Harper's New Monthly Magazine Volume 0071 Issue 421 (June 1885)

I really enjoyed this read. I choose an issue from Harpers New Monthly Magazine from 1885, exactly 100 years before I was born. Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live 100 years ago? I like to imagine what it would be like. Would life be more or less stressful? The article I read was called "Ladies Day at the Ranch". It was in no way what I expected to be in a magazine. Magazines have really changed over the past 100 years. Today, magazines are shorter and mostly deal with gossip, sports, politics and advertisements. Some things never change. This article related the experience of a millionaire's life on a ranch. I guess people always wanted to know what the rich and famous are doing.

            The article first described a millionaire who loved to travel. The narrator questions why the millionaire would want to spend any amount of time in the middle of nowhere on a ranch in Kansas. I like the narrator assumed ranch life was harsh and unpleasant. It would be miserably hot. There would be lots of bugs and you would be lonely in the middle of nowhere. As the article continued, a new picture of ranch life began to appear in my mind.

            The land was beautiful, filled with rolling hills painted with bright colors from wild flowers growing in every direction. Acres and acres of sunflowers, wheat, barley and corn filled the ranch with splendor. An amusing part of the article told a story about the millionaire getting lost. He came across a hut and asked a man whose land is this that I am I on. The man replied that it was the millionaires land. The millionaire turned and walked away quickly so he could hide the smile he had on his face. He had to be told he was on his own land. I can't imagine having that much wide open space. People came from miles around to join the millionaire for frequent parties. The ranch staffs joined the recreational activities and were treated with kindness.

            The men and women on the ranch joined in exploration and discovery of new places and things. They found Indian hieroglyphics, shark teeth and discovered new flowers. They were all constantly amazed by their surroundings. They were not malnourished or starved in any manner. Supposedly, they ate better than the people in New York. They often successfully hunted for ducks and other pheasants. The threat of dangerous weather kept the ranchers watching the sky. Fortunately, the tornados they observed never turned their direction. Occasionally fires would threaten their crops. All the neighboring ranchers would work together to put out fires.       

            The article really made ranch life sound fun. The millionaire really enjoyed his time there. If a millionaire enjoyed it, why would anyone else not enjoy it? The last paragraph included what I consider a disclaimer. In short, it said all ranches are not like this. I am not responsible for anyone who goes to a ranch and does not have the same experience. Maybe I should reconsider how this article described ranch life. Can you really trust the view of a millionaire about the quality of life on a ranch?     

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