The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-01
The East English Rook About us.

An amlable Oxford collcgan. MIR. John
White, has just published in London 4
book on his American travels. 1t is called
"Sketchcs from America" Wr. White
happened to be ut Chicago Just rs an cx-
cursion party OF American editors was
starting to examine the Union Pacific rail-
road. He wisely Joined them. and has
given very graphic and humorous desciip-
ton Of their proceedings and the peculari-
ties of the regions visited. His companions,
he tells Us, hid a very strong flavor of Han.
nibal Challop about Them generally and
any deficiencies il their performance of the
character were amply made up by Mr.. G.
T. Train, who appears to have been
both the leader and the butfoon of the
party. The good taste and engag-
ing manners Of this gentleman are
widely known, and they were curiously
illustrated on one occasion when the editors
were introduced to party Of noble sarages.
a chief, one Big Mouth. described as q re.
ally noble-lookine man, made them an an.
propriate speech; after which Mr.. Train
took him off by uttering stream of wild
gibbcri>h, with grotesque gestures, to the
intense disgust, as it appears, of the great
Big Mouth itself An Indian dance follow.
ed; and then Mr.. Train "took off his coat,
bent his tall body nearly double, and in
that posture commenced capering round
and round the circle, fiinging out his legs in
the most grotesGue manner, and uttering
yclps, barks and bowls, compared with
which the Indian cries were notes at once
quiet and melodious.' Mr.. White thinks
that this performance, with the exception
of the gibherish speech, "was quite the
most offensive TO IndiaDs that human inge-
nuity could have devised" He admits,
however, that even the Indians could not
preserve their proyerbial gravity, and as
the noble chief was strongly suspected Of
having shortly before taken some white
mems scalps, perhaps the editors did not
care so much for his feelings.
Occasionally the mild OXonian was deli
catefy sold by his travelling companions,
and q sight Of a real live KukiuX kindly
arranged for him. At q charming city called
to certain missouri Bill" who had
committed three murders, as harsh moral
its would call them, on the previous night
" out Of sheer irrepressible gaiety of heart"
The gentleman who pointed him out grave
~ thought it likely that he would "be for
shooting again " on that occasion also, and
recommend MIR. White to come in later and
" see some fun" Bill, however, seems to
have restrained his playful temper on this
occasion, and a day or two afterwards,
rs he was taking drink with certain edi.
tors, went sol far as to knock down friend for
firing his revolver twice at the editors,
as O protest against their iphospitality
in not Offering him dinner. Bill has
evidently some sense Of good manners; and
Mr.. White is careful to point out that There
are no more kind and more charitable and
generous hearts none gentler with women
and children and the helpless; none
more ready to guide and aid the stranger
than those OF these rough Western man
slayers." Still, Mr.. White opines, it Is rs
we'll to be careful when you offer them q
drink and do not ask them to dinner.