The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25
INKLINGS FROM THE FRONTIER,

a.Af aA fi'f t R!aAEA ~ ADVENTURES IN
To the Editor Of the Natio,sal Era:
To the contemplative observer and close stu
dent, human nature, especially human nature
in its campaign gear, turned loose to act its
part throughout its various phases in the midst
of wild, untamed, and uncontaminated inani-
mate nature, presents an ever-varying sourse Of
interesting study. In civil life, when surround
ed by men and women, moved by and acting
under the influence of every passion, and every
rule and form of business and fashion that ever
finds its way into the human heart, we may
fancy ourselves possessed of that acumen which
enables us to read the characters Of those with
whom we come in contact with some degree Of
accuracy. But these men and women seldom
act a natural part, and are ever seeking to
cover their motives with a cloak; while here,
on the vast and almost ilimitable plains, away
from the turmoil of business and the follies OF
fashion, with their influence and restraints,
surrounded by the beauties and the grandeur
of nature, untarnished by the hand of art, the
soul of man throws off the shackles of society,
and becomes almost transparent-human ma
ture comes forth in its shirt-seeves, and the OBJ
servant student may read character as he runs,
and measure the width and depth of the minds,
the souls, of those around him. Whether a
man be learned, refined, of noble soul, high as
pirations, and fine feelings, or whether he be
gross, grovelling, ignorant, and selfish, the close
observer, who turns his attention TO the study
of human nature, can draw him out and take
his measure. And here, in the midst of cam
paign life. we are at no loss for variety of spe
cimens of humanity. For almost every rank in
society, every station in life, furnishes repre-
sentative-ofiicers and soldiers, gentlemen o
leisure out on pleasure excursion, teamsters
and camp followers, the refined and the rough
But the greatest variety of character is to be
found in the ranks Of the army, where men from
every class of society, Of every calling and pro
fesson, the refined and the uncouth, the high
and the low, the collegian and the ignoramos
the good bad, and Indifferent, all mingle to
gether on the broad platform Of equality.
But the contemplation of the various char
acters who compose the moving community
| campaigning over the plains need not engros:
the attention of the student. New and strange
sights and scenes are ever presenting themselves
to the enraptured view, and causing new
| thoughts to well up from the great deep Of The
soul Varying and picturesque landscapes are
continually rolling up before you and rece
ding behind, as you march along. New plants
of strange varieties; variegated flowers, quaint,
formed and brightly coored, creatures of beauty
ministering to the finer feelings Of passing hu
manity; new varieties Of reptiles and insects
little strangers, who timidly peep out at yor
| from under the broad cactus, or the leaves 0
some other semi-tropical plant, or sit gail,
perched upon the leaves of plants, or swing Oh
| blades of grass, and saucily sing their merr,
little songs swarms of lively little birds deplo.
by regiments, and wage q war of extermlna
ton upon grasshoppers and grass seed whil
now and then may be seen larger animals, a
the buffalo, elk, antelope, bear, or wolf, gruifi
looking at us as intruders on their private do
main. All this conspires to render summer
campaign romantic and pleasant. The painter
poet, botanist, geologst, ornithologist, and zooo
pist, finds ample sources for amusement, recre
alton, and study
You never have been campaigning over tn
Southwestern plains? Then imagine yoursel
a member of our party, mounted on lin
blooded steed, with long, shaggy tail, name
and foretop, feet of foot, and gifted with grea
powers of endurance. Do you see that hig
mound-like eminence to the left or south
Turn your chargers head towards it, give hin
the reins, and he will soon carry you along th
gradual ascent up to the summit, from whenc
you have grand view of the whole country j
|. every direction, as far as the eye can reacf