4 TOPERA.

and training of thorough-bred horses. Our next stop-
ping place of importance is Topeka, the capital of the
State. Here we stop for dinner; and I was very agree-
ably surprised to find that the cwzs¢me of the railway
restaurant also improves as we go farther West. This
one is a nice brick hotel, owned by a company, and
the table I sat down to, as comfortable as one could
wish; plenty of good plain food and attentive waiters.
Evidently the management of this railway appreciates
the fact that the best plan to find the way to a
traveller’s heart is through his stomach, for nothing so

 

agreeably astonishes one nowadays as to get a good
wholesome meal at a railway eating-house.

Topeka was first located in 1854, and now has a
population of about 12,000. Here are the great Rolling
Mills for rolling railroad-iron, which are leased and
operated by the Kansas Pacific Railway; the beautiful
building of the Capitol, Washburne College, the Topeka
Female Seminary, and no end of handsome stores, banks

 

and private residences. But “onward” is the word,
and taking my stand on the rear platform of my sleep-
ing car, I enjoy the fresh balmy air and lovely scenery,
as we glide along through the celebrated Kaw Valley,
with its broad and beautiful bottom land, its numerous
timbered creeks and rivulets, and the gently undulating
prairie in the background. It is the roth of November,
but the air is still warm and pleasant, and an overcoat
would be oppressive.

Smoothly we steam along through the luxuriant corn-
fields and rich farms of Shawnee county, until we

Sa ce
t 7 ty