The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1856-12-06
Home Correspondence.
LAWRENCE, Nov. %, '56.


incidents indicate the state of the social
and moral pulse. Fancying that Kan
sas items may interest the friends
abroad, l propose to detail some of the
minutie of yesterday.
Your last paper states that the avails
of the thanksgiving dinner, on the Goth,
were TO be expended foF the benefit Of
the Free State prisoners. 1t was the
purpose of the ladies to prepare bona
fide thanksgiving dinner for them, la
New England. This was to have been
partaken on the 9th, it being impossi-
bic to prepare it in connection with the
dinner here. Our resident physicians,
however, interposed an opinion which
changed our plan, to some extent, and
we concluded to renounce the dinner;
cooking only smaller variety of edi-
bles, in palmer style, and purchasing
such things as might be a rarity, and
would last longer. Butter was sought
in vain-but good large Ohio cheese
and few bushels of apples would not
be liable to meet a refusal.
After sundry petty trials, and very
late start on the morning designated,
we found ourselves packed in light
spring wagon, with bags, box, pals,
DC, going up hill at rate that we
thought too rapid for the welfare of our
horse. He went literally upon the
jump, when, being slightly checked, he
stopped short, and commenced backing
down. He backed, and backed, and
backed and utterly refused all other
than retrograde progress. After trying
sundry expedients, we succeeded in
turning his face homeward, when, with
few strokes of the whip, he took such
a start that it required our united
strength to keep him within the bounds
of propriety while descending the same
HILL We returned. 1t was too late
to go dallying along at such rate
too late to hunt another horse and make
new start 1t was a beautiful day,
though, bright and clear, and unusually
mild; besides, it was thanksgiving in
old Massachusetts, and perhaps some
other States where the prisoners hail
from; and it was hard to defer one day
longer the pleasant trip. But there was
no alternative.
Yesterday morning, little party
set off little earlier, in detachments
the advance guard of three in an
editoridl buggy. We pasSet two lady
equestrians, who, more fortunate
than we, had each gallant-and were
surprised to meet them at the door of
the nominal prison. a pheton after
wards drove in before us, from right
hand road, which we subsequently
passed, and, recognizing familiar faces,
we thought our company augmented.
Returning our compliment, they ere
long retook the lead, while a merry
laugh rang out from both carriages;
and looking back, they asked if we
were going to Lecompton. Answering
the query, we passed it back, where
upon they playfully boasted that they
were going to the Free State, while we
were to stop at the bogus, capital. But
the capital was not uppcrmost in our
thoughts, wherever our errand might
lead us.
The preliminary call of those who
chanced to be the first arrival, was at
the Governors office, which we found
as quiet, and as innocent of loafers, as
an EDITORS sanctum. The contrast be-
tween this and Governor Shannon's
office, when we had visited it, for SIM
liar purpose, was noteworthy and very
acceptable. We were cordially well
coined, and agreeably entertained. a
straw-valuable, as an index to con-
trast still more striking-a contrast,
| will venture to say, between our pres
-ent Governor and all other Territorial
officials, past and present-muSt be
thrown in here. | beg pardon of His
Excellency, but for the edifcation of
those who know the value of worthy
examples in official stations, | take the
liberty of rehearsing casual incident.
4 bottle and glasses stood upon the
table, and the Governor playfully asked
if we would have some brandy
OF course we thanked him. No.
No further remark was made, at
the time. though | must confess to
some degree of surprise at the unpro-
pitious sight. Not because of its rar-
ity in such places, but because nay in
stincts had told me that his manhood
was of another stamp.
There are three wild manias, like
beasts of prey running riot upon our
magnificent prairies, making sad havoc
with the morals of the men of our
community and despoiling the peace
and good temper of the other half of
creation. These are Tobacco, Alcohol,
and Profanity. Those who escape
entirely their contaminating influence,
command an involuntary respect,
which, increasing in strength as the
number of its objects diminish, ap-
proaches toward veneration for the
few, whose very atmosphere COM
mends them to our sociabilities. Ru-
NOR SAYS that our Governor has shown,
under excitement, symptoms of one of
these phobias so prevalent; but Rumor
is an unworthy dame, and if she has
told the truth for once. we viii hope
that he is convalescent. or permanently
healed.
But twas my pencil who said that.
Some movement as We were pre-
pairing to leave, imperilled the con-
tents of the bottle, and called forth a
word of semi-serious caution from our
host. Il am sorry to see that bottle
stand there. Governor, [ said The
remark may seem rude, as repeated.
but l am sure he read me better than
to find in it meddlesome, uncharita-
bic, or eensorious spirit. His reply In
regard to friends stopping with him,
led to a repetition of the same regrets,
and this again to the assurance that
they had brought it with them. II was
- L.. u