The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-02-02

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who, if possible was more lazy and
thriftless still, his land grant. They
were not supposed (at that time to
have any agricultural value, but exper-
iments a few years ago demonstrated
the fact that these were the finest wheat
lands in the world, and now these
men are the millionaires and rich
nabobs of the State. The valley
where am now stopping waS one Of
these grants. Twelve years ago i'll
was bought from Mexican for five
thousand dollars. Two years ago i'll
sold for three hundred and seventy
thousand, and now would bring half
a million.
Another thing of mark here is, the
noD-observance of the Sabbath. In
business transactions and laboring
there is no poreep'ibIe difference be
tween that and any other day. Those
that do not work devote it to the
gambling and drinking saloons.
You know that am not very rigid
in such things, but confess it does
not please me, and I fnd it impossible
to get "used to it,
Gambling is one of the vices they
are terribly addicted to. 1t almost
seems to be a necessary part of their
existence Lotteries-horse-racing---
Faro-banks-cards -and any other
game whereby money can be hazard
ed is rife. 1t is one of the things es-
pocially having a baleful influence on
the people, and on those notions of
thrift and economy SO essential to
their welfare.
There is a certain want of peTmGne'l
cy among the settlers here, which is
detrimental to the. interests of the
country. A very few seem to look on
lit as their future home. The Idea is,
''to make a fortune and return home
to the States" This initiates against
any improvements or exercise of taste
in building, which is principally on
the 'shanty" system. l know Of
men worth several hundred thousand
dollars, living in a poorer house than
Sinking Springs contains.
These are some few of the evils.
that Gin my opiniOn) are exercising
an unhappy influence on the State
and retarding its prosperity and de-
velopment.
But there are cOnteracting influences
at work here. First and foremost
among them is the Methodist Church
1 especially designate the Methodist,
because it is essentially the pioneer
church. While other churches fol
low, it leads the van and makes itself
a part of emigration.
Go where you will in California
even to the remotest mining camp
there you will find the Methodist
Missionary has already commenced
his labor, and formed his society and
temperance club. By the side of the
gambling saloon you will find the
Methodist chapel, and drowning the
voice of the Faro dealer are the Meth
odist songs, which, however hardened
a man may be, or however little he
may believe in the verify of religion
never fail TO touch his finer sensibir-
ties and awaken memories Of other
and better associations.
The amount of good effected by
them is incalculabIe. The most pref
udiced cannot deny that, and caudor
will compel even an infdel to admit
it's benefcient influence | always
thought that it's policy and efficiency
as an organization called for the pro-
foundest admiration, but never so
fully appreciated its tremendous pow
er as l have since have been here.
I generally make it a rule to become
acquainted with the Methodist preach
ers wherever I go, for the reason
that they, being "irinerants," have
seen a great deal of the country, aud
more valuable Information can be
obtained from them than from any
other class of men. On an average,
I think they compare favorabIy with
their brethren in any other of the
States: Physically, 1 think they are
superior. Their organization here
seems to have been formed with an
eve to their efficiency and endurance
of hardships. Many of them are men
Of fine educatou-all of thems men Of
intelligence and of fervent zeal.
There is one thing that will proba-
bly, surprise you, but which has been
a source of considerable amusement
to me. am almost invariably taken
to be a clergyman One reason per,
haps is,S because 1 wear a stove pipe
hat and spectacles, but attribute it
to the fact, that having lived so many
years among ''you MethOdists" 1 have
acquired considerable information of
) your church history and policy, and
J in any discussion ofthe subject acquit
f myself quite creditabIy. A few weeks
] ago, some remarks being made rela-
/ ting to it, one of the crowd said TO
3 me, 81 presume you are a clergy
, man." On another occasion was
i requested to ask q blessing at the
table, which L respectfully declined
D under the plea of q bad cold. Some
v Of the secret societies seem to be ex-
0 erting 4 good and retormatory infu-
S ence here-especially the MasOns and
z Odd Fellows. They appear to be
b more rigid in the moral qualifications
: Of their members than in the States,