The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-20

his shaggy coat, eau browse undisturbed
The most sanguiuary aud determined
of these troublesome insects are the
buffalo aies;" they move ia myriads,
and so violeut and paisful are their rs.
saults upon horses that herd OF the
latter has been known to stampede as
the result Of an attack from swarm of
| these flies.
But here again is furnished what
some reasouers would affirm is evidence
of the "etesasl fitness of things" In
most localities where these flies are
found ia troublesome numbers, there
are also found fOcks Of starlings,
species Of blackbird; these, more, | pre-
sumo, to obtain livelihood than TO be-
come the defender Of tho helpless, perch
themselves upon the backs Of the ami
mails, when woe betide the hapless CAD
fly who ventures near, only TO become a
choice morsel for the startling. In this
way | have seen our herds Of cavalry
horses grazing uudisturbed, each horse
Of the many hundreds having perched
upon his back from one TO dozens Of
starliuss, standing guard over him while
he grazad,
Having briefly grouped the promi.
nent features Of the central Plains, aud
as some Of the incidents connected with
my service among the Indian tribes oc.
cured far to the south of the localities
already referred to, hurried reference
to the couatry north Of Texas, and in
which the Wichita mountains are locat
ed, iavorite resort Of some of the
tribes, is here made. TO describe as
one would view il in journeyiug upon
horseback over this beautiful romantic
country, to picture with the pen these
bouudlcss sOlitudes-so silent that their
silence alone increases their grandeur
to gather inspiration from nature aud
to attempt to paint the sccue as my eve
bcheld 1t, is II task before which much
reader peu than niue might we'll hest
tate.
1t was u beautiful and ever. changing
panorama which at one moment excited
the beholder's highest admiration, at
the next impressed him with speeehless
Veueration. Approaching the Wiehitu
mountains from he north, aud after the
eye has perhaps been weuried by the
tameness aud munotony OF the uubroken
plains, one is gladdened by the relief
which the sight Of these picturesque
and particularly beautiful mountains at
ford.
Here are to be seen all the varied
coIors which Bierstadt aud Church en-.
deavor to represent in their mountain
scenery. A journey across and arouud
them on foot or on horseback will repay
either the tourist or artist. The air is
pure aud fragrant, aud AS exhilarsting
as the purest wine the climate is ex
ceediugly mild the sky clear, and blue
as the most beautiful sapphire, with here
aud there clouds OF rarest loyliuess
presenting to the eye the richest com.
minglins Of bright aud varied colors :;
delightful odors are constantly being
waited by, while the forests, filed with
the knocking bird, the coliori, the hum
ming bird, and the thrush, constantly
put forth a joyful chorus, aud all com.
bine to fill the soul with visions of de.
light aud enhance the perfection aud
glory OF the creation. Strong must be
that belief which can here contemplate
nature in all her purity and glory, aud
unawed by the sublimity of this closely
connected testimony, question either
the Divine origin or purpose of he beau.
tiful armament.
Unlike Eost mountains, the Wichita
cannot properly be termed a range or
chain, but cOrrectly collection or group,
as many of the highest aud most beau
tlful are detached aud stand on a level
plain SOLITARY AID aloue." They are
mainly composed OF granite, the huge
blocks Of which exhibit numerous shades
OF beautiful colors, crimson, purple,
yellow, aud green predominatiug They
are conical in shape, aud seem to have
bat little resemblance to the soil upon
which they are found. They rise ab
ruptly from level surface-so level
aud unobstructsd that it would be AN
easy matter to drive carriage to any
polut OF the circumference at the base ;
aud yet so steep and broken are the
sides that 1t is only here aud there that
1t Is possible to ascend them. From
the foot OF almost every mountain pours
a stream Of limpid water, of almost isy
GOODNESS.
1t the character given to the Indian
ny Cooper aud other uovelists, as well
as by well meaning but mistaken mil
anthropists Of a later day, were the true
one; II the Indian were the innocent,
simple minded being he is presented
more the creature OF romance than real
atty, iubued only with deep veuera.
tion for the works of nature, freed from
the passions and vices which must &C
company savage nature; If, in other
words, he possessed all the virtues
which his admirers and works Of fiction
ascribe to him, aud were free from all
the vices which those best qualified TO
Judge assign to him, he would be Just
the character to complete the picture
which is presented by the country en-.
bracingthe Wichita mountains Cooper,
to whose writings more than those OF
any other author are the people speak.
Ing the Eng ish language indebted for
false aud i'll judged estimate of the
Indian character, might well have laid
the scenes of his fictitious stories in this
beautiful aud romantic country.
The true Christian is neither afraid
OF dying nor living; he desires to go to
heaven to see Christ, yet is willing to