The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-20

what are they, compared to the wants of the
population ?-Pha. Bulletin.
INKLINGSI FROM THE FRONTIER;
LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES In
THE TENTED FIELD
On THE BANKS OF CANADIAN River.
TO the Editor Of the National Era:
I" Metals" charming notes on her First
Impressions Of Saratoga" her sprightly, social,
chit-chat style, so artistically interviewer with
cheering humor, sparkling wit, and sage re-
marks, are really captivating to US sojourners
in the regions round about the Antelope Hills.
We can truly appreciate her pleasant pen.pic-
lures for we do not read them listlessly and
with wandering mind. They refresh the soul
like summer shower, they warm the heart,
light up the darkened chambers of memory,
and call to mind many pleasant scenes and
incidents of by-gone days. Ny friend Irwin
hopes that when Meta is through with Sara
toga, she will go to some other fine place, where
she can enjoy herself prodisiously, and trans
init her Impressions" to the Era.
But must draw the reins on my pen before
it gets the bit between its teeth, and charges
with me clear beyond the line of etiquette.
Halt Where am now2 Right dress.
The foregoing, although " Inklings from the
Frontier have no particular relation to Life
on the Plains, or Adcentures in the Tented
Field" must rally myself and put forth my
feeble efforts to portray few phases of the
wild and somewhat romantic life we are now
leading. If l should succeed in interesting
some chance reader, and thereby aid him or
her to while away an idle hour, well and good
lam satisfied and surely, in these days of wishy-
washy, delirium tremens, nightmare literature,
and viewless trash, the reader ought to be.
But, probably, am unjust in my remarks.
DO not mean, however, to apply them to the
publications of a recent date, which, SO far as
my limited knowledge extends, are of a higher
order than those with which the country was
flooded for several years. Every lover of a
pure literature must rejoice to notice healthy
reaction, which seems to be taking place in the
world of letters. Pigmies in intellect, smallfry
writer's of fiction, and PRISONERS of young and
tender minds, are being crowded off the
boards by superior minds, who boldly come to
the rescue, and plant themselves on broad and
humanitarian grounds.
Lol I've flown off in a tangent again. To.
day my pen reminds me of an aggrayatino
race-horse l saw at the Sherman fTexasl race.
course last spring. 1t is constantly aying the
track. a burning sun, pouring his fiery rays
upon everything exposed to his garing coun-
tenance and sultry and oppressive atmosphere.
may account for my dullness if do not find
myself felictitous before. But, TO break off this
rambling hither and thther, Il find that must
have recourse to my pocket diary.
Io-night-yes, I'll say tonight, for it is so
'aidfy, although IL is broad daylight now To-
night / walked forth alone, ia quest of some !
quiet and lonely spot where I might indulge |
in silent meditations and undisturbed reaec-
tons. L soon found myself reclining on a
beautiful grass-carpeted slope, looking toward
the east, and commanding delightful view of
landscape scenery-that is, such view as star
light affords. The merry, twinkling stars, look
ing down on terrestrial nature in calm, quiet,
and peaceful repose, seem to smile sweetly with
pleasurable emotions
Before me is a beautiful meadow-like inclin-
ed plane, gradually descending to the plateau
upon which our tents are pitched. The camp
is crescent-shaped, owing to the peculiar forma-
ton of the little plateau on which it is situated.
1t is the first object that varies the view, and
presents quite striking and quaint appear
ance. Each end of the line of tents points to-
ward the west. / sit opposite the centre. Each
large, cone-shaped white canvas tent is liahted
by one or more star candles, and at this hour
reminds one of huge transparencies gently
floating upon slightly undulatng pillows. The
nighttime hour is yet early. The atmosphere
intensely heated by burning sun of many
hours has not yet cooled. The men are quiet
ly reading in their tents, or lazily lolling on the
dampening grass outside. But, as time wears
on, broad smile lights up the eastern horizon,
and presently the "Queen of Night modestly
peeps over the lovely and fower-clad hills
which lie beyond the Canadian and its wide
beach of white sand. Her tranquil coming is
hailed by few chrrups, or few first notes of
joyful song from the night-birds nesting
among the little boughs. AS the moon rises
higher, and sheds her mild beams on all around,
the panoramic picture of landscape scenery is
lit up with soft, mellow light, and the general
outlines become more visible. But shall not
draw landscape picture from my point of
view. All that / can do is, to sketch the i'm
pressions such tranquil and peaceful scene
made on me at the time. Nature here presents
lovely picture-a picture for the pen of q
Ruskin, the pencil of Rembrandt, and the
admiration of every lover of the beautiful in
nature. Those hills over the river are not ma
jestic mountains, towering up to kiss the sky,
but gradually -sloping hills, covered with YER
dure, variegated with here and there wide-topped
dwarf cedar, and resembling a troop of clouds
as they chase each other along the horizon. On
the river bottom, below the camp, thousand
head of horses and other animals are quietly
grazing. grateful and refreshing breeze
cools the fevered brow and aching temples, and
watts fragrant odors to the olfactories. Sweet
music floats all around me, and echoes from
every vale and glen with q soothing effect.
Great dew-drops, pendant from blades ofgrass,
sparkle and glisten like diamonds on strings of
emerald. The boys" are taking advantage
of the refreshing GOODNESS of the hour, to enjoy
themselves IN the open air. And although
Tattoo" and Taps have gone" they come
forth with viols, violins guitars, bapjos, flutes,
ifes, &C., and are having merry time gener
ally.
These are some of the sports, amusements,
and pleasures, of camp life. For my part,
quiet and tranquil enjoyment for a whole sea-
SON at any of the places Of fashionable resort
at the springs" or at the = seaside" where
there is SO much {" vanity and vexation of
spirit" and where envy, Jealousy love-invain,
chickering's, and heart-burnings, warp the souls
and sour the tempers of seveneighths of the
idle frequenters. may be unjust in my in
ferences in relation to the influences of these
fashionable resorts. If an, beg pardon. A
stroller over the Western WiIds is not supposed
to know, TO q certainty, anything about the ne
plas ,s1tra Of civilization.
But must shalt the column" to make q
few explanatory and apologize remarks. The
moon has vaxed and waned more than once
r Il l. =