New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17
4 HESTERN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PIC
Correspondence Of The N. z. Tribune.


rude sketch. 1t seems to have been drawn BY a
hurried hand, which has passed on to the portrait
ure of other scenes. know that this is fault IN
separablc from the youth of country. But I'll so
painfully evident in places old enough to have out
| grown it-not in this State alone, but in all the
Stetts. to greater or less degree-that it seems
not always excusabe. II is the result of careless
| habits contracted in The boyhOod of the nation
! Now that We are approaching full and vigorous
manhnOd, the reformation Of those habits becomes
| necessary.
| Americans are too eager 10 grow rich. &c grasp
| too much | have known men 10 spend Lifetime
| in Earassing struggle to maintain their bold
uron 4 property too biz for their hands. Debts,
| r'ortgages the want of means, breed legion
| devils. to be combated, inch by inch. Often the
unfortunate pOssessOr OF too much falls victim to
these petty furies ard sinks helpless and broken
| hearted under the continual pressure OF their
agercssons If lie emerees victorious at last, IL Is
too often with gray hairs, premature age, broken
| health and an expressing worldliness worse than
| these
This spirit of greed is visible Ill tho West. do
not dehounce il. Let those ahO choose the things Of
this ie work and win them. But there is reason in
all things. Life is feetiDg, and it is not wise 10
postpone all enjoyment OF it until its close. 1t Is
| ike telling lOnQ with hunger to accumulate mate
| rails for grand festival, to which we ere never
ready to sit down, until too weak and weary for the
taste Of food. How sad then is the banquet Sad.
der sti when il is left to the veracy OF others who
have not learned Temperance and virtue ii the schools
Of struggle and discipline.
| In the West, as in the East, are the owners OF
estates who are virtually poorer than with none
They stand painfully with their legs of possession
outstretched over broad lands, refusing 70 march AN
inch. They cannot bear to yield any portion OF prop
erty which is daily rising in value. With enormous
wealth in anticipation, they deny themselves and
their families present personal indulgence, solile
times even the nestimablc common culture, com
forts and decences of life Or if they branch out
aud build snowy house and send their children to
fashionable school, it is but to assume still
heavier burden Of care and toll. do not think this
evil is so much tie result of avarce as OF excessive
caution. We are afraid of not having enough-aS
if Providence were less b0untiful to men than to
mice and birds
have not assumed fictitious name for the date
of my letter to avoid the charge OF personality Ia
these remarks. Among my own friends and ac-
quaitances find phases Of the evil complained OF;
and much as admire their freedom OF manner,
and bcrality can get up no enthusiasm for broken
fences. ssggcd gates shaky outhouses and paths OF
mud leading to diapidated front doors. would
prefer to smaller farms and neater culture.
You will not find the Nine Oaks upon any known
map. 1t is the maine Of private property. Here
We are so retired, so far removed from any we'll
known geographic locality, that must needs n-
troduce a new date. We are twenty-five miles
from Chicago, ard eight or ten miles from the
nearest railroad. Nsperyille is our POST Office, five
OF xix miles distant, and there We 60 to church and
DO cur trading. People think little of distances in
this vast widespread country. III we lad to send
to Chicago for mails and groceries, some person
in the neghbOrhood would be foRnd starting for
town every day or two who could he charged with
commissions to bring cut our newsparers aud brown
sugar.
Tie Nine.Oaks Farm ia situated on tue east
branch of the Dupage. This is email, sluggish
stream. pleasantly denomnated d river. 1t flows
over bed Of black, oozy mud There are s0aso'''
wheA it is nearly dry but j! has its ''- sAe,s when
it becopes Nra,s!! 40" mighty overflow. its banks,
fills az tDr valleys with lakes, and sweeps away
tenc.tes and bridges. Last Winter the Dupage
broke up with rain and thaw, shook itself, arose
from its chains and prison, and staggered of Like
giant with all the gates Of the icy city On his back
Trees were destroyed, the piers Of bridges battered
down. and houses torn away by the sweeping masses.
| The banks Of the east branch are OF the richest
soil The stream flows southwark; clumps Of will
lows fringe lis course, FROM which, on either side,
the land swells up in magnificent curves. You feel
| the walt Of y mountain or crdg to break the
sight upon; but these thick groves OF heaped aud
| yelyety foliage which bound the smooth. green
| basin, supply very well the deficiency. Here their
| heavy boughs Drop in the langsid sunlight, and
yonder, where their way tops shut in the prospect
and form the horizon, they are stepped IN peaceful
| hay light.
The neiehbcrhcod is comprised mostly Of New
England settlers. / must not omit 70 tell you how
L passes lis Fourth of July; you will thereby infer
| the common sense Of the people. They do not
consider euDgOwder and whisky essential to the en-
| Joy ment OF the patriotic occasion. They neither
| FIRE Canon nor get drunk. They do nS 60 TO town,
where great deal more noise, dust, heat aud head
ache ere TO be had than happiness; but this Is the
was they do. They organize picnic, and celebrate
| IL day on their own account The practice origi.
mated with few ffmies who preferred TO spend
the Fourth in social agree bic and quiet Way, and
provide some harmless amusement for tier children,
| rather than indulge in the usual wearisone and
boisterous manifestations of Independence" They
| assembled in the house Of one OF their number,
bringing with them then buttered biscuit, spoons,
| tea-cups, potpies and babies. They spread their
tables in the shade Of trees and ate in the open as,
standing, or sitting upon the grass. They told
| stories. cracked jokes, and sung songs; the men
talked over faI ming matters; the women discussed
| q, e.stufs patchwork and cheese: the yOung
| rcoDle nirted and PLAYED, and ranbled the babies
prtvled on the turi, sucked sugar candy, some
thing better and kicked, and cackled and crowed.
beeYe bits Of sentiment, in prose or verse, COM
posed BY some Of the company, gave an intellectual
race 70 the festiyity. These cheerful pastimes
commended themselves to the good taste and sense
Of the people and each return of the holiday brought
additional numbers together until the danger Is that
tie original object Of this annual gatherings sober
and homely enjoyment Of the anniyerSary-will be
defcetedby its popularity.
| was honorcd with IN invitation to this years
picnic. Iwent at 2 o'clock. found a large com.
pany already assembled and more coming. The
tables were constructed in beautiful grove OF OAK
ssplinps and young aspens ard hickOries, which