the situation as yet. When they
do it will le too late unless they tan re
deem what is now held by fraud, and there
will ba a terrible struggle If they ever try
thut.. The men who hold the lands will
never yield oue acre unless compelled to
do so."
"You might have to give up some of
your possessions if it came to that," I said.
"Yes. So I am going to begin now and
prepare for it by buying only farms with
bona fife titles. I can hold the other lands
till they pay me well for my investments
and then sell."
"Where are yon thinking of buying?"
"In Illinois, I think. From Lord San
ders' account, that is a good state for land
lords." "In what way Is Illinois better than the
other states?" I aakefl.
"Lord Sanders says the legislature has
passed every law that the landlords have
asked for to ' protect the land owners.
There you can make any bargain you like
with your tenants, and if they fail to live
up to the agreement you can turn them off
Just as reudily and roughly as in Ireland."
"Why, can that be true?" I asked, as I
thought of the blight picture 1 had painted
of America us a nation of homes with no
landlords to grind the poor tenants down
to degradation and poverty, but a free and
happy people with their little vine-covered
cottages and broad fertile acres in fee
simple!
CHAPTER. XII. 6I0HT SEEING.
CMr-nso! What wonder of the age, whose
first Suurtay-sehool teacher is still living)
What shall I say for itl Twice it has been
laid waste by fire. Iiut with the nerve anvi
push peculiar to this people of the West,
they have rebuilt with greater beauty than
before.
We took a morning drive through the
parks that surround the city like selected
remnants from the garden of Eden. Here
those who long for the beauty of nature,
the fragrance of flowers and the songs of
bird), can enjoy them while resting from
the noise and confusion of the busy city.
This drive is an extended boulevard that
surrounds the city with a belt of beauty.
The parks were brilliantly beautiful with
the rich green of the grass mingled with
the gay colors of flowers and shrubs.
the business streets f Chicago are a
living throng. Each die rushing on to at
tend to his own affairs, forgetful of the
crowd and heedless of all about him. But
that, we found, is characteristic of the peo
ple of the West. One evening we stood by
the bridge on Wells street, near the great
Northwestern depot, watching a tug bout
towing in a large vessel, when the whistle
founded for the bridge to turn. Men
grabbed by the arm the ladles that were
walking with them and rushed ahead.
Children ran on tugging at the skirts of
their mothers who could not run. All was
bustle and confusion. I thought there
surely must be but one train per day, and
all must reach that or go without their
UlUUCtB.
Just at the bridge began to turn a quern-'
lout old woman, her arms full of bundles,
and an umbrella in her hand, came rush-
lug up the walk; turning to a bright-eyed,
rosy-cheeked girl who waa with her, the
id:
"There, we'll be left! That is onr train
atanding there just ready to go! Sanian
tha Jane'll think we're lost!"
Oh, aunt, its only an hour to the next
train, what if we do miss this one," said
the young lady with composure.
"Only an hour? " I said to the duke.
"Why. I thought it would be a week, at
least, from the fuss and hurry these people
make."
"You'll get used to this," laughed the
duke. "They must hurry to make room for
the next crowd. There are one hundred
and fifty thousand persons who come and
go In this city every day."
"Then I do not wonder at the rush, it
seems strange where so many people come
from and go to," I said, soliloquizing.
The Board of Trade attracted our atten
tion. It is a very large edifice built of stone
and marble, very finely finished. Having
tickets we were admitted to the visitors
gallery. It is a magnificent room, wUh
massive marble columns, frescoed ceilings,
beautiful pictures and finely wrought bal
conies. "The people of Chicago may justly be
proud of this building," said the duke. "It
is the third one they have built since the
fire of 1871. The first was a little wooden
structure. Then a fine stone building was
erected. This In turn became too small and
plain for them, so they have built this
one."
"Well, this ought to satisfy them for
some time to come. What a babel of voi
ces. One might almost think that he was
at the ancient tower ou the plains of
Shlnar."
"Only see how few of the men are of
even middle age," said the duke. "Some
look like school boys; yet here they are in
this wild exciting rush of speculation, In
toxicated with the hope of success, or vain
ly struggling against defeat."
"Are you familiar with their workings?"
I asked.
"I understand it takes thousands of dol
lars to become a member."
"What do they mean by throwing their
hands out lu that frantic style?"
"They are bidding; and in that very act
some one may be financially ruined."
"How can that be?" I asked, puz.led to
know how such an act could harm anyone,
"They buy and sell on what they call a
margin, and they may exceed the amount
they have on deposit. The prices of crops
are in a measure established iiere before
the seed is sown or the crops grown."
From the Board of Trade we visited the
panorama buildings where the buttles of
Shlloli, Missionary Itidgo and Gettysburg
were represented. In these great triumphs
of art the haud of man has so skillfully re
presented the spirit of the scenes that all
we needed to make us dodge was the
80undof whistling bullets and bursting
shells. The wounded, dead and dying
were so life-like that we felt like offering
our aid to help care for the suffering. Ax
we stood leaning over the railing trying to
separate the real from the Ideal, a tall,
fine-looking man standing near us said:
"There, that man on the bay horse in
the gray uniform occupies the position I
held in that battle."
When he ceased speaking, a slender man
with a gray beard turned toward him, say
ing:
"That man on the gray horse In the blue
coat is occupying the position I held in the
tame battle.
"Then you are General Prentiss," said
the. first speaker.
"And you are Marmaduke," was the an
swer. They shook hands as cordially as
though they had never drawn swords
against each other in deadly conflict. On
inquiry we learned that nearly one thou
sand men who were in the battle of Shiloh
have visited this wonderful painting.
Our stay in Chicago was a continual
round of excursions and sight-seeing. One
morning we ascended the 276 steps and
found ourselves In the tower of the water
works. The city lay beneath us almost a
solid block of masonry and architecture
The crib In the lake, two miles distant,
seemed but a very few rods away. It was
a clear calm morning. The lake was like
an immense mirror reflecting back every
image cost upon its bosom. The sails and
steamers came into port with a quiet ma
jesty, ascending the slips and canals that
penetrate the city, until the great prairie
landscape bristled with masts and spars
along the extended and stilL extending
wharfage. It was a scene of beauty, ming
led with business of nature and com
merce, of God and man. We remained
silent a long time, trying to grasp the ex
tent of the scene and the most interesting
points, when the duke broke the silence
by saying: 1
"This Is, indeed, a wonderful city, when
we remember that not one generation has
passed away since the country here was all
a marshy waste, an Impassable, uninhabit
able swamp.
"Yes," said I, "and remember the great
fires that have swept through it. Two or
three times the electric wires have thrilled
With the terrible words, "Chicago is burn
ing!" until it seemed there could be noth
ing left to burn."
"Yet look around and see the stately
buildings that greet the eye on every side,
while from every point the masts and spars
proclaim a great trade center."
"Are there so many br inches of the
river?" I asked.
"No, those," said the duke, pointing out
the different lines, "are canals or Mip:
opened by the people. Whenever trade or
business needs more room, or an outlet to
the lake, men are ready to do the work for
the earth that is to be removed. It is taken
to other parts of the city where it is used
to bring the grade up to the city level."
"Then here the old adage is followed out,
that nothing should ever be wasted."
"Yes, even the debris from the burnt
district made the foundation for one of the
finest avenues in the city."
After the noon lunch I suggested that
we visit Lincoln Park.
"Shall we take a carriage or the street
cars?" asked the duke, as we left the
lunch room.
"Oh, let us walk," I said. So we started
along leisnrely, enjoying the different ob
jects of interest.
"Do you know what that building is that
is covered with vines and shaded by those
great trees that seem older than the city
itself?" I inquired as we came to a hand
some stone building.
"No, but I think it must be some old mo
nastery built by theJesulU when they
roamed over the western world," said the
duke.
"And those fine buildings in the yard
must be the different seats of learning,"
suggested,
"Hers Is a man in uniform, I'll ak
him," said the duke, stepping forward
"Sir. what Is this old building, covered
with lvyr
"Potter Palmer't residence, sir!" said
the man, looking very much surprised that
anyone need to ask such a question.
"And those outer buildings, what are
they?"
"Potter Palmer's stables, sir!" said the
man with a peculiar smile.
We had been the guests of Mr. Talmer't
hotel and now we had seen his home. You
may imagine our surprise, and, 1 must
confess, chagrin, to think that we had
mistaken a private residence for anything
to grand and old. After that "Putter Pal
mer'l residence" became a byword with
us.
Iiincoln Park Is one of the finest in the
city. It is the coologtcal garden of Chi
cago, and full of Interest from the entrance
gateway to the farthest nook. The objects
that called for our special attention were
the sea lions. They were playing In the
water, diving and swimming or sunulng
themselves in the little artistic lakes and
caves that had been prepared for their use.
The little prairie dogs were a novelty to
us. Their little mounds of earth gave me
my first view of life on the great plains of
the West.
"These animals we never see in the old
world," I said, as we stood looking at
them, busy at their play.
"1 hey are found only in America, and
then only west of the Mississippi river.
Washington Irving has given a very In
teresting description of their habits of life
in one of his beautiful sketches."
"Here are the bear pits. See that old
fellow hanging by ono foot to the limb of
that old stump," I said, as we came to the
caves of the black and brown bears. One
of the brown bears seemed perfectly at
home on the limb of an old stump in hit
pit, trying to catch the peanuts that the
children were throwing to him. But the
bear at the foot hod the feast while the one
in the tree was working hard for little pay
The great grizzly bear, looking npfroin
the mouth of his cave, was the greatest
curiosity. I had never seen one before,
but had often reud of them.
"He's a fierce looking fellow," said the
duke, as we stood looking down at him.
He was constantly tramping back and
forth, as though chafing under his confine
ment. '
"They are savage beasts," continued the
duke, "and very dangeroun. I was with a
party once that were exploring some of the
mountain gorges in Colorado. Just as we
were leaving one of the long defiles, we
I tntervtewfl an old man uJio liad heen
cultivating the corn.
heard a noise behind us. Ijoklng round
we saw a huge grizzly seated on hit
haunches. One of our party fired at the
beast. For a moment he seemed dazed,
then uttering a most terrific growl he
sprang forward, bringing down the man
who had fired at him. We realized in an
instant that it was death to our comrade
or the bear. Every one of our party leveled
his weapon at the bead of the furious
beast. Fortunately for the man the bear
rolled over In mwrtal agony. The flesh was
torn from the poor man's arm and he was
frightened almost to death. That was my
first acquaintance with his majesty, the
grizzly bear. I never want to meet an
other, unless he Is in close confinement or
under marching orders."
We visited one den or cage after anoth
er, until we had teen all the animals on
exhibition. We enjoyed a ride on the little
lakes passing under artistic bridges, and
through long straits bordered by beautiful
flowers. At last we found ourselves at the
artesian well. We saw ttie wondrous fount
from which flows the supply of water for
the lakes, rivulets and fountains of the
nark. The artistic skill displayed in mak
ing falls and fountains, lakes and rivers,
caves and mounds is wonderful!
"This morning," Bald the duke as we
left the Palmer House, "we are going out
on business."
"What is the nature of the business, if I
may ask?"
"Real estate." answered the duke. "Yon
are to go with me and see how business it
conducted in America."
We soon saw a sign Indicating the place
we sought. On entering, the duke began
at once to ask questions and examine
maps. t
"How do you get possession of so mnch
land for sale?" asked the duke, after being
shown an Immense quantity in nearly
every county In the state, it seemed to me,
"A greut many farmers mortgage their
lands, and failing to pay when due, we
buy the lands," said the agent; "or they
place their farms in our hands to sell, to
raise money to meet the mortgages, hop
ing to save somethiug In that way."
"What do you do with the lands you
hold before you get a buyer?" asked the
duke.
"There are always plenty of men who
want to rent. We get good terms. We
ften rent to the former owners. They
make good tenant," said the agent.
"Then you are sure there will be no
trouble in getting good tenants If I should
buy the lands we have been talking of."
"None at all. There are more tenant
thau farms, and you can make yonr own
terms," said the agent, eager for a sale,
"Then, if agreeable, we will go and take
a look at some of your best bargains," said
the duke.
Very soon we were at the depot ready to
start. We went sonth from Chicago. The
green landscape was dotted with happy
homes. IJttle villages nestled In the val
leys, and prosperity seemed to reign su-
prem - Woll-flUed corn cribs attracted
onr attention. We passed the Joliet prison
and taw some of the unfortunate beings at
work In the stone quarry near by.
We were delighted with the countrv,
The greatf fields of wheat and corn, the
beautiful rivers, bordered with good tlm
bcr, and the delightful climate were per
fect! fascinatlntr.
--ni a contrast! 1 have not needed
my umbrella once since I came into lilt
nois. In I)ndon and Ireland it would
'111
naworemn constant aeuukuu. ta
fields of growing grain are in fine condi
tion. I think it must, rsin when we are
asleep, to keep the earth looking to fretS:
and green."
We left the cars at the little station and
toon were riding over roads in tne most
perfect condition. We called at one place
where there was quite a comfortable house
and barn.
'This is one of the farms I mentioned,"
said the agent.
While the duke and the agent were
walking about talking business, 1 Inter
viewed an old uiiiu who had been cultivat
ing the corn.
"Sir, I asked, "can you tell me how
this land came to be lu the market?"
Yes, sir," said he, "this was once my
home. I came hero from Ohio when laud
was cheap. I bought this hundred
sixty acres of hind, paid part down, and i
gave a mortgage for the balance. ; put on
improvements ss fast as I could, i woriej
my farm carefully, and for a few years
everything went well. Then times became
hard, crops were not good, and what I
could sell brought a very low price. But
good crops or poor, good times or bad, the
interest ou the mortgage kept growing all
the time. We began to live more careful
ly; wife would make one hundred dollars
do the work of three In living and cloth
ing. . We kept less help and worked early
and late, but to no purpose. The time
came when the mortgage was due, and the
interest had accumulated until it ate up
all there was over the mortgage. Then
the place was told. Now, here I am a ten
ant where I hoped to be the owner."
"Where do you place the blame of your
unfortunate circumstances?"
"The scarcity of money is the first cause.
That makes hard times. I can raise just
as much wheat to the acre when it brings
one dollar per bushel as when it brings fif
ty cents. With the dollar I can meet my
obligations. With half a dollar I must
raise twice as much grain, or fall. The
price of wheat Indicates, I think I may
safely say, the rise and full of money. lx)vr
prices make good times for money loaners
and bankers who art willing to secure
themselves by a mortgage on our real
estate, and help us by loaning money at the
moderate rates of from one, two, or even
three per cent par mouth, if the men
whose only business is to deal in the cir
culating medium of the country are per
mitted to increase or decrease the quanti
ty as they please, they have the advantage
over the laboring and producing classen.
When farmers are in debt, and money all
the time growing scarcer, there Is no hope
but to sacrlflco their homes for much less
than their real value. Large tracts of land
arj being obtained by speculators in this
way, and held at moderate prices. This
tempts rich foreigners to Invest large sums
of money here. They are willing to wait
for the time when they can realize good
profits on their Investments, while in the
meantime they secure a good income by
leasing their hinds to tenants."
"ou seem familiar with the important
topics of your country," I said.
"Yes, sir," he replied, "I am a member
of the 'Farmer's Alliance Club'; that
keeps us posted on all thut concerns us as
fanners."
"Then you are opposed to foreigners
coming here and buying lands?" I asked.
"I urn. Wo have no lauds for people
who enly care to bleed us!" he said vehe
mently. "Any mini that wants a home
and will come here and live on the lands
he buys, I am ready to welcome."
"You have large land monopolies amony
your own people," I said.
"We have, 1 am sorry to say. But our
motto should be, 'No American laud mon
opoly, either foreign or domestic!"
CHAPTER Tin. TEN ANTItT IN AMERICA.
The day following the one on which the
duke finished his purchase he said to me:
"Now, Waverland, we will visit lord
Sanders' estate and see how his tenants
feel on the landlord subject."
"To which of bis estates shall wo go?"
asked.
"To the nearest one. It will only take a
few hours to reach It."
The morning was bright. A gentle
shower had fallen in the night Every
thing seemed rejoicing in the warm sun
shine. We passed out from the buzz and
bustle of the noisy city into the calm, cool
air of the country. We saw large herds of
horset and cattle lazily feeding in great
pastures, under the shade of oak, elm and
maple trees. We passed through a country
that lay before us like an immense map
marked off by different shades of green,
vast corn fields with their deep rich green,
wheat and oat fields shaded to a bright
tint. Oil on we sped, post large farm
houses surrounded by orchards full of
growing fruit, great red barns that told of
care and comfort, towering wind mills
that could rival the imaginary giants of
Don Quixote, full corn cribs laden with
the golden ears, post villages full of busi
ness, fine churches, large school houses,
cozy dwellings and substantial stores,
Commerce, culture, society and religion
were all provided for in response to the
needs and industry of man.
Then came a change little rough shan
ties, straw barns, and rail cribs without
corn, i
We entered a little tumble-down village
without church or school-house. There,
the conductor told us, was the place our
tickets called for.
"Are we still In America?" I asked
"This seems more like Ireland and a ten
ant village."
"It is a tenant village," said the duke,
as we walked from the steps of the old
rickety depot.
"Can It be that tenantry has been so
long In America as to have caused its
loathsome form to cover this fair land?'
"Now, Waverland, I did not come to
hear you preach. I came to see the chan
ces of success with American tenants,"
said the duke, us we crossed to a little
low, wooden shanty with one window,
door and a hole In the roof for the stove
pipe to pass through. The duke knocked
at the door and a woman about thirty
opened It. I was surprised at the neat ap
pearance of the Interior of the cabin. The
ceiling and the walls of the room had been
papered with newspapers and looked clean.
The woman was bright, intelligent look
ing, and neat in a simple gown. She had
been washing and a little boy was putting
cobs, picked from the pig pen, into the
ttove to make the kettle boll. A bed In
one corner of the room looked neat and
clean. There were three or four shelves,
made by a running cord through , small
holes In each side of the boards and held
in place Dy a knot on the under side, tuii
of books. I saw Kmerson't prose works,
Dickens' stories, "Uncle Tom't Cabin,"
and a good many other good friends in
that little rough shanty. When we had
taken the seats she had offered us, (two old
wooden chairs, which, with a rough deal
table, completed the Inventory of tha
household furniture,) the duke asked: M
"Are yon living on one of Lord Bandera'
farms?"
"Yes, sir," said the woman, "we rent
from his agent."
I7ie duXe knoclud at the door and a wo
man about thirty opened it.
Do you make a comfortable living?" I.
asked. '
'Not very comfortable, though we never"
suffer," said the woman, with a peculiar
look in her dark eyes. " we could choose
onr own time for selling our grain wa
could do better. There comes my hut-'
band," she said, "he can tell you better
than I about the place." 1
A large, fine looking man drove near the
shanty with a team and cultivator. We
bA'Je the woman good-day and went to in
terview the farmer himself. v
'Have you been on this place long?"
asked the duke, after a few words of in
troduction.
"Six yeors," said the man, "and I am as
poor to-day as when I came here."
"Why do you stay here then, when lands
are so cheap out west?"
"Yon must know it costt a good deal to
get a start even if lauds are cheap. I had
a brother who went west. He made him
self a good farm with good comfortable
buildings. Ho had quite a start and was
proud and happy In his new homo, that he
had made from the wild prairie of the
west. But he hnd taken lands that were
afterward gobbled up by the railroad com
pany. He lost all he hud and came back
here to rent. I keep hoping that by work
ing a little earlier, a little later and a little
harder, that I can get a start here.' There
Is neighbor Jones who has the same num
ber of acres that I work," said the man,
pointing across the rood to where a neat
little frame house stood, shaded by tall
maple and Cottonwood trees. "He Is mak
ing money every year, and has some com
forts for his family besides. He is all the
time making Improvements. He hat a
nice young orchard, grape vines and small
fruits that add to the comfort and value of
his place. I came here tlio same year that
ho bought there. I work just as hard at
he does, but I can only raise enough to pay
the taxes and the rent, and have a little to
live on."
'Tlieu you pay the taxes," told the
duke.
'Yes, sir," said the man," "I have the
taxes to pay, though they are not half as
high as Jones's are. Ixird Sunders is rich
and knows better than to Improve his
lands, and then we cannot even have a de
cent school to send our children to, be
cause the agent will not permit us to vote
as we please. Oh, he s a shrewd one, is
that Lord Sanders. He knows he can get
just as much rent for that old shanty with
a few polos and a straw stack for a born,
as though he had good buildings."
"What is the re-ison you cannot make as
much as your nelghboi?" I asked. "Are
bis crops better than yours?"
"No, sir," said thii man. "We raise
bushel for bushel; we did lust year of both
wheat and corn." ,
"Then what is the trouble?" asked tha
duke.
"Well, sir, I can tell you the trouble. He
eould choose his own time for selling his
grain, and he received one dollar per
bushel for hit wheat and twenty-five cents
a bushel for hit corn. I had to sell when
Lord Sunders' agent demanded the rent,
and got sixty cents per bushel for ray
wheat and fifteen cents for corn. On the
two you can see quite a margin for free
dom; yes, freedom! I ara bound under an
iron clad lease almost as binding us a bill
of sale used to be in slavery times!"
"But you need not stay here if the terms
do not suit you," remarked the duke.
"That's true. But here I have a shelter;
my wife and child are quite comfortable.
If I should leave here I might do even
worse. Some of the tenants on Lord San
ders' estate have a terrible struggle to get
along. One day last winter when the
thermometer was twenty degrees below
zero, I went to a tenant's house, and there
they were boiling whole corn to keep them
from starving. Their lire was made of
roots dug from the earth ten miles distant--
and brought home to burn to keep them
from freezing. Oh, I could tell you tales
of sufferings that would make your heart
ache. If there is any more suffering in
Ireland thnn right here on Lord Sanders'
estate, (rod pity them! Here In this beau- ft
tiful country where everything grows In
abundance! I went round to the different
families and gathered up provisions to
keep one family from starving to death."
"What made the people so poor?" asked
the duke.
"Because they had to sell all they could
raise to pay the rent, that the greedy laud
lords may live in ease aud luxury in some
foreign city, where he cannot see or hear
of the misery he causes. While the thrifty
farmers, like neighbor Jones, who have
their own homes, must pay their own law
ful taxes and a portion for my Lord San
ders beside."
"Why man how do you make that out?"
asked the duke. "Your neighbor has im
proved his lands, while Lord Sanders has
not, that makes the difference."
"That is just, where the injustice cornea
in. If Iiord Sanders hnd to pay taxes on
that naked land and not on the Improve
ments, he would soon be willing to sell
tome of his hundred thousand acres. But
while he can shirk out of the taxes and re
ceives a good rent, he will not sell any of
his broad fields, though offered five timet
their real value."
"You are rather hard on the land
owner," eaid the duke. "If you could
carry your theory into practice you would
make a fine mess of the finances of your
country. It might benefit the small farm
ers, but it would be hard on the landlords
who hold larne estates."
ell, eir, we would De willing they
should suffer a little. They have bled the
people long enough. Beside, the lands of
this country were intended for the many,
not for the few. I would like to tee the
man who owns the lands live on them ami
To be Centinued.
V.
