The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-23
A PLYMOUTH NoNcoNFoRx1sr.
WESTERN LIFE.

The Missouri Democrat has lively cores
pendent up among the border rufians. He
says of Parkville:
walking in Parkville is rather an exercise
than an amusement. a person unaccustomed
to promenading on hill tops cannot walk either
up or across any street without putting like a
porpoise, or like the Republicans theatrical
critic. l don't believe that any person ever
did, does, can WILL or could die, in Parkville, of
consumption or disease of the lungs, unless he
contracts them in other cities. The ladies look
healthier there than in st. Louis. Health is
the never-failing reward of taking outdoor ex-
ercises daily, and the inhabitants of Parkville
cannot leave their homes without taking such
exercise
"Parkville contains from 500 to 1000 souls.
1t supports two churches. What Mrs. Stowe
modestly said of herself is exceedingly applica-
BILE the city of Parkville It's not much to look
at, nor ever was.' 1t boasts, however, of a large
stone-buit hotel, built by Mr.. Park; of two
very fine stone-built blocks, built by Mr.. Park |;
of several handsome stone private houses, built
by Mr.. Park of stonebuilt Presbyterian
Church, built chiefly, one of its members told
me, by Mr. Park; and several tastefully con-
structed and painted cottages, surrounded by
well-cultivated, pretty little gardens. There is
evidently good taste as well as political excite
ment in the city of Parkville.
Of Mr.. Park, he says:
al tried very diligently to ascertain the char
acter of Mr.. Park and the estimation in which
he is held in the city which bears his name and
in which he has lived for the last seventeen
years. 1t is said that Sir Walter Raleigh smiled
at his intention of writing true history of the
world, when he heard several conflicting &C.
counts by eye-witnesses, of fight that occurred
between two men beneath his own window. If
he had visited Parkvills, he would certainly
have given a broad grin at the thought of wri-
ting true character of historical celebrity.
"Mr. Park was originally a highwayman, and
a negro thief; he was publicly whipped in Tex
as he made money by cheating the Indians,
and stealing their ponies he was one of the
meanest of men, and he was a ID Adolf
tionistl That's the firm belief, or at least ex-
pressed opinion, of one of the party.
"Mr. Park was selfmade, honorable man |;
he rose from poverty to wealth by his own un.
aided exertions. He was the most industrious
and public-sprited of citizens; he encouraged
every public enterprise, and gave material aid
to every public improvement. He intended to
build and endow a college here at his own ex-
pense, and would soon have commenced it, if
he had not been banished. Il have known
him. said one old man, for seventeen years
he believed, as everybody did, until the last six
or eight years, that Slavery was curse to a
State, and that Missouri would 60 ahead faster
if she was free soil bnt as to interfering with
Slavery, sir, or running negroes away, he was
as far from that as any human being is The
fact of the matter is, said another citizen, he
Das q strong Benton man; he intertercd too
much icith Davy Atchison's schemes. 1t ,oas
necessary to ruin HIM If DaUy aoas to succeed,
and DaUy soon found pretert for running
him.
81 think cannot give you better idea of
the excited state of parties up the river than
by relating a tea-table incident. / was sitting
at supper at the American House, in Kansas
city, talking with Missourian Politician
frst-rate fellow-on the absorbing question
of the day. He was defending what thought
the absurd practice of going to a hotel whose
landlord agreed with you on political subjects,
even if a member of. the opposite party kept
better house and charged less for his accommo-
dations. 'Well / do believe in it, he said
touch Yankees purse, you touch his con-
science; it is the only way we can stop their
D.
He suddenly paused, and ] saw that his eyes
were riveted on the pretty young English wait
er. After about two minutes silence, he resu-
med. 'Well, said he, with the slightest bit of
a sigh, that's id pretty girl, whether
she's pro-slaUery or not!'
He said SO quite unconsciousy, and laughed
at it quite as much as l did when l related it
afterwards. You may imagine that politics
run very high, when they rush into mans
mind in looking at pretty girl l am glad he
said so, though, for we men like to see the
ladies from every point of view; and his an
swer constitutes what may call a south-side
view of the great muslin question:
"Variously yours, j. R."