Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-10-29
IcOrrespOndencc Of the Spirit Of Jeasrson.l
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
KANSAS City. Mo..

teTeSuuS 70 you or.youT readers, Is my only
apology for Intruding upon your columns
What this country is, what prospects and in-
duccmeDts It offers to those ambitious OF the
smiles of fortune, can only be learned by a
short residence here and slight experience.
feel that after all much depends on the
man, Many may come here and go back
disguised, because they failed to strike the
tide at its flood, and refuse to await its rise
ngain-While others that are more fortunate
rush on ''to fortune and to fame" Ex>
perience has yet to teach me whether struck
at high or low water mark.
As general rule, the American people
have strange imaginations. They make
brute, a man man, god. a story often
told becomes munchausen in its nature
What we do not see, we paint in more glow
ing colOrs than that which we see. 1t is just
so. Now feel satisfied that if the Ram
dolph family could sec these dirty, slOvenly
Indian squaws in this section, they would
never boast of the POcahontas blood in their
veins. Pocahontas is to them an ideal being,
and they have dressed her in the garb of
princess. Just so with this country We
have heard great deal of it, have read
great deal and we pictured the gods of Ophir
strewing gold from their chariots with liberal
hands to all their votaries. A sight at the
ly disapponts our expectations. Now the
West is just the world OVer-the decree of
the Almighty is universal, "By the sweat of
thy brow thou shalt eat bread" A man can
obtain riches anywhere, it he is industrious
and energetic; aud the real difference, and
only difference, between an old and new
country is, that the latter offers n more ex-
tended field on which those energies can Oh.
crate. a man with capital may speculate in
Virginia with but little risk successfully
here he must run greater risk, but reaps
reward commensurate with that risk a man
without capital can rise but slowly there, be.
cause wages are lOw-here, If he is prudent
and economical, he will rise much faster, be.
cause wages arc much higher
I'm route for this place, had but super
fetal glance of the country, yet l noticed
along the line of railroad through Ohio and
Indiana, the corn crop was very short and but
little wheat had been sown, and little ground
in preparation for seeding. But what seemed
more strange to me, along the whole route,
did not see wheat or straw stack and no
big barns to hide it either. l learned from
various sources that there had been a terrible
drought throughout the above States. which
had destroyed the corn crop. The drought
had been very severe too in Eastern Mis-.
souri,, while in the Western portion of the
State the corn is very fine.
TN the Ohio train | struck up converse
ton with Rad, who told me his father and
Sheridan kept hotel together ut some cross
roads in that State. lie felt assured Ohio
would 80 largely Republican and the amend
mcnt be adopted; said he was in favor of
negro suffrage but opposed to negroes hold
ing Office, and that the Republican party
were the true friends of the Southern ncoplc.
told him l was opposed to negro suffrage :;
thought itwould bring on conflict of races
but hoped if it was forced upon the South.
they would send full delegation of blacks
to Congress; and as for myself, I preferred
the negro to the imported yankee anyhow,
and if the Republicans were our best friends.
l would try our enemies a while. pictured
to him as terribly as possible his friend Sher.
idan's cOntlaSration scene in the Valley. and
he ou!y smiled. thought of Nero, and
found sOIne consolation too from the fact that
Providence seemed to be avenGing on that
people the cruelties of their heartlsss iDeen.
diary, by destroying their crops.
was surprised at the dirtiness and filth.
ness of the towns through Ohio and Indiana
They looked more like negro towns than Cor
louisville
St. Louis is the finest city Il has been nv
pleasure to visit. There everything is life
aud activity. The streets are mostly paved
with blocks of wood, set GU end aud com.
pactly fitted, rendering them much nicer and
smoother for travel, and as lasting as the usual
paving stone. The Southern Hotel is said
to be the largest, best arranged aud conduct,
ed house in the United States, and WAS only
excelled by the Linden, of the same place.
which was destroyed by fire last spring. The
public buildings, and many of the private
residences of the city, are palatial. The peo-
pie arc kind, generous, hOspitable, and taking
it in every way, think this city the most
desirable Of any have visited While in
the city, | attended the ST. Louis Fair. where
saw fine exhibition of stock, and all the
various inventions of ingenuity and skill
The railroad from St. Louis to this point,
lies mostly along the Missouri river After
passing Warrensburg, the country is beauti-
luminosity prairie. This country, like ours,
is not without its marks of war. Desolation
with ruthless hand, has here too robbed the
flower of its blossom. Hundreds here had
their homes burned and were exiled upon the
charities Of the people. If stealing euriches
people, our Northern friends have amassed
much; for the Recording Angel grew weary
OF entering their theits and rObberies
Just behind me in the car, was Yankee
Captain, with his straps, and in front, an
honest, open-faced looking fellow. After
noting the destruction around, 1 asked the
man in front who had burned those houses.
barns, &c 1.-The d d Yankees" he re.
plied-much 10 the discontinue of my blue
coated friend in rear. On further converse.
ton, learned lie was one of Quantrelrs COM
mand, afterward of Morgan's command.
suppose You would like to know what sort
of place this is. Well, know you have
read of Herculaneum and Pompeii being dug
out Of the earth, and no doubt your imigina.
ton drew the picture. Now Kansas CITY.
instead of being dug ont of the earth, is let
down into the earth The streets are cut
through hill-mauy houses are still on the
top of the summit, while others have been let
l. Il IL