I lived in Medicine Lodge around 1911 with my parents Eva and Elmer
      Davis, and sisters, Ruth and Millie. Each evening we children watched
      for one lamplighter with his long pole, as he lighted the lamps near
      our home.
        I remember how the board walks downtown clattered when we walked on
      them. In the drive to build a library Mama gave a nickel, which was a
      lot, as we were poor. This project was quite something for a small
      town.
        Papa helped build the Dan Stone house west of town. Mama cooked for
      the carpenters. I've heard Mama tell this true story when only ladies
      were present: One day at noon, two visiting Englishmen, who had been
      rabbit hunting along the creek on Widow Best's land, stopped by. They
      were invited to dinner. When asked about their hunting luck, one said,
      "We've hunted all over Mrs. Best's bloddy bottom - and nary a hare!"
        Our neighbors, Mrs. Terry, invited Mama and us children for tea. She
      served home baked, buttered bread, and hot tea. Dorothy Terry had such
      beautifully dressed dolls!
        When the Stone house was finished, we moved to the Hittle Place west
      of Hardtner. Sister Aileen and brother Howard Woodroe were born there.
      Dr. Hammer drove his buggy 17 miles to deliver Howard.
        During WWI everyone was singing "Don't Bite the Hand That's Feeding
      You," and "Kaiser Bill Went Up The Hill."
        I remember the total eclipse - and one 4th of July when we rode in a
      two seated hack pulled by horses to the Aetna Picnic. We had our first
      soda pop, which fizzed out unless you kept your hand over the bottle.
      There was a carnival with a merry-go-round, and stalls where you threw
      three balls at targets. It you won, the prize was a Kewpie Doll.
        Some of the ranchers had racing ponies, and they bet on the races.
        We learned about strumpets years later, and how the black and red
      dresses weren't worn by ladies!
        Mama hated washdays. Homemade lye soap curdled in the hard water.
      Water was heated in a copper bottomed boiler on the cook stove; then
      the backbreaking scrubbing on a washboard.
        We went to Hardtner in the hack or wagon twice a month, where our
      trading was done at Achenbachs' grocery. Our washboiler had "Ives on
      the lid. There must have been an Ives Hardware.
        Our neighbor, Mrs. Anse Wiseman, nearly lost a friend. Papa was 
      riding horseback across Yellowstone after a rain. His horse fell and 
      neither could get up. Mrs. Wiseman stood on the bank and laughed, not 
      knowing the quicksand had shifted, and Papa was in trouble.
        Lena Seaman was my dearest friend. Others in the school were Wiseman
      boys, Potter boys, the Moores, Charley Wimmer, Willie Mavity, the Rogers
      (and their donkeys), the Ericksons, and Gladys and Glenn Elmore.
        Fridays, after last reces, we all explored the hills where we found
      Indian Arrowheads and pretty rocks. We'd drop the rocks through crevices
      and listen as they hit water somewhere below. There were caves to explore.
      On Sundays groups of us went to Chalk Hills or the Bat Caves.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 295 
     Submitted by: Jessie (Davis) McCullough