Dodge by day and Dodge by night are different towns. Gazing up the principal street, at high noon, nothing may be seen but a few sleepy looking barkeepers sunning themselves in front of their respective saloons, a few cow-boys who spent the night in debauchery and who are trying to "sober up” enough to ride, and Marshal Deiger [Deger] with his ubiquitous police force. But with the coming of darkness all is changed. Gamblers crawl from no one knows and man innumerable gambling devices; the city street is brilliantly lighted and thronged with gaudily dressed women, and men whose garb betokens the cow-boy; from every saloon proceed rollicking strains of music (and good music it is, too) that go floating out into the darkness to repeat the tale of degradation; the dance halls are crowded with lewd women and rough men who plunge into the intricacies of the dance with a reckless abandon, and inflamed by drink, make the night hideous with their boisterous revelries, and so through the night it goes.

But I do not wish to be understood to say Dodge has no respectable citizens. She has many very highly respectable people, but I would also remark in this connection that rowdyism elsewhere would pass as a modified form of respectability in this benighted city.

There are many good citizens who earn a living in an honorable way, and very agreeable we found them too; but the bad are in the majority.

A shrill scream was heard and a moment later a woman with a battered visage appears on the street and informs Marshal Deger that a "feller” had performed an operation upon her, known as "slugology” in police court idiom. Marshal Deger gave his pistol a slight hitch, and in ten minutes appeared at police headquarters, puffing and blowing like a tug-boat, but with the "feller” in tow. A few lazy loafers gather around Frost, with a dignity, born of long practice, ridiculous in its conception and absurd in its execution, arraigns the prisoner and elicits a sullen "Not Guilty!” Attorney Colborn produces his evidence and in a masterly speech demonstrates the guilt of the woman beater, and the total unreliability of his legal opponent. The legal opponent is riled and proceeds to annihilate Mr. Colborn after the most approved and long established custom. From one thing to another they pass and human carnage is imminent; but the lacerated feelings are amicably poulticed, and the Judge finds the prisoner guilty. Then the woman pays her "feller’s” fine, and goes out with the proud consciousness of having been revenged. Such is life, and this is an every day occurrence in Dodge.

Dodge has a live little newspaper, and I have often wondered how the editors escaped the wrath of the many "hard cases” written up in its columns. But now all is clear. The said editors are the "hardest” of them all.'

If the editor of the Sentinel, in his afterlife, ever has occasion to travel, or visit any other large city like Dodge, he will there find the naughty as well as the good, and he is at liberty to choose his crowd. During his stay here, the poor boy, was carried away by the giddy creatures of whom he has so much to say, and at times the lewd desire seized him and his fondest hope and highest ambition was to "cut him out a girl”, lay down the quill, and earn his bread "gulping gilleys.” But we advise him to seek better society, be virtuous and be happy."

October 6, 1877 - Russell, Kansas Record, commenting upon the article in the Hays Sentinel

"We are of opinion that Montgomery’s indignation was only assumed, and that it was an alarm sounded to detract attention from the frailties of his own town, as when the curtains of night are drawn, Hays falls into the hands of the saloon keepers and the Bacchanalian revel begins which throws Dodge City in the shade. So Brother Montgomery, before you proceed to hunt for a "smote” in the eye of Dodge, you had better pull the "beam” from your eye. "

November 24, 1877 - Hays City, Kansas Sentinel

"It is not the absence of good society, culture, and refinement that is depopulating Dodge; it is the exorbitant price of beer."

December 8, 1877 - Dodge City Times

"There is an evident purpose to malign and create false impressions that a person here is insecure in life, and that the citizens of Dodge City are walking howitzers. This is a bad impression that should by all means be corrected. Having but a short residence in this town, it is our deliberate opinion, from a careful observation, that Dodge City is as quiet and orderly as any town of its size in Kansas. We have been treated with the utmost cordiality. We have observed officers prompt and efficient in the discharge of their duties. There is an ordinance prohibiting the carrying of firearms, which is rigidly enforced. The citizens are cordial, industrious, and display a business alacrity characteristic of the frontier tradesman.

We are surprised to note the difference of character of this town and the impression aimed to be made upon us before coming here. There is a lurking jealousy somewhere, that gives rise to false rumors, and we trust every citizen of Dodge City will correct these false impressions as far as lies in his power.

Time alone would efface bad impressions and false rumors, but forbearance ceases to be a virtue, and we kindly protest."

December 29, 1877 - Dodge City Times

"Every blackguard that comes to Dodge City, after being filled with cheap whisky, generously and gratuitously given, goes home and writes and talks about the bad character of this town. We observe that these fellows like "to do the city of Dodge by gaslight.” The dance houses, in which they lug and hug the frail creatures, are the special scenes of attraction, and in which they weary away the dull hours until midnight "train time.”

Continued Next Page