Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-10-30

! LEAvENwoRTH, Kansas, Oct. Sd, 1856.
Life in Kansas presents some PECULIAR
ties which, thank God, are not found in tn
States.
Every man here wears leather bel
around his waist, in which he carries
bowie knife and loaded revolver. Ever
the negro servants at the Leavenworth Ho-
tel display the belt, and if one of then
happens to reach over you, you will mos
probably feel the pressure of the handl,
of his ''Colt" or the hilt of his bowie knife
Night, in the States, is regarded IS a
period for relaxation and repose. Here il
is the time of extraordinary vigilance. The
traveller in Kansas, whether stopping at a
private or public house, never enjoys room
or even bed to himself There are not
yet rooms or beds enough in the Territory
to admit oft. When traveller desires to
retire the landlord shows him to a room
containing perhaps five beds with two per-
sons in all but two. He is told that he
can take either Of the vacant places. He
looks first at one of the sleepers and then
at the. other in order to get some facts from
which to conjecture whether either of them
may be Free State man. If this fails,
he rouses one up and enters into conversa-
ton, noting carefully the sound given to a
and o. Having made his selection he dis
robes partly or wholly. Ifthe bed has no
sheets on he keeps on his pan.aloons. fit
has only one sheet las at the Leayenworth
HoteD he keeps ON his drawers, but if, as
sometimes happens in private houses, there
are are two sheets, he takes both off. Hav-
ing placed his bowie knife, his watch and
revolver under his pillow, he buckles his
money belt tightly around him, so that
even bed-fellow could not disturb it with
out awakening him, and lays down to sleep
with one eye open.
There is none of that delicious abandon
ment with which, after the close of an ex-
citing or laborious day in Ohio, weary man
commits himself to his couch. Here is
felt the full force of that hackneyed phrase,
''The price of liberty is eternal vigilance"
The only really good sleep | get is from
the time my bed-fellow gets up until some
one shakes me by the shoulder, with, "Stran-
ger, they've all done breakfast. You'd bet
ter be getting up if you want any,"
On awakening in the morning, bed-fel-
lows and room-mates scan each other care
fully, but not as suspiciously as on the
previous night, and feel glad that they are
to part company for the day.
Next to pronunciation the best means of
Judging of a man is by his dress. Some
men, from life of travel, have acquired
cosmopolitan tongue so thatit is difficult to
decide where they were brought up.
A well dressed man is always suspicious
clean linen is a bad sign. The genuine
settlers wears blue flannel shirt and coarse
boots, with his trowsers tucked into them.
He is generally all right. At all events
he has some bluntness-akin to can1or-
and you can without much difficulty decide
upon him.
Most unfortunately, however, these men
do not compose the bulk of the population
of the towns. The troubles in Kansas,
and the unsettled state of society, have
brought in hordes of adventures both from
the North and South, but principally from
the latter. But, wherever they may come
from, they are nearly all Pro-slavery men.
They are ehecaliers d industrie-men who
in good stagea of the river reside principally
upon the boats.
"Where the carcase is, there will the
eagles be gathered together" and the law
less state ofpoor Kansas has brought these
men from the North and the South-from
the East and the West-to enjoy lawless
life, and to reap spoil. They are generally
well dressed, and visitor from the East
would be likely to regard them as the only
gentlemen in Kansas. OF oil such men
beware. Ifthey suppose YOU to possess
anything they covet and they cannot get it
by any other means, they will denounce
you as an Abolitionist and commit you to
the tender mercies of Il cir associates
These men reside principally in the river
towns.
In travelling through Kansas on foot,
las have been doing the stranger stops
wherever he can find house, without ask
ing whether his host is Free State or Pro
Slavery man, or an Indian. Indeed the
Indian cabins are generally the safesl places
to stop at.
When l first commenced my pedestrina-
ton, | was frequently struck with the great
Insecurity which every settler in Kansas
appears to feel. III got belated, and ar
rived at cabin after bedtime, l was gen
orally hailed on approaching it by man
with rifle in his hand. He had
gathered his cattle together in an enclos-
nre of worm fence, near the house, and was
standing guard" over them. They gen
orally watched till twelve o'clock, and in
times of special danger, all night. This is
to gnard against guerilla and plundering
bands, of which the Territory is full. Such
parties generally make their attacks before