The Portland daily press., 1868-05-09
Selected story.
A Renaissance of the Land-Feyer.
FROM "wEsTERN GLEANNGs." BY CAROLINE
NJ. KIRKLAND.

the perlou Wnen the madness OF Speculdtlou
IN lands had reached point to which no MS
torlan OF the time will ever be able 10 40 US
tice. A faithful picture of those wild days
would subject the most veraclous chronlcler
to the charge of exaggeration; and our great
grandchildren can hope to obtain an adequate
idea of the infatuation which led away their
foretatbers. only by the study of such detach-
ed facts as may be noted down by those in
whose minds the feeling recollection of the
del1sion is srill fresh.
"Seelng is believing" certainly in most ca
SEES; but in the days of the land-fever, we,
who were in the midst of the infected district,
scarcely found it so. The whiTl, the fervor,
the tiutter, the rapidity of step, the sparkling
OF eyes, the beating OF hearts, the striking OF
hands, the utter abandon OF the hour, were
incredible, inconceivable " The man oil
one idea" was everywhere; no man had two.
He who had no money, begged, borrowed, or
stole it he who had, thought he made gen
erous sacrifice, it he lent it at cent per cent.
The tradesman iorsook his shop; the farmer
his plough; the merchant his counter; the
lawyer his office; nay, the minister his desk,
to join the general chase. Even the school
master, in his longing to be abroad" with
the rest, laid down his birch, or in the furry
OF his hopes, piled it with diminished JUNCTION.
Trampl tramp! along the land they rode
Splashl splashi along the seal
The man with one leg, or he that had none,
could at least get on board a steamer, and
make for Chicago or Milwaukee; the strong,
the able, but above all, the enterprising,"
set out with his pocketmap and his pocket
compass, to thread the dim woods, and see
with his own eyes. Who would waste time
in planting, in building in hammering iron,
in making shoes, when the path to wealth lay
wide and fowery before him?
A ditcher was hired by The job to do GER
tain piece of work in his line "Well, John,
did YOU make any thing?"
pretty well; / cleared about two dollars a
day; but L should have made more by stand
ing round;" l. e., watching the land-market
for bargains.
This tavorite occupation of all classes was
followed by its legitimate consequences Far
mers were as fond OF standing round" as any
bod and when harvest time came, it was
discovered that many had quite forgotten
that the best land requires sowing and grain,
and OF course other articles of general neces-
sity rose to an unprecedented price. The
hordes OF travellers flying through the coun-
try in all directions were often cited as the
cause OF the distressing scarcity but the
true source must be sought in the diversion,
or rather suspension, of the industry of the
entire population. Be this as it may, of the
wry faces made at the hard fare, the travel
ers contributed no inconsiderable portion
for they were generally city gentlemen, or at
least gentlemen who had lived long enough
in the city to prefer oysters to salt pork
This checked not their ardor, however; for
the golden glare before their eyes had power
to neutraize the hue of all present objects.
On they pressed with headIoDg zeal; the 81
lent and painless forest, the deep miry marsh,
the gloom OF night, and the fires of noon, be-
held alike the march OF the Spectator. Such
ransacking OF the woods for section corners,
ranges, and base lines! Such anxious care in
identifying spots possessing particular advan-
tagesl And then, alas! alter all, such prec-
ious blunders
These blunders called into action another
classof operators who became popularity known
as Gland lockers. These met you at every
turn, ready to furnish ''water power" "pine
lots" "choice farming tracts" or any thing
else, at a moments notice. Bar-rooms and
street-corners swarmed with these proving
gentry. 1t was impossible to mention any
part OF the country which they had not per-
sonally surveyed. They would tell you, with
the ravity OF astrologers, what sort OF tim
Der pledomlnated on any given tract, draw
ing sage deduction as to the capabilities oil
the soil. Did you incline 10 city property ?
Lo! a splendid chart, setting forth the advan-
tages OF some unequalled site, and your con-
hdential friend, the landlooker, able to tell
you more than all about it, or to accompany
you to the happy spot; though that he
would not advise; "bad roads," nothing fit
to eat" etc.; and all this for purely dlsnter-
e;ted soliciCude for your welfare.
These amiable individuals were no favorites
with the actual settlers. 1t they dislked the
gentleman SPECTATOR, they hated with per
feet hatred him who aided by his local knowl-
edge the immense purchases of non-residents
These short-sighted and prejudiced persons
forgot the honor and distinction which must
result from their Insignificant farms being
surrounded by the possession of the mag,1ateS
OF the land. They saw only the solitude
which would probably be entailed on them
for years; it was counted actuaI treason in a
settler to give any facilities to the laudI~al,
er, OF any grade. "Let tue land shark do his
own hunting" was their frequenG reply to ap-
plications OF this kind; and some thought
them quite right Yes, this state of feeling
among the hard-handed, was not without its
inconvenient results to city gentlemen, as
witness the case of our friend Mr.. Willough-
by, prlm and smart bachelor, from.
1t was when the whirlwind was at its
height, that a gentleman wearing the air Of
bank director, at the very least-in other
words, that of an uncommonly tat pigeon
drew bride at the bars in front of one of the
toughest log houses in the county Of.
The horse and his rider were loaded with
those unnecessary defences, and cumbrous
comforts, which the fashion of the time pre-
scrbel in such cases. Blankets, valise, sad
dletags, and holsters nearly covered the steed !;
most voluminous enwrapment of India-rub-
Der cloth completely enveloped the rider
The gallant sorrel seemed indeed fit for his
burden. He looked as if he might have
swan any stream in Michigan,
Barded from counter to tail,
And the rider arm'd complete in mail;
yet he seemed little jaded, and hung his
head languidy, while his master accosted the
tall and m9agre tenant of the log cabin.
This individual and his dwelling resembled
each other in an unusual degree. The house
was, as we have said, of the toughest; its ribs
scarcely halt filled in with clay; its "looped and
Widowed raggedpess" rendered more conspic-.
uous by the tattered cotton sheets which had
long done duty as glass, and which now fiut-
tered in every breeze; its roof of oak shin
giles, warped into every possible curve; and
its stick chimney, so like it's owners hat, open
at the top, and jammed in at the sides all
Swallowed forth the contour and equipments
OF the exceedingly easy and selt-satstied per-
sou who leaned on the fence, and snapped
his long cart-whip, while he gave such an
swerS as suited him to the gentleman in the
Indla-ru6bers, taking especial care not to in
vite him to alight
"Can you tell he, nv freId.-n ciyilly
began Mr.. Willoughby.
"Oh! triend!" Interrupted the settler:
who told you | was your friend? Friends is
scuss in these parts
"You have ut least no reason to he other
wise" replied the traveller, who was blessed
with very patient temper, especially when
there was no use in getting angry.
=! don't know that" was the reply 'What
fetch'd you into these woods?,
II should say my horse,' the answer
would perhaps be as civil as the question:
" Jist as you like" said the other. turning
on his heel and walking off.
g | wished merely to ask YOU" resumed Mr..
Wllloughby, talking after the nonchaIant son
at the forest, whether this is Mr.. Pepper's
land?
How do you know it amt minep ?" Il
m not likely to know at present, it
seems" said the traveller, whose patience
was getting little irayed. And taking out
his memorandum-book,h he ran over his min
utes: South half of northwest quarter of
section fourteen--Your name is Leander
Pepper, is it not?"
Where did you get so much news? You
amt the sheriff, be YEP"
"PopW screamed white-headed urcbin
from the house, " Nam says supper's ready"
$50 amt !" replied the papa: " I've got an
my chores to do yet" Ard he busted him
self at log pig-stye on the opposite side of
the road, half as large as the Westinghouse.
Here he was soon surrounded by a squealing
multitude, with whom be seemed to hold
regular conversation.
Mr.. Willoughby looked at the westering
sun, which was not far above the dense wall
OF trees that shut in the small clearing; then
at the heavy clouds which advanced from the
north, threatening a stormy night; then at
MS watch, and then at his notebook; and
49, a''eI ali, at bis predicament-on the whole an