The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-09-08
Sketch of a Border Rufian.

DR.. Gihon, the Private Secretary of ex.
GO, ernor Geary, gives the following truthful
and graphi' picture of the word-renowned
Border Rhiii;,n. Every citizen will attest to
its accuracy. AS the race is fast becoming
extinct, SO few now being found who will
acknowledge the name, they will soon be as
scarce as witches. Hence, painting Of them
dawn from life, will in few years be Of
great interest:
active preparations for war were discern
ible at all the river towns. At Lexington, a
large crowd was assembled on the levee, ma.
ny of the persons comprising it loaded with
arms. But at Kansas City the warlikc prep
arations were still greater. This town is on
the southern side of the mouth Of the Kan
sas river, which, at this point, separates Mis-
souri, from the Territory of Kansas. 1t is sit
uatcd about five miles from Westpor, near
the eastern boundary of Kansas, where the
Missouri army was concentrating preparatory
to the invasion of the Territory Both Of
these towns have become notorious as Places
Of refuge fer ;hc most desperate characters,
who.C amost ran Jess crimes lave blackened
hc anruls of kan>,s, and rs being ,lic r"sor
e humorous comb which lave there
-
u,ut. ri,, :in ihc s'5,r..Lolds of be woist
ui ir "Bmd,s kuiiiaus"
Let il not be understood that this latter
lrrm is considered by those to whom il is ap-
,,H ~ .,o # rproach. On the contrary
&c., least - D.. r' li'nd If it, glory i'll 1t,
r. ,, 20. ~ th'U r"w,y iu p"ri' II, and
q. y nar, # ,h'm have l,su min r,ly rue
,,sfol lu ,his uf1ll,r tir, "~u.. III"
Dr., i.ro,,i / . ~ ili;U-.. ..a il.lr uI,-s tt.., y
litil ,Lc aIioarancc oi H., ,uffian-and III
tl,cir conversation they are ruflians indeed
They initiate md resemble the guerillas, la.
droncs, or grcascrs of Mexic"--,h' hrgands
of Spain or Italy, or the pirt., = '"lh hcrS and
murdcrors of the theatre. On he l',"" at
Kansas City stood "a sort of cn niLus or wag-
on, used to convey passengers to and from
Wcstpo,t, under either side Of which was
painted, in flaming capitals, the words 'BoR-
DER RurrIAN.' Standing about in groups, or
running in every direction, were numbers Of
the men who claim for themselves that gen.
tie appellation.
A description of one Of these will give the
reader some idea of their general Characters
tics. Imagine, then, man standing in a
pair of long boots, covered with dust and
mud, and drawn over bis trowsers, the latter
made of coarse, fancy colored cloth, well
soiled-ihe handle Of large bowie-knife pro-
jectng from one or both boot-tops-a leathern
belt buckled around his waist, on each side
Of which is fastened large revolver red
or blue shirt, with heart, anchor, eagle, or
some other fayorte device braided Oh the
breast and back, over which is swung rifle
or carbine-a sword dangling by his sidc-an
old slouched hat, with cockade or brass star
turkey feather sticking in the top-hair uncut
and uncombed, covering his neck and shoul-
ders-an unshaved face and unwashed hands.
Imagine such picture of humanity, who
can swear given number of oaths in any
specified time-drink any quantity of bad
whisky without getting drunk, and boast Of
having stolen half dozen horses and killed
one OF more abolitionists, and you will have q
pretty fair conception Of border ruffian al
he appeared in Missouri and Kansas.
He has, however the happy faculty of as
suming very different aspect. Like other
animals he can shed his coat and chenge his
colors. In the City Of Washington, he il
quite another person. You will sec him in
the corridors of the first class hotels, upor
Pennsylvania Avenue, in the Rotunda of tho
Capitol, or the spacious halls of the White
House, dressed in the finest broadcloth, anc
in the extreme of fashion; his HAIR trimmed
his face smoothed, and his hands cleansed
his whole department that of innocence, anc
bis speech so smooth, studied and oily, as tC
convince even the sagacious President him
self, that he is vcritable and polished gen
tleman, and obtain from the wise heads tina
form the cabinet, the most important posts
Of trust, honor and emolument in the gift o
the nation"