Smyrna times., 1858-03-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
A SOJOURN I'M EGYPT.

are aware that Southern Illinois ia known
throughout the West by the name of (" Egypt"
Its boundaries, or rather boundary on the north
is hard to describe, but believe it NAV be laid
down as embracing all that part of the State
lying south of Alton, opposite the mouth of the
Missouri river. We learn that the appclation
was given, years ago, by politician-spo
in derision, referring to the darkness of the
land; but, from its suitability, in many respects
the country has ever since retained the name.
Like. Ancient Egypt, it is traversed by large
and magnificent rivers that inundate it's valley
lands. and on their floods is borne the produce
of as rich soil as lays beneath the sun. Her
markets and commercial cities are similar in
name and location to those of the ancient land
She has a Cairo, Thebes, Alexandria and
Memphis below, the former sf which is one of
the best commercial locations in the New
Word.
One would scarcely think, in looking over
the map. to what extent the interior is pene-
trated by small rivers. creeks and streams of
sufficient size to bear fiat boats of large size to
the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, thence
to the large grain marts of the west and SOUTH
This part of the State, though the oldest, is
far behind the prairie region of the north
There were settlements by early French adven-
turers at Cahaka and Kaskaska about the same
period that Philadelphia was laid out, but to
this day they do not exhibit the thrift OF places
that Americans have founded.
In primitive days, Egypt" was the scene
of many heroic and daring deeds, both in war
and in peace, between the whites and Indians.
The frstsettlers at the Salt Springs in Galatin
county remember full well such encounters as
are described in the {" Great West" where a
company of emigrants, twelve men and three
women, were descending the Ohio in fiat boat,
when they had we'll nigh reached the place of
their destination, were attacked by an over
whelmng tribe of maraudlng Indians when,
after spirited resistance to this surprise, they
were compelled to yield, and OILY two were left
to tell the sad fate of the once joyous company,
one man and one woman. The former escap ped
10 a wounded and mangled condition, and after
great and continued loss of blood travelled four
and half miles on his hands aud knees before |
he could reach the nearest and only white set
tlement. The latter was taken prisoner and
h I'D as such many years. OFT have we sat and
with great interest listened to the story of the
grey-headed veteran (whose memory is still
green with the events of early settlements in
Illinois,; how that things have changed, after
tho batt 8 a.
Hawk war; she has settled up and is now the
most populous and wealthy part Of the State.
But we see better day, not far in the future.
for her (EgyPts) dense forests of stately oak
that have resisted. 10 a great extent, the steady
blow of the axeman; they must yield, through
those natural channels, 10 the demands of the
widespread prarles thath have been blooming into
farms, villages and cities, with such incredulous {
rapldity,-being called on for that timber that
has hitherto been rolled into the log heap and
burned in the clearing.
The settlers of Southern Illinois are mostly I
from Kentucky and Tennessee, and some from i
other southern States. There are also some
f;om the middle and northern States, but the f
sympathy of the majority are with the south. -"
The old settlers are a class of people who v
are satisfied with but little of this worlds s
goods; and after having log-cabin and few r.
ncres of cleared ground for the production of a
Dr .adsiuff, make up the remainder with rifle n
and dogs. Those old habits must die out az I!
game becomes scarcer, forests thinner and land 81
more valuable,-sO that already there has been o
quite change, and people are now turning
heir attention to building saw and grist mills,
erecting more comfortable dwellings, &c.
yhich, strange to say, they have done without .,
hir,y years too long. s.
AS in all new countries,-in days past TOO P'
title attention was paid to education, allowing
themselves to be absorbed by the cares of le ar ar
he rising generation arrived at maturity with. pf
ut even the primary principles of an English
ducation. But we sec a brighter prospect in CO
he future. Illinois has established a system of y
rec schools that will result in greater benefit in
0 this benghted people than the wisest code tr
f laws that could be enacted; for we think, sc
hat knowledge and principle coupled with in 70
ustry, are safeguards, without which we al W.
lost invariably see it sink into crime and dis IN
paton. en-
Illinois, as State, and especially the south m no
IN part (EgypD, is the finest situated, in a 10,
numerical point of view. of any part of the be
Vest. 1t has access to seabsard at the South yo
y the great Father of Waters" and at the pr
orth by the ship.canal around the Falls and 40 40
10 the Saint Lawrence; so that vessels are oI
,aded at Chicago and sail direct to Liverpool tin
i'd to this her network of railroads, stretched m'
cross the State. leading to all the main out re
It's and principal cities of the west her broad H.
I'D fertile prairies and lead-felds in the north ge
nd the timber-covered hills, salt springs and
oalliers of the south, embracing FIVE degrees sol