Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-04-17
Mr.. Mmmons the Cyrus, both ships belonging
to Nantucket; Captain Hussey is in tho shi p
james Maury, of Salem.
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.

uioP III occaoionally Wnen can cnance 10
stumble upon an item or 80 of sufficient i'm
portance to warrant the intrusion!
1t would be difficult, indeed, in this great
country of ours where everything is interesting,
to travel day, or an hour even, without find
ing something to amuse or instruct.
/ propose, with youF permission, to trans
cribe few items from notes in my journal taken
while travelling recently in a portion of several
Western and Southern States shall not give
you continuous history of my wanderings,
for that, in this day of travel would be very
tedious, " hum drum " affair, but will only SO.
lcct such portions as may interest the general
reader.
Indianapolis, the capital of Hoosierdom, is
indeed busy place Six or eight railroads, all
centering here in one common focus, make the
huge depot full of life and energy, all the day
long. There is one thing that is especially disa-
greeabe to the traveller in many of ,hese West
ern cities. and this among the rest. As soon
as train fairly stops, you are beseiged by an
army of {" hotel runners; and-'' Ticket to
the American House!" " Rail Road Hotel, gen.
tlemen,' this way to the National" free
ride to the American House," baggage for
the National. comes down upon you in a
perfect hail-storm, and if one does not keep his
eyes sharp about him, ten chances to one, he
will find himself at one hotel and his coat-tail
and baggage somewhere else If every Western
city and vile would adopt the the wise course
Of the City of Cleaveland, Ohio, and make all
"runners " liable to fine and Imprisonment,
then wayfaring men" might go their way
in peace unmoested by rival hotel agents.
indianapolis can boast several very fine build
ings, among which is the "Capitol," modelled
after the Parthenon at Rome. This building
would present quite fine appearance, were it
sup in the world " where it could be adyan-
tageousy seen. Being nearly on a level with the
surrounding buildings, and in the midst of a
grove of fine large trees, it is not, at very short
distance, visible hardly at all.
Should any person feel desirous of 60 looking
up" the definition of the word " FAST" let him
get on board Western Lightning Express
train, on straight road, leetle behind time, -
and my word for it he will realize its full mean
ing in an incredible short space Of time. Or.
should any one believe that oil hours are of the
same length, and wishes to be convinced to the
contrary let him pass night on Wharf boat,
momentarily expecting the boat that had adver
tised to pass twenty four hours before, trying
to coax visit from old Morpheus on i" four
foot by two" chest, in the midst of a small
swarm of mosquitoes of that kind that will
puncture your boot heels, or toe nails, and suck
your life-blood from thousand different places
If one wants a "quiet snooze " as he is jour
neying rapidly on, he can get it pretty com
fortably shut up in four by six state room
provided the undivided half is not promiscu
ously taken up by large nose that will Away
snore at the precise moment when he is mos
earnestly trying to "woo the drowsy god ,
but if he leave his state room to stroll about
he will find himself smelling badly" in
very few moments especially if he does not us
tobacco. The bar, which is the most prominen
arrangement above, and the stables which arr
the most savory below, with clouds of tobacco
smoke here, there, and everywhere, contrive tt
SO taint the atmosphere of every other part o
the boat, and give out such " compound ex
tract of stinks" as will drive you back, faster
your door, and keep bottle of eau de COLOGNE
to your nose for sometime if not longer.
The first glimpse I had of Slavery was on
steamboat down the Ohio. An old, dilapidated
seedy-looking specimen of gentleman, tw
thirds drunk, brought out a modest appearin
mulatto woman and offered her for sale, enumeI
ating her virtues, and showing her to the bes
advantage possible; he made her raise a heav
trunk to show her strength, opened her mout
to prove her teeth all sound-from which sur
pose he argued her age-and went through var
Gus other performances, oil tending to prove thu
the I" article " was of the first quality, undan
aged by time or use. Whether he succeeded
disposing of his property (') or not, did nc
learn, but from his liberal patronage of the ba
thereafter, | came to the conclusion that h
" eel-skin" had been replenshed from som
source Or other.
Any one who has lived twenty four hours
more on board ono of tho legion of boats thc
, ply on our Western rivers, will appreciate II
sense of relief experienced as | once mo,
planted my feet on good old terra frma,
+ and breathed the fresh air uutainted by SINE
/ of burning coal, and gazed upon sunlight vi
clouded by fog or smoke.
, 1t was glorious day in the youth of Autuu
= that landed from the Steamer Southerner or
proceeded to hotel in the little village of O.
| Ky. On reaching the " Stage Ofice,'' four
' was " behind time " and must wait two da
Q before could progress towards the interior
, the State. On the whole, did not much mil
the delay as it would give me chance to 8
. something of the operation of the g peculi
d Institution - in border town, separated fro
. free State only by river, scarce half mile
d width, and from its proximity to 90 freedom
8 domain" Isupposed would partake more of t
o character of our Northern towns than 9th,
: farther South. Nor was wholly disappointe
d Still, could everywhere discern the clums
g half done work Of the negroes Most of I
d streets were moro or less numbered up with q
10 rubbish, and the " dust pan and lash pail
1e were not invariably emptied into the back -yai
Il Leisurely sauntering through the streets, ST
}. veyed everything that offered to interest. n
d groes of all shades and descriptions, and dol