The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-10

which barbarIsm retreats before the
approach of art and civilization. The
reflection possessing the most inten e
interest is-not what has been the
character of the country, but what
shall be her future destiny.
As we coursed along this cheerful
scene, one reflection crossed my mind
to diminish the pleasure it excited.
This was caused by the sight of the
ruins of the once splendid mansion of
iBlannel hasset. | had spent some
happy hours here, when it was the
favorite residence of taste and hospl-
tally. L had seen it when lovely
and accomplished woman presided
shedding a charm around, which made
it as inviting, though not SO danger
GUS, as the island Of Calypso-when
its liberal and polished owner made it
the resort of every stranger, who. had
any pretensions to literature or
science. [ had beheld it again under
more inauspicious circumstances
when its proprietor, in a moment OF
visionary speculation, had abandoned
this earthly paradise to follow an adj
lventurer, himself the dupe of others.
A military banditti held possession.
acting "by authority" The embell-
iishments of art and taste disappeared
beneath the touch Of band of Van
dals land the beautiful domain, which
presented the imposing appearance of
a place, and which had cost fortune
in the erection, was changed In one
night to scene of devastation! The
chimneys of the house remained for
some years the insulted monument
of the folly of their owner. and point
ed out to the stranger the place
where once stood the temple of hospi-
tally. Drift wood covered the pleas
ure ground; and the massive, cut
stone, that formed the columns of the
gateway, were scattered more widely
than the fragments of the Egyptian
Memnon. -ss-se-
When we left Pittsburg the season
had not far advanced in vegetation.
But, as we proceed the change was
more rapid than the difference of lat
itude justified. I had frequently OBJ
served this in former voyages: but it
never was so striking as on the pres
ent occasion. The old mode of trav-
cling in the sluggish flatboat, seemed
to give timeefor the change of season
but now a. few hours carried us into a
different climate We met spring with
all her laughing train of flowers and
verdure, rapidly advancing from the
South. 1.-The buckeye, cottonwood
and N APPLE. -shad already assumed, in
this regien, the rich liver of summer.
The thousand varieties of the floral
kingdom spread gay carpet over the
luxuriant bottoms on each side of the
river. The thick woods, ,resounded
with the notes Of the feathered tribe
-each striving to Guido, his neighbor
in noiss, if not in melody. We had
not yet-reaehed- the region of pare-
quets; but the clear-tened whistle OF
the cardinal was heard in every bush
and the eat-bird was endeavoring
with its usual zeal, to rival the powers
of the, more gifted hooking bird.
n few hours brought us Ito one OF
those stopping points, known by the
name'sof ''wooding places 1t was
situated Immediately above Letart's
Falls. The boat, obedient to the
wheel of the pilot, made, a graceful
sweep toward the island above the
chute, and rounding to, approach the
wood pile. AS the boat drew neal
the shore, the escape steam reverber-
ated through the forest aud hills, like
the ehafed believing Of the Gagged
tiger. The root of tree, concealed
| beneath the alter, prevented the boat
getting sufficiently near the bank, and
1T became necessary to use the paddle:
to take a different position. s99ns
Back out! manneei and try il
again!' exclaimed a voice from the
shore. Throw your pole wide-and
brace. soff-or you'll run against &
slag!" ..-.s
This was a kind of language Ions
familiar to us on the Ohio. 1t was {
sample of the slang of the keel boat
The speaker was Immediately cheer
ed by dozen of voices from the deck
and I recognized in him the person OF
an old acquaintance, familiarly known
to me from my boyhood. He was
leaning carelessly against large
beech; and as his left arm negligently
pressed rifle to his side presented
figure that Salvador Rosa would have
chosen from million, as a model fol
his wild and gloomy pencil. His sta
ture was upward Of six feet, his pro
portions perfectly symmetrical, ant
exhibiting the evidence of Herculean
powers. Toa stranger hewould hav.
seemed a complete mulatto Long ex
posture to, the sun and weather on the
lower Ohio and Mississippi hac
changed his skin5 and but for the fine
European cast of his eountenance, he
might have passed for the principa
warrior of some powerful tribe Al
f hsr was CIT ny ss fe rns sg e h