Litchfield enquirer., 1864-09-22
A WESTERN HOTEL.
BY THE COLONEL.

BY THE COLONEL.
 Those who are accustomed only to the pres ent day travelling through the length and breadth of the land, where they are whipped about by cars or steamboats in less time than it takes to stay at home, and arrive, when their days journey is done, at palace, where the most frivolous wish of their hearts can be ir- stantly satisfied, can hardly realise the style of travelling through the extreme West of thirty years ago, and the hotel(? accommodations of the same period.
 About that number of years ago necessitypr in other words. business, took me through the southern counties of Illinois. My experieice in the newly settled parts of the different States was not small, but T. was obliged to confess that southern Illinois showed up about as rough hand as I had seen held anywhere. A man travelling with what the natives were pleased to term "store clothes" on, stood but little chance, unless he was disposed to set aside all the ordinary amenities and necessities of life, and rough it, both physically and mentally with those he met. They were fearfully exer- cised lest he should "put on ars," and repudi- atel, in advance, any such attempt. They had no dread of anything human, but thorough detestation of a surveyor, and full dermina- ton 10 extirminate any thing in the shape of a land speculator off the face of the earth. In a few words any one coming with tue savor of the city about him had hard time on his travels, unless he chose to lay aside every trace of his refinement, and come straight down to the bnckwoods standard of good fellowship.
 This was exactly the state of things when on one day, late in the autumn, made my way through an apology for road in said southern Illinois. The day had been showery and cold until about three o'clock when it fairly set >in for freezing, dreuching rain. cav that it would be impossible for me to gain the town had set forth to roach. and the next move on the board would be to fnd some shelter on the road. providing I should be fortunate enough to come upon house-rather scarce com modity in that section. It was full dark when l | realized my wishes and the realization came in this wise:
 noticed spot that looked like an attempt at a clearing. but not sign of house. By the roadside, in front of this clearing, a post was erected, and about ten feet above tho 1 ground a sign decorated it. This sign, which showed the hand of the domestic artist, read Accommodation for Man and Hsss. 10. SMALL.
 Then knew that I must be somewhere in the neishborheod of "hotel," but as could see no light, and nothing to make me believe that human life was within hundred miles, save and except the occasional sound of vii olin playing "The girl left behind me-" there was nothing for me but to enter upon plan of discovery by making myself known. To do this shouted, Hel-l-o-o ! and waited for a response. No answer. Once more 'Hel-l-o-ol The music ceased and waited. Presently a. gain, Hello or At this juncture was aware of tall, brawny, unwashed, uncombed indi- vidual, certainly not less than six'feet four lesurely looking through bit of brush at me-, as though had been engaged to halloo for his amusement and he had paid in advance. In his mouth was a short corncob pipe, his head was hatless, his body coatless, butstill the rain seemed to trouble him not. As soon as our eyes met he spoke:
 sWal, stranger, what is the matter?'
 Gan stay here to night, and get any place to. put my horse?'
 Kalkilate ye kin.'
 There was no need to wait for further invi- tation. foe MT. Jo. Small, as I supposed the gentleman to be, turned his back and walked away; therefore if I wished to find his hospita- ble mansion must alight, and lead my horse through ths bush after his retreating form. This did without loss of time, and found my self in two minutes, in front of a capacious log and sawboard shanty, fairly in the deepest brush, and from the inside of which cheerful light streamed forth. In tive minutes more I had made temporary stabling of my horse in an adjoining shed and entered the cabin, to find a party of over twenty of the toughest custom CTS it had ever been my lot to see gathered there, one of whom, sitting on an upturned barrel ,was just giving few preliminary scrapes towards recommending his music. saluted the party with Good evening, gentlemen i? and got one or two grunts in response; and then made my way directly to the fire, pulling on my outward coat and making ready for I uis,ng' l saw at a glance that my coming had ''S' . snado" over the festivities, but thought