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    812 THE LEADER. [No. 387, Attotst 22, 18...

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    Life In Kansas. Kansas? Its Interior And...

    peaches and grapes scarce require any cultivation to be produced m 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 . Meat liere , 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 flood , and the winds blow wildly , threatening to overturn everything 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 weig ht of glistening rain drops . " During another " shower" a bouse 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 mothers 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 . Then , as an example of the mildness of a Kansas winter , we encounter 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 niffht some equally industrious individuals employed themselves m Christmas

    " freezing their feet . " Here is a cheerful glimpse of a -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 fntended to be eaten , is frozen hard . The bread can only be cut as we thaw it by the fire , setting the loaf down and cutting one piece at a time . Potatoes , squashes , PumpWns , citrons , and apples are a 9 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 . Sometimes 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 nersons in bed , in a tent . A lady carry ing water in a pail from a neighbourot duc

    frie spring heard a buzzing noise like that a grassnopper , ner attention was attracted by a small bird flying backward and forward across the path , and no great 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 m 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 flowers 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 . Three of 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 m her refusal , and they relinquished the idea of appropriating them . They soon made signs for something to cat and , after being most abundantly supplied with meat and bread , one of them , the raoat repulsive of nil , inada a circle on the floor , and eigns of cutting it , then pointing to hiB mouth -to represent his desire that a pie should bo set beforo them . Tp comply with such request being considered unnecessary , it was refused ; whereupon the young Indian pulled away a cloth at one end of the room , concealing somo shelves , and , with boisterous exclamations of delight , brought out some pies . Seating themselves around them , they were » 1 bo soon devoured .

    Nor were these the only drawbacks to the new settlement . The imaginary wants of a more civilised state of society were , of course , unattainable , and many even of the roul wants could only bo gratified with groat difficulty and expense . Groceries were scarce and dear , and the yeast was usually dull ana 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 ropes with which the horses were picketed . One morning Mrs . Robinson was awakened by a tree toad on her pillow , and , on getting up , found a mouse in " tho tub . " Breakfast was hardly finished when a cry was heard outside , " Here ' s a , rattlesnake 1 " and one about eighteen inches long , with four rattles , was found and killed near the wood-pile . Its mate was slaughtered in tho evening , on its way to tho bedchambers . Tho houses were in general so slightly built , and tho' planks consequently so sobn warped by the sun , that tho rain poured into the interior as from a watering pot . Ono showery" night , JMra . Robinson was at a neichbour ' s cabin'in attendance on a sick lady , and was obliged to shift from side tosido

    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 buffal o 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

    extent that makes one shudder . The father and mother had been seized 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 wentnear 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 disregai'd of the dictates of common sense . A gentleman in a profuse perspiration plunged into the cold stream—a little while afterwards he supped the of that niht he went

    heartily—an course same g was a corpse . A man 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 _ hep 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 4 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 oift for a winter ' s sojourn where the artificial has wholly ( ?) given place to simplicity ana nature . There were some with logcabin bonnets of black silk , 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 . Rpbinson herself frequently speaks in no measured terms of the pro-slavery authorities . She plainly accuses Governor Shannon of drunkenness and debauchery , and his brain has become muddled in the bad whiskin which

    wonders if " so y 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 cartridges , and one or two of them displayed a familiarity with fire-arms which even the Empress Eugenie 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 , " I am 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 . Xne lady 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 Lawrence : nearly everybody concerned in the Kansas affair , be it remarked , seems to have been either a general or a colonel : — have entered Law

    «« Boys , this day I am a kickapoo ranger , by G—d . This day wo - rence with Southern lights inscribed upon our banner , and not one d—d abolitionist dared to firo a gun . Now , boys , this is the happiest day of my life . v \ o liaye ontored that d—d town , and taught tho d—d abolitionists a Southern lesson tMottney will remember until the day they die . And now , boys , wo will go in again w » tn our highly honourable Jones and tost tho strongth of that d—d Free State Hotel , anu teach the Emigrant Aid Company that Kansas shall bo ours . JJoye , ladies suouiu , and I hopo will , bo respected by every gentleman . But when a woman tnlces upon herself tho garb of a aoldSer , by carrying a Sharped rifle , then she is no longer worthy of respect . Trample her under your feot as you would a , snake 1 ^ Come on , boys ! Now do your duty to yourselves and your Southern friends . Your duty , know you will do . If ono man or woman dare stand before you , blow them to n with a chunk of cold lead"

    . . „ , General Atchison hud been Vice-president of the United States . Auo literary qualifications of aomo other officials are , equally low . Govcrnoi Shannon writes to General Clarke to " post him at leaat onco or twice a week as to all that is going on out here . " SherilF Jones " notinoa Marshal Donaldson that ho " will have writs gotten out against Robinson , and somo twenty others . " And Deputy Sheriff Salters gives ono ot » 's partisans tho following pass : — " Let this man pass for 1 no him to boo a law and abiding man . '

    812 The Leader. [No. 387, Attotst 22, 18...

    812 THE LEADER . [ No . 387 , Attotst 22 , 1857 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 22, 1857, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_22081857/page/20/