The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1867-11-30

year 1907, At Amherst, Ney H.wp.
shire, aud had, consequently, passed
the aga Of three score. lie had lew
advantages Of education, and learned
the trsds Of printer. lie worked a.
the case in some we'll known Offices
in northern cities At Washington
Iu,sll;sst|Ac 4 Ssa.on, in the National
in tn. Telegraph; TSNRna Green,
Horace Greeley; aud snsr he came
South. at Mobile, in the Register OF.
Gee, with Sanford 4 Wilson At tbs
aye Of sbou, twenty Eve he came to
this city, and was composition in the
Office OF John Gibson, the Faithful
and the Bold, In 1887 he joined
the late y. A Lumsden in starting
the Picayune, aud therein found his
true vocation. 1t speedily developed
in him those rare faculties which
soon made him one of the most agree.
able and popular writers of the day.
A quick perception of character, a
keen observation Of places and things,
q quiet sense OF hunor To be extracted
from all objects, aud undageing
cheerfulness Of tone, all clothed in a
pure English style, gave his writings
= speedy popularity, which they never
lost to the day Of his death. He
learned speedily, too, the profitable.
ness of that personal reputc he had
already won, by agreeable manners,
quickne Of wit, and strict attention
to all duties.
Tho success Of the enterprise, after
working through great difficulties, en-.
ablsd Mr., Kendall 70 indulge in a
long entertained desire to explore the
far West. There was in the desire =
taste for life Of physical activity,
which was one Of his traits, but il
was not = m,..s -nirit Of adventure
that Aurcd him into the Weste.n
prairie. Tho great region beyond
the settled strips il Texas Was then
almost unknown. II Vas even at
that day leading idea in Mr. Ken.
dall'a mind, that Western Texas, and
the mining and grasing regions be-
yond, were 70 become parts Of the
American Union, and to b. mex
haustibIs source. Of prosperity. He
believed Nov Orleans destined to be
the centre Of commerce for that un.
limited region, With these ideas,
and with tho further dsairs, to use
his own words, Of finding " new sub.
jscts on which to WRITE" no joined
he ill,fted Santa fs expedition,
which started in ls4l for the then
Mexican city Of Santa Pe. The
story Of that disastrouA adventure |;
the march and camping ON the Prsir,
iea the wild excitsmenta OF buffalo
hunting; ssderings from fatigue
among burning sands, and from
scarcity Of food the capture VI thu
party BY a hand Of Msxicans the
cruelty with which they were man
scled, dragged along, robbed and
t~steu and some of them hrutHllN
rnras,ed N, incidents Of lile in
nri,on and The long tale Of varied
hope and Disappointment until 'ha
day of release came To him, were told
b, Nj. Kendall in the work he pub.
i..l-l -,.-- Ii .~.-,g, sya''sd,
+" Narrative of the Santa fe E.redi-
ton The interest Of the subject
would have insured il wide eirculn
ton. II was the first book Of travels
in those distant regions since the
narrative of Pike, aud opeaed new
field to the lovers OF excitement-no
lees than new visions Of the future
to the student Of progress, These
we're enhanced in interest by tho
raciness Of tho style, aud the graphic
dclinca,ions which it gave of the in.
cideuts Of the journey, the nature Of
the country, and the traits, manners,
and customs of the strange people
through which he was carried as
prisoner, Tho tius Of exploration
has since erossed that whole region,
and the work Of Mr.. Kendall has be-
come obsolete to readers seeking for
the material facts for commerce or
settlement. But 1t retains its place
as . lively narrative Of adventure, Of
which no change Of tune can take
away the interest. # there wero
never such : place a. Santa Fe, the
narrative would have iss charms a. a
fascinating Action. 49,,
This work, prepared after his re-
turn, was scarcely given to tho press,
when, the Mexican war having bro
ken out, Mr.. Kendall having entered
on another field Of activity, much 10
the profit Of the Picayune, and great
II 70 the advantage Of the public.
fhs United States Government did
not thss possess I'll the facilities for
coun unieation which has since grown
Up everywhere, and New Orleans,
from it, vicinity to tho seat Of var,
vas The centre Of iutslligsucs for The
whole counuy. Ths picayuns or
rsuissd ! system or correspondence
ana sxprsss' which enabled Il 10 lead
all iss eotem porsrisa and the Govern-
rent ;tseif h pevA Mr.. Kendall
- sssjrued 10 he Mexican end of
n. ia. ana IL va fully sdea usto 70
ali the Rssyy rsspousibilitea Of the
m' H. orC..