The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-02-20
From the Boston Post
sFan' among the Border Ruffians.
WEsTPoRT, Mo. Feb. 2.

When | reached Saint louis-from
which point wrote you'll tancied Kan
sas was nearly reached. But four days
and two nights of exhausting travel in
mud wagons and ambulances (pronoun-
ced 0ca1dnches,) over the most horrible
roads that it ever entered into the heart
of man to conceive or into the limbs and
joints of woman to endure, served COM
pletely to undeceive me. It was in vain
that my convoy, the B. r., pointed out
to me the excellences of the soil ana des-
eanted upon the capacities of the country
over which we were sweeping at the rate
of three miles an hour; in vain that he
drew my attention to fat Dutchlnen I'M
their own persinmon tree, complacentiy
eating its delicate fruit and gazing on the
six coon-skins arraycd on the walls Of
their cabins and to the hugh bolcs Of syc-
amore, coffee and walnut, clasped
by constructing parasites, springiag from
the oozy black soil of the bottom lands
my only feeling was Of impatient longing
for a resting place.
And when at the solemn midnight the
slow and dangerous deposited a crushed
and bruised form OF femininity at the
door of this hotel, the sense of my Own
indentity had deserted me, and waited
to be carried by the porter like n jar Of
jelly.
Plenty sleep, of warm bathing, Of
ham and ofcorn dodgers, with other legi-
innate appliances Of the toilet (of which
it may be iudicious to keep you ignorant)
have in some sort refreshed and restored
me, and, to speak after the manner of
men, put me on my legs again.
And have seen the ensanguined fields
of Kansas. Ye,terday, behind two Wig
orous little mules, like some other articles
good deal better than they look, was
driven in tn. direction of the territory.
The ridge in the prairie was indicated by
my companion, from which, like Moses,
was to have my first glimpse. We
reached it, and there burst upon my SEN
ses the vision Of burning homes, the clash
of contendng arms, the shrieks Of slaugh-
tered innccents, the mingled curse and
prayer, and all Of battles magnifccntly
stern array. This did | see in my ina
gination and, as the vulgar phrase it, in a
horn
The question has been repeatedly asked
me by young ladies if had shared in
the usual opinion of "the east" that my
fellow citizens at the west were in the
barbarous or half civilized stage Of socie-
ty? And have always frankly answer
ed that 4 had hat,' in spite Of my not
unfrequent Intercourse at Washington
with ladies and occasionally gentlemen
from this region.
In fact l wasnot prepared for a socie-
ty supplied with so many elegances and
presumng that in a newly
and thinly settled country the necessities
of life would bound the ambitions of the
people.
But a border ruffian or ruffianess is not
SO "ornary" a specimen Of Amercanism
as oriental fancy paints. There are to be
sure, peculiarities. The little ctiquettes
and conventionalities Of saloons and
drawing rooms are missing in marked
degree to one fresh from their empire of
absolutism. There is genial heartiness
in the intercourse that, however rudely it
may at first impress one, can readily
conceive must be precious to those to the
manner born.
A young lady here plays her piano,
tlirts with tall young men in store
) Clothes and dances, for what | can see,
e very much after the customary style.
=. must not forget to mention one extra
ordinary feature Of society, mean the
outraseously early age at which boys and
girls are married and given in marriage.
What do you think ofmatrons of hirtcon2
l have already met a number Of such,
and so common place a matter is it that