Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-04-04
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS
PLASrER's HOUSE,, ST. LoUIs,l
March 26th. 1860.

ilent admiration and awe. 1t is a city |
lied with distinguished military men. -
Every man you meet is either General,
Colonel. Major, Captain. or Lieuten- !
Int. Epsulets and gold buttons are as
hick as spots upon a subdued wild cat
Uncle Sam is gloriously represented here,
Ind military gentleman, who never smelled
powder except on parade.day, are loud in
what they have done, or could DO, if there
should ever be favorable occasion. Here
Is Col. X, Quartermaster U. S. A, aud
Mai. a., Suttler, from some frontier Fort,
and Lieut.. X, wao has been on a spree for
the last month, drawing regular pay from
the Treasury. Here are host Of whisker
ed young scions. who have distinguished
in Utah, and are now on fur
Tough. Another class who have in all the
glorious panapoly of war, chased and fred
upon few struggling bands of unciviIized
Indians and then third class, who with
Government arms and under Government
pay, have spent the sporting months on
the plains, charging upon-buffaloes
There is another class Of quasi military
men-men of large pretensions and great
absorbing capacities. These could fight
harder and drink more, il circumstances
were favorable, than all the rest Of their
race. They are Border Ruffians," who
became distinguished during the late Kan
sas troubles. They were bold when at
lacking one half their numbers-dashing,
when making foray under the cover of
night, and brilliant when covering re-
treat These men are i'm their habits, in
their language, and in their appearance.
ruffians. They wear their hair all over
their face and hanging carelessly over
their coat collars. They have every APP
pearance, bnt that of gentlemen. They
swear, and buster, and drink, aud smoke.
"Old Ossaw atomic" were be again in the
land of light. could surround and take at
least twenty of such heroes.
1t might soon become question fer the
American statesman to determine. "Ought
there to be any standing army under the
patronage of the General Government p
The expense is very great and the utility
almost nothing. The recent Utah expedi-
ton ought certainly to satisfy the Amer.
can people that our little squad Of military
men are but leeches at the public crib
When it is necessary to protect the honor
glory and renown of this country, there are
millions of brave hearts, all over these
States, who would, at a moments call
rush to the battle field. The volunteer
soldier at last does the fighting. and vol
unteer officers competent to lead and com.
mand, spring up everywhere. This coun.
try has enough military impulse in it
without having military academies to de-
velop it. Much better would it be, if this
Government would spend the money now
required to keep up the Army, in develop
ing the resources ofthe country-in build
ing Railroads, encouraging education and
elevating the masses. A true, genuine
Republic, where all the advantages Of edu
cation, and all the incentives to effort, are
equal-a Republic surrounded with all the
light of the nineteenth century-has but
little use for standing army.
PLANTERS HOUSE, ST. LoUIs,l
Thursday, March 90. '60l
A matter of considerable interest in thi,
city at this time, is the marriage of the &C
eomplished Miss Julia Pratte, daughter o.
Gen. Barnard Pratte, Of this city, to our old
friend. Capt. John II. Dickerson, U. s. A
The wedding was fashionable one, evi
dencing by it's brilliancy and display the
wealth and social position of the parties
Much Of the beauty of st. Louis was there
and full representative Of It's wealth. =
Among the gay assembly the queeniy brid,
shore as the bright particular star" anG
the bridegroom, in full military costume
manfully represented the young arm of ou
army. The many friends of Capt. Dicksr
son, who are readers of the Express, ant
who reside in and around Terre Haute
will be glad to hear Of this fortunate steI
on his part; and the happy bride may for
ever rely, that she has, as her partne
through life, one worthy the most gifted
and every way a noble-hearted specimen
Of true, genuine manhood.
Matilda Heron appeared last evening il
her celebrated character of "Lesbia," a
the St. Louis Theatre. 1t was our frs
look at the great actress. She is a short
chunky, fat woman, built on the Dutcl
but graceful-not commanding, but grea
mot remarkably cultivated, but glorious
ly gifted She seems to lose her individ
uality, and glides almost imperceptibl.
into the very character she is representing
Her voice is full, clear, melodious-he
pronunciation good. and her articulation
almost perfect. The piece was one no
calculated to bring into active effort all tb
power she possesses, but whenever geniu
! was TtQulttu " was at tiri CoiubHnu-
whenever action was necessary she wa
equal to the occasion. After the piece hat
concluded. the applause of the audience
brought Miss Heron in "front Of the foo
lights" and in little speech she theI
made, we thought she did some of her bes
acting. She was so overcome by her feel
ings, and the warm reception of the occa
sion, that with her tiny white fingers sh
was forced To dash an occasional tear drol
from her eye; and the subdued and hal
suppressed utierance, spoke gerry plainly
how deep was the connection within. o
course there was no acting in this-it wa
all the genuine srticle-truly poman.
We have forgotten to say any thing o
the agricultural prospects along the line o
the T. II, 4 A. Railroad. Everywhere, oil
either side OF the Road, the wheat look
we'll, and IN many places unusually well
We noticed some fields, covering entir,
sections, that look very green and thicl
upon The ground. The farmers, many o
whom get on and off at every station, seen
10 be in the best spirits, and all speak il