, 1863-02-19
"Reminiscences of the West.

The far-famed Peter Cartwright delivered q
very Characteristic lecture last evening before
The Young Mems Association in Bryan Hall,
which he styled "Reminiscences Of the
West" The appearance of the speaker was
as remarkable as the speech itself. He came
before the audience stout, rugged, sturdy
looking man, his face furrowcd and weather.
beaten-his brows thick and shaggJ-specta-
eles on nose, and agreat white hat in his hand.
Tie lecture was notable one, being the ac-
tual experience OF Western settler In those
carly times when a settlers life was full Of
hardship, trln1s, and fearful encounters with
the red man, The speaker said he was 73years
Of age, and u Virginian by birth. His father
lad fought In the Revolutionary War, and two
Of his unclcs fell In the battle Of Drandywinc.
He didn't like to boast, but he claimed that
be came Of good fighting stock, and he had
certainly done his best to justify lis pa-
rentage.
He dwelt with evident pleasure upon his
carly days and spoke Of the time when his
father left Virginia for Kentucky, as period
which IT would be difficult to make Chicago
citizen understand. It was full Of danger and
priyation. The country was occn-
pied By savage tribes of Indians who
fought hard, and with relentless cruelty and
energy to keep the white man from his hunt
Ing grounds-but without success as the se-
quci 60 aDundnntly shows. For years after
his fathers emigration be was constantly en-
gagged in encounters with these savages, and
hundreds Ut settlers were nlnssacrcd By them
III the dead Of night, whilst they slept mud ut
others, whilst they were traScFslng the wl!.
derness,
| Every log house was built for defense, and
| vas kind Of fort, as woll as shelter for tho
/! household.
| Even, In later times, wien ministers Of thc
| Gospel penetrated 10 the frontiers, they had
| to be guarded by rifles fruIn onc military post
10 another.
| The poverty Of the earlier settlers was OK
trcme, owing to tho drain which the Seven
Years War Ind lnhdc upon the resources of
thu people. There was very little money, and
the country was without credit either ut
home or abroad. Even the Government itself
wns ali experiment. But the hearts of the
fronticrsmcn never sank within them, and
they managed to live in tolerable happiness
with their wives and families.
They were without schools, books, or news
papers, either ecculnr or RELIGIOUS; nor was
there mill in oil tic wilds. III had not been
fr the abundance Of game, the settlers would
| often lave been sorcly put to it. The skins
and pelts won from the chase helped to clothc
tltclm; and they managed to keep good fires
/ OA tI4GAA AtAaAoANp AL t3V HA4tFt
! season.
They lad no Idea Of the meaning Of the Sab.
bath, the teachings Of Christianity, and but the
! vaglest Of future state. From six to ten
I years, during his early life, the speaker said
hc never heard a sermon nor 4 prayer, and it
was no wonder tlat the boys NIL ran mad
They knew, however, when Sunday came
rtslnG, for TINT, at least, WINS 4 day Of rest
from labor-alll the wicked boys aforesaid
made 1t Il day for fehng and shooting and j0l-
lily and 1nirth. Every body did as he pleased.
The speaker then compared this Wild, half.
savage life with modern civilization, and said
tint from an experience Of certainly three
score years of practical life, lo lad no 1lcsita-
ton III deciding that he had found more real
truth, good feeling, friendship and good of1i:
and Christian settlements. Eycryn new conner
III the wilderness got help to put Ills house
up. food aud temporary necessarics md COM
forts were provided for him; and us much
good advice ~ he could stow away.
We should like to follow the spcakc,
through his frontier experiences, but space
forbids. His account Of the visit Of minis
ter to his fathers cabin and neighborhood-
ard how this wns the means Of introducing
religion and its benetlccnt influences upon th
wild domnin, was very interesting md not val
urless as history. Lie became minister him
self not long afterwards, and his FIRST attempt
| at preaching were very comica1ly related. AM
al,oundcd with droll episodes.
We must pass this md many more goo
things over, However, and SO bid the subjec
farewell.
Ono word 10 the Committee Of Arrangement
! | before VIC close !: Is IT. not possible to proyid
> table for the reporters sufficiently large
, enable Them to write?