The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-06-17
PALESTINE. ILL. June 18th, 1859.

lhrou n all the IN eandering roads paths, and
lrackless wilds over which our course has led,
it might readily occur to you that we were
offenders of the law. and were trying to evade
the pursuit of the officery of justice. Not
80 however; for as it is said, man is never
out Of his way when hunting strayed horse,
so may say drummer is never out of his
way, If he can only get men to dance to his
music and then pay for it. He should be sue
cessfui in both. however, in order to just fly
his being "out" at this season; for surely
they get up hotter sun, longer day, dus-
tier 70 ID and drier wells here I, than are to be
found anywhere else. Add to all these the
vexations of perfect swarm of prairie flies
which are sure to attack the traveller as soon
as he enters, and dog m through it; from
which, owing to wror G directions and indis.
tinct roads, he is sure to emerge upon the
wrong side after hot ride of some miles, and
you will not wonder that occasionally we are
as cross as I.
Sometimes too, VIC find ourselves belated
and long way from any place. Under such
circumstances tn sight of this familiar sign,
written with coal ;.pon an cardboard and nail
ed to tree in front Of half-story, one
roomed log cabin, "Corn and fodder Tor horse
and stayin' for man." is rather welcome than
otherwise. Iwouid here say that the hospit-
alb lie people of this country can with less in
convenience to rery large family stow away
a half dozen strangers in one room (Which at
once serves for chamber, sitting room, dining
room, parlor and kitchen) than any lazy of
our city with her mansion o. twelve or fifteen
rooms. Such wonderful powers of expan-
SIGN and elon CATION do their beds possess that
v ri,y believe they could make them &C.
cUmmodate almost any number Of guests
have been enabled to sympathyse with
Judge Douglass in his first canvass before he
became used to the customs Of the people, in
his nights sojourn with the LIS. If the Judge
"amost tainted at the bare idea of pulling
off his boots before the young lady," what do
you suppose was my fright, when sitting with
one and doing the agreeable to the best Of
my ability, she arose from a certain uneasy
posture Caused as supposed by one OF the
natura! affii ctions of the country (the ticks)
with a piece Of hosiery ard string in her
hand, passing it over to me with "Mr. will
you hang this on the back of your chair
hers having none. My trepidation, assure
you, is more easily imagined than described
not knowing what would come next; and il
it had not been for my friend j., who under
such circumstances always seems more self
possessed than I, who came forward to my re.
lief most OPPORTUNITY by engaging the lady
in conversation, just at the time when ] could
find nothing in the world 10 say know not
wha, should have done.
Sometimes however, our situation is more
enviable. Could you have stepped in upon
us1 one eveningat one or those frolics,
which in the country always follow in the
trim of quilting, think you would have
been paid for the ride over. You know at
country parties a gent from the city, well
{ presented, is often looked upon with jealous
eye by the neighborhood beaux, and as "the
best man" by the ladies'. On this occasion,
there were two of us, both young men ana
emulous to be the iiors of the day, and striv-
ing with varied success until, in the course
of the even ng, as a penalty annexed to one
of the plays, the belle Of the neighborhood
was required to select some gentleman with
whom she would measure six yards of love
(done with kisses). AT this noint, my hopes
were, alas! too high; for when she selected
my friend rather than myself, felt that the
day was lost unless could at this point by
some skillful maneuvre turn the tide in my
favor. The zest with which he had entered
into the pleasures of the evening, as we'll as
his occupation as a tape measurer, had doubt
less Influenced the lady in her choice. He
had commenced his work with zeal, which
would well have become any of US, and
showed anything but a lack of experience on
his part. Just then it occurred TO me it was
not vet known that he was a married man.
and taking a conspicuous stand, exclaimed,
"Mr J., does your wife know you're
out.' 1t had magical effect for although
he had measured but three yards, the ady
said his measure had been SO good that she
'as satisfied. need hardly say that I was
tie lion for the balance of the evening.
\ We found the contractors on the St. Louis
rosi pressing this work forward with such
energy, as gives confidence to the citizens
inAL>:----r-~.-.;--.s-of its spaedy compile
ton. A farm joining Olney was sod the day
we were there at S75 per acre. Lads all