The New York herald., 1867-04-22
ARKANs sAs.


Scenes Along the Arkansas River-Lack Of
Religion In AFkansas-Anairs I'm Little
Rock-Thc Secesh Element D0sninane--Ridi-
callng the ReconstractIon Mceting-WhaI
the People Think--Skctches Of Little Rock
and Govcrnor Murphy, &c.
LITTLE Rock, April 13 1851.
Away from Arkansas Post in the steamer Centralia,
and at the end OF two days. amid deuse perspective OF
smoke stacks and steamers and levces and warehouses
and white painted dwellings, saw before the church
steepes Of Little Rock the towers Of St Johns College,
the State House cupoa with the Stars and Stripes float
ing proudly above it. and to the left of the town. rising
in clear bold outline the old United States Arsenal and
now, in triumph waving over II, in days bsIlum
the national bunting. My journey took me through
Sunday and Sunday travelling the Arkansas river
not enshrouded, sorry say, by those sacred and
solemn observanoes of the day oharacterzng the style
Of spending the Sabbath kept mp by the six
teen thousand passengers OF the Maynower-a
fact, BY the way, as to numbers that may seem
highly guratve, but automatically demonstrated from
the statements OF those claiming descent from that noble
Puritan land II Is true that in the present
army chaplain happened to be ON board, and that he
happened 70 feel his duty to hold religious exercises
but the majority Of the passengers did not happen TO
care about listening 70 him. In 1.-THE socal' there
would be card PLAYING one OF the table walters would
play the violin on the upper deck and many would
would stay the pilot house. and would sing songs not
found in orthodox hymn books All the windngs Of the
rver failed 70 reveal single church spire any person
wearing church going church-comng home look. AZ
the various landings the busts confusion and swearing
in taking on and getting freight the antipodss
or sabbaiarian quiet; and 90, too We approached
and left the landings, the whizzing, ear piercing
shrsks Of the steamers whistle, and jumbling
ding-dong Of is deep sounding bell And then
the crowds Of long lean men. with long, shaggy hair
and coarse homespun and homemade garments that
had seen long service, standing about smoking their
long ssemmsd pipes chewing tobacco as though they
doing u wager, gave forth no gIeam Of pssty
from thsir salow. dassd countsaaacsa Tho only IN
dicatons fasa save tho poorly appreciated effort OF
the ehapaIn NV in my whole Sundays travel Of OBJ
serving the day = day u rest were the negroes,
seated In groups along tho river banks and they were
resting In thorough appreciation Of the day. bodies and
souls In perfect harmony. The milsnnsm may BE- sp-
preaching bus the coming event yet no hopeful
shadow along shs Arkansas river or the busy steam
boats that give busting fc or the poker playing pas
sengsn whose only praying is prsyng on one another
and hghsss hope 70 ssse . blind" and win.
But little that 10 attractive TO bs seen along the Ar
kansas river Like angels visits are the viagesfsw and
far bstwesn SOLITARY cabins and small patches OF ou-
waited land scattered in the intervening spaces and
wild woods, whioh from the backward season are a.
bare Of foliage the forest bordering the Dead
Sea- mako up the rest OF the picture II not picture
OF beauty The landscape would not attract artist
The poet who
IN the love Of nature
Holds communion with her visible torms
would nno here nothing rouse his fancy, mountains
or cags gorgss 70 give inspiration and vigor TO his
verse; gurslng streams breaking In melting nurmsrs
on his to sooshs his spirit soften his melody But
artisss and poets wanted II place for
them. Is the place for practical sturdy. snswys sslf-
sustained and selfsustaining men, and such men are
wanted. Northern capital, under. the control OF
Northern men, Northern farmers Ngsthern mechanics
wanted There Ia as good soil here a. the country
produces There abundant wator privileges There
are coal beds aud other mineral eeosits Of
resources of vas wealth lie bufscd here through simple
lack OF the and pronse usa and sneru " deYen