The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-04
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Letter from santa Fe
CORRESPONDENTS OF rus RICHMOND DAILY n,sp,,c,
SANTA AFs, NV M,y,co ,.n, 80

Fs, NEw MExIco. Aprjl |. 1888
, It's said that distance lends euohantment 70
.ns view; whether this be so in fact, have
never bad the curiosity to test But sneak fram
experience when acknow ledge II is 80 In fancy -
TOR TWO years past have been wapderer from
the genial cline, and the yet more genial hearts
oioid virginia, and the farther the distance that
separates US and tho length OF time that dates n,
departure from the place of my nativity. the
warmer grows my attachment to IL, aud the bright
st gioss the vision ofearly aud happier days
III this country there are few of the social plea
snfes aud physical lnxnres, which elaracterize
the society of Virginia yet there is a charm ahont
iiie on the frontier which browns for a tim. tba
Remembrance of''other days., and makes a soiourn
hefe ~ not delightful. at least attractive Ia some
respect nature has dealt towards this country with
pehhrictIs hand We have no .'sha,,s faresf but
lew running brooks" add are scarcely blessed
With sight Of the beautiful green maadovs yvbIci
form Que ot The most attractive features in the
rural scenery of the Valley of Virginia Oar
woods are composed of little scrub piues. onr
streams, with one or TIVE exceptions do not fnw
constantly, but rise and then fall below the snrfacs
as they progress along their sandy beds and our
grass Is found in Isolated spots neither at,ractiva
Tor their beauty or produciiveness
We bafe our peculiarities here. however and
whether they are conducive TO the edi1cation of
1he MUD, tha culture Of social refinement and
the comfort OF the ply sica man or not still thav
are pecntiarites. IL used TO be said-T snnnose
the empire State of the South has outgroyn fhe
fashion that the summer costume of the STATE
vt"eoi ga was SHIRT collar aud pair of spurs
insy, ia egnatty Rs lacoDic. but probably not q,
innocent aad refreshing terms. describe the cos
TUNE OF both winter and summer in this countr,
"a SIX shooter, nige inch bow e knife and a MINI
oi Tue worst rsd eye" only mention it to con
vey correct idea to your Virginia readers of a
feature III the general usage of New Mexican soci
ETY. but / do not mean to write an essay on
ethics or etiquette, and hence will not let nv will
ing pen dash on into deiineation Of 'life IN New
Mexico or portray those more prominent and at
tractive charaeteIistics which serve to maze tki,
peculiar people jealous of good works" |
would be then forced to enter the boud,ir of the
gay ah1 hdshy sen0rltta reclining with winning
nonchaIanee in smoke and glory and carry nry.
ing eye TO the hall where light hearts and IiIbtsr
myers whirl in the ms2es of the giddy dance 7
must ''inuzzle the OK" and save my manners
There Is not 50 strict an observance of the ruIes
OF proprle:y in our social intercourse that which
distinguishes virginia, especially not so strict ms
An English snob could make us believe governed a
1irs. Esm0nd in her associations with The @Fnth.
er ot his Country And this may probably be
KEY TO the slight value attached human life if
that value is to be estimated by the frequency
the vital spark" is extinguisbeJ by the simple
crack OF pistol or stroke Of a knife This how
ever, must be the ia all territorial settlements
Indeed, we may consider ourselves highly blessed
when We compare the condition Of New Mexico
with that OF kansas. Although this is a coJauered
people, educated in thought, habit, religion and
politics differently from the American people yet
under the rule Of American laws and American
men, they present scene Of contentmept pros.
per'y and loyalty, which puts to shame the trai
tors aud mischief-makers of Kansas. Occasionally
an occurrence takes tpace which shocks society to
the centre, as is the in almost every State and
community. Such WAS the case here few days
ago bat there WAS no mob law in it-no deliberate
aud overt defiance of the laws OF The land save that
which arose from sndden outbufst Of passion
On Thursday night last, clerk named German
"a man somewhat violent in his temper and tyran-
nicai in his disposition) beat very severely Peou
boy OF Messrs. Beck x Johnson The next morn.
i'm Mr. narE l,n Ys- L..
have ever known, called on German, to know
Why he did it. lie denied it. Beck then denounc-
ed HIM and the act very severely German ap-
preached him coolly with drawn knife Beck
drew knife. They were both stout men, and know
not what it was to fear man. They commenced
with great deal of scientific SKILL to parry each
others motions. Finally, the first stroke, Germans
kuie entered Books abdomen. near the parel-
Before he bad time t. get it out, Beck's knife was
driven TO the hilt, into Gormaus left breast
German made three or four weak liCks. which were
warded OF by Beck, and then fell lileless corpse
on the ground. Beck walked home very calmly
laid down, and is confined to his bed with the
chances against his recovery. The whole rencou-
tire did not occupy as much time az il bas taken me
TO write it. The contest, was physically equal
one. Itw duel that would have done honor TO
the cbiYalric days of France. and display of skill
with the knife, that even Bowie himself would no.
have been ashamed of. One pass from each. and
the work was accomplished
The picture OF ludian character, as seen upon
the banks of the Missouri river, aud in the Terri.
tories OF Kansas aud Nebraska came far short OF
that which romauces had read in early youth
presented, that had encouraged feeling some
Hhat akin to disgust aud contempt for ths 'tnoble
Indian" l, however, have found in New Mexico,
the originals OF my early fancy, and nave been
back othose creations of the Imagination. upon
which we love to dwell. l Haye seen here an Indi-
girl Of the pruio tribe. as graceful in form AS
inspiring in beauty and captivating in manner.
as even the "Prairie Bird herself | have eaten
sn excellent dinner prepared by her SKILL aud
drank AS delicious wine ever eDliyened the in
tellect, protfersd by her hands Then added to
these natural attractions, she is only IL years of
age, and her father is worth "a cool 100000 in cash
What more beautiful and appropriate heroine for
romance Must write it lor the Dispatchl
had occasion few weeks since to see also some
noble specimens Of the s'Red Men of the Forest"
aud witness that eloqucDce of gesture which
speaks louder than words" The Utahs and Ma
vaj0es have been at war for number of years
The latter wanted peace. A meeting was arranged
between the principal men of each tribe. Duty
demanded my presence, in the absence OF the Su-
perintendent. | then and there heard aud saw
sloquence from Utah chief, in recOunting the
wrongs of his people, which no romance writer
could exaggerate, and which / will not attempt to
give. The Indians of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa,
so far inferior in personal appearance to the
Utah Indians, or those that have seen, that NO
conception OF the latter can be formed by seeing
the former. The peace not made, and the two
tribes have gone to with renewed energy and
cnmity.
The climate of New Mexico is of its redeem
ing features Here, in Santa Fe epidemic disease
IT, never known As you drink in the pure fresh
mountain air, which floats down from the tewer-
ing hills around you you iee sensation of health
penetrating your whole system. Elevated above
the si 90 feet, Hiiasmatic poison reaches Us,
nor are oppressed with suftOcating heat
summer, freezing winds in the winter. Al
though several degrees farther South than Rich
niond ia no time during the summer, at night, is
1t dsagreesble to sleep under a blanket; while in
the day if yon choose. you can, with perfect i'm
punity TO your health, adopt the Georgia fashion.
Duriug this entire winter, some few days except
ed, ] have playing on the streets, from morn
ing till evening, OF little boys, with no 9th
.r covering than n smple cotton shirt, coming
down TO the knees, aud sometimes not 90 much as
that Indeed. this is most singular climate. II
can lie cold enough to form ice, and yet You will
not feel II; it may be warm enough TO bring the
mercury up to S. and 90, and yet you will not feel
III There ia always refreshing, invigorsting
breeze stirring. Take ii all in all, New Mexico is
n ElysiAn OF health-the land of women, wine
ard .ong-where genial sun, balmy zephyrs, and
gnnpovdcr, enjoyed to perfeetion-lssringt the
heart nothing to Wish for, 1ut the 'denr familiar
i.res" Of those whose memory is hallo~ed, and
whose absence causes us to crst Que 'ongins, lin,
<erinx look behint," 10 the days of "auld lang
syn." wher life seemed bnt transient, happy
dream" fnli of Joys and mint iueps
s.M.Y.
Thtn~@ I'm Norfolk