New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-13
Colonel +. B.Thorpe on American tfu1nOr.

At the opening of the century. the roman,
tic people of our continent were those strong
armed men known as the keelbUatmen OF
the Mississippi. The rich. agricultural
banks of the - Father Of Waters " yielded
bOuntitully compared with the harder soils
OF our more Northern sections. These men.
as was natural, gave new character to
our national expressions, for they talked
large and strong, their minds inspired by
their wonderful surroundings. Then grad
uailv grew up in the West that neces j Of
verbal exaggeration. so tull OF native hu
NOR. and which. If We ever achieve intel.
lectual independence, will be proudly &C
krowledged as most thoroughly American I.
With the introduction of steamers the Occu.
patton of the keelboatmenn was gone. and
they became useful pilots of swlfter nav.
igation. Illustrative OF the manner. We re.
member the reminescence OF the old keel.
boarman. who had finally. 10 the mutations
of time and rheumatism, descended to the,
to him, humble position OF captain Of a
raft. One night as his raft of huge logs
floated quietly down the river, ana sleep
a piece sail cloth, he was start.
led by seeing great deal Of the hull
of huge Mississippi steamer that, coming
up stream, had recklesstly run upon the
raft, pushing it's sharp bows some forty
feet in the air. The keelboatman kept
quiet in his "berth'" and listened with cool
indifference to the confusion of the steam
er's crew overhead. Finally, above the
roar of the cracking machinery and the
putting steam, was heard the voice of the
irate captain, doing some of the tallest
swearing that was ever heard in the Mssis-
sippi valley, and out of which finally came
the distinct threat that he would whip the
captain of the raft This aroused old Titan,
who jeeringly replied: "You whip me,
captain of teakeItle OF one and a half
jackass power! I'm the man, the very in
dividual who, when a child, girdled the
bark OF hickory by supp essed smile.
II should lay my hand on you there would
be an empty grave for all time! Pm an or
ganized institution myself. and have no
safety valve. 1t you don't believe II, tie q
lantern to a string and lower it down and
lock at my proportions and general ap
pearance ; but have NO grudge, captain,
and won't charge you any freight for
taking your old sinking hut aboard my
rato."
The discovery of California opened a new
source Of American humor: it changed it |
rom the personal exagger alton peculiar to
the valley OF the Mississippi to ''poetical |
license regarding natural objects. SAID |
)ne OF the "ArgOnauts,' in an excited con-
versation, Look at California, unriyaled |
n any natural production that comes from |
'oo -Soiu. WCl CuOuRu ia us way, Uub |
! mere drug-Dcthng to be compared with |
is vegetable productions. Look at it's |
orests. trees varying from 300 to 1000 feet |
n height. with their trunks SO close to.
,ether drawing his knife and pantomim. |
ng), that you eanc strik this bowie betweeu |
hem; and then it would do your hearts !
rood 20 see the lordly elk. with antlers from
eventeen to twenty feet spread, with their
reads and tails ny, ambIiog through these
rand forests. It's a sight, gentlemen
''Stop." said one OF the listeners. new
omee IN California. one who had not yet
'een innocufated with the atmosphere.
my friend" said he. elf the trunks of the
rees are so close together, how do these
ks get through tho woods with their wide
horns''
The Californian turned on the questioner
Nth look Of thorough contempt, and !
epiied. ''tha.'s the elk's business and
hen continued on in his unvarnished tale.
nembarzassed a. the summer noon.dav