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g TIE I * E A D E E ,. [ No . 387 , August 22 , 1857
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peaches , and grapes scarce require any cultivation to be produced in the greatest abundance and perfection . Melons , tomatoes , and all kinds of vegetables grow in profusion , and every variety of grain amply rewards the labours of the husbandman . Mea , t here , especially beef , is much nicer than beef fattened elsewhere . It is owing probably to the rapidity with which it fattens in this country . Beef of a year old in many instances is unequalled . Venison , prairie chickens , wild turkeys , rabbits , and squirrels furnish dainties for the most fastidious epicure . The climate is exceedingly lovely ; with a clear , dry atmosphere , and gentle health-giving breezes , it cannot be otherwise . The peculiar clearness of the atmosphere cannot be imagined by a nonresident . For miles here a person can clearly distinguish objects , which at the same distance in any other part of this country he could not see at all . The summers are long , and winters short .
This glowing description , however , was scarcely borne out by Mrs . Robinson ' s own experience . Repeatedly we read of terrific gales , and we are told that in the months of March and April "it is quite useless for a person of little gravity or weight" to attempt to make headway against the wind . The thunder " showers , " too , would frighten an inhabitant of this isle from his propriety . - The thunder rolls in deafening peals ,, reverberating across the hills , and the lightnings are one continual flash . There is not a moment that the forked angry lightnings do not dart chain-like in every and all directions , making the whole country as light as noonday , objects miles distant are as clearly seen as by the sun ' s light . The rains come down a pouring , tumultuous f lood , and the winds blow wildly , threatening to overturn « verything before them .
On the following night there was another " shower" even more severe than the last . For ten months previously scarcely any rain had fallen , and thus the dry earth drank gratefully of the abundant moisture , and in the morning there was nothing to tell of the storm in the night " save the grass bending under its heavy weight of glistening rain drops . " During another " shower" a house was struck by the electric fluid , and one corner of the roof torn off . The sole occupants at the time were a lady and her two little children . These were stunned by the shock so that they returned no answer to the mother's repeated call upon them to speak . The wind ( gentle , health-giving breeze ) came in so furiously through the open dwelling , that she was not able to keep a light long enough to assure herself whether they still lived . Thus , the weary night passed away ; the storm raged without and many conflicting fears and anxieties within . le of the mildness of winter encounter
Then , as an examp a Kansas , we one during which the snow lay for upwards of two months upon the ground more than two feet deep , and sleighing was the order of the day . As it fell , it penetrated through the chinks and crevices of the wooden houses . As one ascended the staircase there was a crisp sound of new-fallen snow . The floor , the furniture , even the bed pillows , were covered with the fleecy mantle . Some who were out late at night " had frozen their ears , " and on another night some equally industrious individuals employed themselves in " freezing their feet . " Here is a cheerful glimpse of a Christmas-day : — December 25 . —Cold , bitter , stinging cold ; not so windy as yesterday , but the cold more intense . Thermometer ranging between twenty and thirty degrees below zero The water freezes in the tumblers at breakfast , and everything eatable , or intended to be eaten , is frozen hard . The bread can only be cub as we thaw it by the fire , setting the loaf down and cutting one piece at a time . Potatoes , ^ squashes , pumpkins , citrons , and apples are as hard as rocks . Several glass pickle-jars , filled with ketchup , are broken open from top to bottom .
On the other hand , in summer-time the temperature is warm enough for the heat-loving rattlesnake . Sometim . es they are found coiled up among the logs , occasionally they crawl into the houses through the crevices ,, and one more adventurous than his comrades insinuated himself between two persons in bed , in a tent . A lady carrying water in a pail from a neighbouring spring heard a buzzing noise like that of a grasshopper , " but her attention was attracted by a small bird flying backward and forward across the path , and no gveat height above it , and did not therefore perceive the snake until she was within a foot of him . " Hastily throwing down her pail , and , splashing the water over the reptile , she fled in one direction , while the enemy , probably equally alarmed , slunk off in another . An antidote to its poison , called the rattlesnake weed , grows in great abundance on the prairies , mingling with the bright yellow Bowers of the " compass plant , which always point to the north . More alarming than the snakes , at least for solitary settlers , is the close vicinage of the native Indians . Inree ot them one day entered a house in the absence of the master , to the great terror of his wife :
. . . ... They examined daguerreotypes and jewellery lying on the bookcase , and by signs manifested their desire for them . The lady remained firm in her refusal , and they relinquished the idea of appropriating them . They soon made signs for aomething to oat aW after being most abundantly supplied with meat and bread , one of them , the raoat repulsive of all , mndo a circle on the floor , and signs of cutting it , then pointing to his mouth to represent his desire that a pie should bo set before them , To comply ^ vlth auch request being considered unne cessary , it was refused } whereupon the young Indian pulled away a cloth at one end of the room , concealing some shelves , and , with boisterous exclamations of delight , brought out some pies . Seating themselves around them , they were alao soon devoured .
Nor were these the only drawbacks to the new settlement . The imaginary wants of a more civilized state of society were , of course , unattainable , and many even of the real wants could only bo gratified with great difficulty and expense . Groceries were scarce and dear , and the yeaet was usually dull and dirty , which did not improve the quality of the bread . At night the -wolves came prowling and barking round the houses , and gnawed through the ropos with which the horses were picketed . One morning Mrs . Itobinson was awakened by a tree toad on her pillow , and , on getting up . found a mouse in " tho twb . " Breakfast was hardly finished when a ory was heard outside , " Here's a rattlesnake I" and one about eighteen indies long , with four rattles , was found and killed nqar the wood-pilo . Its mate was slaughtered in tho evening , on its way to tho bedchambers . Tho houses were in general so slightly built , and tUo planks consequently bo soon warped by the sun , that tho rain poured into tho interior as from a watering pot . One " showery" night , Mrs . Robinson waa at a neighbour ' s cabin in attendance on a sick lady , and was obliged to ehift from side to side
as the deluge spread over the floor . At length , weary , and cold , she wrapped herself up in blankets and lay down upon the bed , placing a buffalo robe over them both , and fixing an umbrella over their heads , and fell asleep with the rain-drops pattering upon it . In travelling , the banks of the ravines are frequently so steep that it is only with much toil and some danger a vehicle , of any kind can be dragged to the top . Sometimes the waggon or carriage would break down , and if it were late in the day , there was nothing to be done but bivouac in the prairie , with or without a fire . These little inconveniences , however , were usually encountered with alacrity , and converted into the materials for mirth . But the cholera proved a terrible scourge , and many a homestead was left desolate . Little children especially were its victims , and very sad is it to read of the anguish of their parents . In one instance , at least , apathy was exhibited by the offspring to an exmother had been seized
tent that makes one shudder . The father and with cholera and required constant and assiduous attention , but the cabin was so small that their medical adviser recommended the children , who were adults , to occupy a tent close at hand . They took him at his word , but neglected the spirit of his injunctions : they never once went near their parents . Next morning when the doctor called , one of his patients was dead , the other dying . ° The members of another family partook too freely of mandrakes—cholera ensued—in a few hours afterwards the mother and youngest two children were buried in one grave . On the Missouri river the epidemic was terribly fatal . And yet there , as elsewhere , the cause of sickness was generally traceable to some glaring violation of natural laws , and disregard of the dictates of common sense . A gentleman in a profuse perspiration plunged into the cold stream---a little while afterwards he supped heartily—in the course of that same night he was a corpse . A man went on
board one of the steamers with a large bunch of radishes , which he was warned not to eat . He did eat of them , and before the morning sun arose he was dead . A third , feeling unwell on his arrival at Kansas city , drank a copious draught of ice-water , and then walked eight miles into the country and back . On the following day he died , and , " at the sunset hour , the tall trees in the leafy wood were waving over his western grave , and the moaning winds sang his Requiem . " There was an example , also , of the ruling passion strong in death . Dr . Robinson attended the funeral of one whose only thought was of gems and jewels . The unhappy creature decked herself out with rings and bracelets and finery before she yielded ^ her breath . Indeed , it must not be supposed that the new settlers , in their struggle to live , altogether cast the slough of personal vanity . At the funeral of one of the earliest abolitionist ' martyrs , a motley group assembled in the large dining-hall of the Lawrence hotel : —
There were hats of satin and velvet , with plumes and Paris flowers , with dresses of rich material and costly furs . There were brides of a few months , just arrived in this western home , and city belles come out for a winter ' s sojourn where the artificial has wholly (?) given place to simplicity and nature . There were some with logcabin bonnets of black 8 ilk , or cotton velvet , and dress of plain coarse stuff , giving to the wearer an odd , strange look . There were others whose apparel is the safer medium between the two , which ever bespeaks the taste and intelligence of the
wearer . It would be superfluous to remark that the ladies on both ^ sides took a warm interest in the contest that was going on . Mrs . Robinson herself frequently speaks in no measured terms of the pro-slavery authorities . She plainly accuses Governor Shannon of drunkenness and debauchery , and wonders if " his brain has becorne so muddled in the bad whisky in which it floats as to dull all his perceptions of justice . " Some of the ladies , too , in Lawrence , were busily engaged for days together in making up ball cartr idges , and one or two of them displayed a familiarity with fire-arms which even the Empress Eugdnie might envy . The pro-slavery ladies were not a whit more timid or lukewarm than their opponents . Mrs . Robinson travelled with " a young , girlish thing , full of quick wit and ready repartee , though as uncultivated as the unhewn rock , " whose off-hand manners and expressions afforded considerable amusement to her temporary companions . She was a native of this far west , and it seemed to be as natural for her _ to swear as to breathe . Almost every sentence , besides , the oath , either began or finished with the assertion , "lam a real border ruffian . " She talked a good deal of a proposed visit to her husband ' s parents at . Vermont , and wondered " what they would say
when they saw a live border ruffian . _ Swearing appears to be quite a western accomplishment . Governor Shannon , when at Lawrence , and under the excitement of whisky , is said to have called upon a Mrs . Hazeltyne , and inquired for her husband , lhe Jady replied that she did not know where he was . Whereupon the chivalrous governor exclaimed : ?* I'll cut his d—d black heart out of him , and yours too , madam , if you don ' t take care . " But the finest specimen of emphasised rhetoric is the speech of General Atchison after the occupation of Law * renco : nearly everybody concerned in the Kansas affair , be it remarked , seems to have been either a general or a colonel : — entered liaw
" Boys , this day I am a kickapo 5 ranger , by G—d . This day we have - rence with Southern rights inscribed upon our banner , and not one d—d abolitionist dared to fire a gun . Now , boys , this is the happiest day of my life . Wo havo entered that d—d town , and taught the d—d abolitionists a Southern lesson that they will remember until the day they die . And now , boys , wo will go in again with our highly honourable Jones nnd test tho strength of that d—d Free State Hotel , nnu teach the Emigrant Aid Company that Kansas shall be ours . Boys , ladies should , and I hope will , be respected by avery gentleman . But when a womon takes upon herself the garb of ft soldier , by carrying a Sharpe ' s rifle , then sho is no longer worthy of respect . Trample her under your feet as you would a snake ! ^ Come on , boys ! Now do your duty to yourselves and your Southern friends . Your duty , l know you will do . If one man or woman dare stand before you , blow them to u »» with a chunk of cold lead "
. General Atchison had been Vice-president of the United States . X" 0 literary qualifications of some other officials nro equally low . Governor Shannon writes to General Clarke to " post him at least onco or twico a week as to all that is going on out We . " Sheriff Jones " notiw » Marshal Donaldson that he " will have writs gotten out against Robinson , and some twenty others . " And Deputy Sheriff Salters . gives one ot ws partisans the following pass : — 11 Let this man pass for i no him to bee a low and abiding man . ' .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 22, 1857, page 812, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2206/page/20/
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