New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-01
Prairie Humors-" Great Country"
cnrrnsnnn1anca ,f The Trihnnn

WILL COUNTY, Ilinos, March IA, 1916.
Verify, Mr.. Editor, this is q great country OF
ours-I mean this Western country. In how many
ways has the truth and force OF this common remark
struck me during my residence in Illinois For in
stance who could stand as have done, upon high
bluff of cloudy evening in Autumn and witness
the entire horizon for thirty miles enveloped in one
grand, lurid, glaring Prairie confasration and
not be overwhelmed with the truth Of this most OPP
poste and thoroughly Western phrase-and who
can observe the present rapid progress 10 ruition OF
the great designs of the projectors Of our noble Ca
nal the lattering prospects Of Railroad across
our State to Galena, and while he considers the
condition OF this section of our Union but few
short years since be filed with any ideas which
find brief and expressive utterance in Wtu this is
great Counryn-snd who could witness too, as did,
few days since procession of thirty teams, escort
ed and ornamented with Prairie music and Prairie BAN
ners and loaded down with Prairie children 90 say
thing of Prairie mud for there smart chance Of
soil turned up in onc arge gay happy throng, number
ing several hundred, pouring into small town to "Pub
lie School Celebrations" and reflect upon the short time
the Schoomas,er" has been abroad" among US, and
not be prone calculate while perhaps mud plaster
from the lively heels Of the Marshas" colt DER
shadows ddrkly all his face" this is great country "
Again. let the observer attend church OF Sunday-he
is surprised notice at intervals in the service
three four individuals commence to and yGsc1
and stretch and shipe and III last abruptly leave the
meeting He asks when he gets what these people
away for in the midst Of such fine sermonf 20,
they had shake of the 'Ager.'" (Yes, I've actually
seen four people leave Church of morning for this
cause) Wal" thinks the stranger if This is MT great
country, tell me have nj trdUeLG." Here's another
case which noticed the other day. man has had his
back rriiens stolen aud actually finds in the pocket
OF the thief Atterrunning all over ale settlement look
ing for the constable him, CHE thief meanwhile
getting nearly hull down the Prairie) he 6naly
meets driving couple "bsulky cattle, Justice (who
by the way, for telling you true story. Is drover
and butcher well Justice, holds court sells MeG;
and keeps srossry ali IN the same shanty9 Squire
want you put sue papers on TO a. CLUSTERED
mint that has s,0ie my Miuings; found EN- in his
"wampus pocket" We'll" says the Squire. {" have
you go. your ntess;" Yes. I've got the mittinss but
- Well well, give him Kick and let him go-tainf
worth your while 10 bother with him and away
the laws dignity" 10 hunt up his touryear-olds
Veil up the stranger, this is " Srsat couRtry.'-
settler here, Mr.. Editor, must be able 10 his
hand to gnu thing and the multiludnous shifts some men
put living amusing. 20 say the least
Why know man living few miles from me- who is
at Farmer Doctor Cooper, Tavern Keeper and Ca
nal Coaractor-{was formerly merchant in Buffalo,
He practices in al these callings and has spare time at
that's always ready for speculation, whether its
horserade breaking prairie TO halves or driving hogs
10 Chicago In short these some Of the characters
tics OF your genuine Sucker
al ike politicians OF the leaDer kind.
Ready 10 snep al any Ting tia: fell"
But let him be ever advRnageously situated, your
Eisrant sucker from York Stale don't exhibit about his
farm any vi that thrift and love OF order which
al home distinguish your New-York or New.England
farmer you miss the fae bGrns and other i;er
forrs-;hey SEEM many OF them TO be impressed win
the idea that in Illinois il IS nRashtonds and therefore
unnecessary show mercy the brute or 20 put any
such faney frins rs fences gates els &c. about farm
nousc-l.hey'll sooner drink souyh-watsrp -thiugs
some how will look oriorn rough and uninyiting. They
seem TO think with that green IN who thus quoted the
Poe, tha, There's diriniy which shapes our ends
kouGu-hsro them as piu r-snd-but I'm a. The bot
tom of my paper-eHu hat ,,.-,,o,,
Yours truly, SUCkERDOM.