The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-24

the appearance OF the country. We had
expected to plunge into vast forests. or
roll monotonously on over boundless prai-
ries, without single mark or sign to re-
call to the mind images of the beautiful
scenes and the home feeling we had
known in New England. But we were
happily disappointed. 1t was often re-
marked that not even in the most delight
full localities of the East had we seen q
more pleasingly variegated landscape. or
a country of more civilized appearance,
and that white cottage now and then,
and occasionally church steeple, would
at once convert this lovely country into
another New England, without the long
struggle with rocky, obdurate soil, and
forbidding forests and wintry storms,
which so severely tested the spirit of our
Puritan ancestors.
After ride ola few miles wecame into
the Indian Reserve belonging to the
Shawnees, and passed the several Mis-
sions established among them. Our dri-
yer pointed out the locality of each of the
denominations as We passed, Quaker,
Methodist, de-, renlarking that they were
all doing pretty good business, with
considerable competition, and he did not
know which was ahead now. At one
point we passed church on very pret-
ty elevation, with its steeple above and
graveyard around it, as natural as life.
Our first night was passed at the log
cabin of good-natured Shawnee, whose
bread and bacon for supper, bacon and
bread for breakfast, with good nights
rest OH the floor intervening, was quite
as good fare as we could expect in this
new Territory. Twenty miles further on
wedinedat Blue Jackets, and while there
saw family of Kaws pass on their way
to ST. Louis. They formed a curious and
interesting caravan. First came the old
lady, seated On mule, with various arti-
elesoffamily property-beds, baskets, and
cooking utensils, disposed on either side
of her upon the patient mule. She was
followed by the other members of the
family, also on mules, and with an abun-
dance of baggage arranged in mill-boy
style, the last member being little girl
about four years old, who sat upright on
her animal, holding the reins with all the
gravity of a Judge. Several dogs were
disposed on the mules with the rest of the
furniture. Lastly came the old Patriarch
himself, on foot, as straight as an arrow,
with a long. heavy rifle on his shoulder.
He had much of that dignity of appear
ance which once distinguished the red
men.
A few minutes riding brought US out
of the Rsserve, and we were once more
on Unsls SANS soil, of which fact we
were reminded by seeing little cabins
every half mile, where his enterprising
children had located their claims to his
beautiful land. Most of those who locate
take care to keep half mile from their
neighbors, in order to make sure of their
quarter section. A Ashortdistance further
on, and We were in sight of the city of
Lawrence. Eastern readers must not
suppose that our approach to this famous
city was made known by the glitter of
church spires, the rattling of machinery,
and wheels rumbling over paved streets.
Nor did we pass through long vistas of
suburban scenery, with country seats and
parks around it; but passing with our
mule team slowly along over the open
prairies yet unincumbered with fences, a
row of small cabins appeared over the
brow of a little eminence, and we saw, for
the first time, city without an omnibus,
theater or grog-shop. We told the dri-
yer to take US to the best Hotel. Imagine
a roof about forty feet long, placed on the
ground, with no walls to support it; COM
posed of thatch, with the gable ends of
sod; a door in one end, with small win
dow each side of it; a table running
down the middle of the room, with a row
of berths at the side, made by nail
ing narrow pieces of board to upright
posts driven into the ground, and corded
in usual bedstead style; the ground car
peted with saw-dust for floor; such is
our Hotel. On the whole, the Hotel was
a subject of much laughter and hard
swearing, according as its merits were
appreciated oy its numerous customers
all of whom agreed, however, that it was
quite as good as they could expect in a
city which had not yet celebrated its first
birthday anniversary. Those who have
been on the ground since the first settle
ment of the country, seem well pleased
with their condition and prospects, as far
as We can learn. A few have gone back
to their eastern homes, but we hear OF
others coming. even by thousands, and
the places of those who desert WILDE fill
ed by better men. The cowardly. ineffi-
cient and indolent, viii not find Kansas a
place where they can smoothly pass on
through life without exertion but to the
stout-hearted and strong-handed men
who are determined to act, il viii offer a
home In glorious land, and eventually a
fortune.
We do most sincerely believe that nc
more lovely and naturally attractive land
can be found on the face of the earth. Its
air is pure and invigorating; its water
clear as crystal: Its soil free from stones,
deep. and exceedingly fertile ; Its scenery
most agreeably diversified, sort of com
promise between the mountains of New
England and the level prairies of Illinoi.
and Indiana. The farmer need not spend
here the best years of bis life in CLEARING
off his land, and his old age in burning
out the stumpsand picking up stones.
The land is ready for the plow, and il
needs only the peaceful hand of industry
10 make it, in q very few years, .
more delightful place of residence than
even New England, with its long years o.
struggle aad slow growth.
ADVENA.