The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-07-30
MisCeIIane MS.
The East and the West.

CDiioh AltlS: AFTER traVel OF three
thousand. miles or more mot remarkable
feat by any means,) am at home in Har-
ford and contrasting this and that, there
arise some reflections that put in type may
possibly interest and give pleasure to some
OF the numerous and appreciative readers
of The 4Bgis. An intelligent gentleman of
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, whom l
met with upon my return from the West,
expressed to mo his surprise that people
emigrate, when improved lands of the
highest fertility can be bought in the Val
Icy of Virginia at the present low prices.
l heard attentiyely and approximately his
argument, conclusive to his own mind at
least, as to the folly ofan Eastern man seek
ing home in the West; and contented my
self with the single remark in reply For
ty millions of people cannot live in the
Valley Of Virginia, nor in the whole East
comfortably" If my answer is correct
one, then there is propriety in contrast
ing the this and Mat-the East and the
West.
BY the West we mean the Mississippi
Valley generally, particularly that portion
of it lying along side Of the Missouri river
and its tributaries, country which in the
richness of its soil and the attractiveness
of its scenery is hardly surpassed. Upon
these fertile plains and broad rivers are
living, in city and town and village and
hamlet and country place numerous human
beings, engaged in various pursuits, and
all seeking the same common end-happi-
ness. Considering these people as indi-
viduals we reflect upon their physical and
intellectual qualities; as communities up
on their social habits and public life.
Such, in few words, is our definition of the
that. The this, is the country east Of the
Alleganies and along side the Atlantic;
and as in the case with the that, its peo-
pie having their peculiar characteristics,
physically and mentally, and their singu-
lar life and habits. These people, East
and West, have common origin, language,
religion, and arc engaged generally in the
same avocations and pursuits, varied some
what by latitude and climate, and though
there are differences idiosyncratically,y yet in
their intellectual and social qualities cs-
sentially the same people.
The question is often asked me, "How
do you like the West 2" If that question
has respect simply to the confguration of
the country and the nature OF its soils,
there can be by possibility but one reply
greatly attractive. But if by the question
is meant, how do you like the people, their
mental characteristics, their social customs
and habits of life, there may be hesitancy
to answer. Essentially, as have suggest
ed, the same people East and West. There
are differences, just as every country is diff
ferent from every other country, town from
town, village from village, household from
household, man from man. The man has
his idiosyncrasies, SO has the community.
| The marked contrasts are few. The West
| ern people are more restless. Their local
attachments arc not strong hence the ia
cility with which they take themselves up
from seemingly most favorable positions
for Others no better and perhaps worse.
The old man met with in southwestern
Missouri is an illustration of their nomad-
ic propcnsities. Leaving Virginia he had
moved to Ohio, thence to Indiana, to Hi
nois, to Wisconsin, to Missouri, to Kansas,
back to Missouri, and would have gone to
Texas, but fortunately or unfortunately, l
am too gallant to say which, the witchery
of to him an attractive widow with her
nine children, unhitched the horses from
the wagon just at the moment he was about
to direct their feet towards the State of the
Lone Star. From the older State with its
stone house to the newer with its log cab
in, and to the still newer with its dug out,
are transitions easily made by the western
Arab, because congenial with his ever un-
satisfied nature.
However, this characteristic is compare
lively harmless. The reckless habits, the
characterization, and especially the disre-
gard of human life by large class of the
border-western people is in marked and
painful contrast with the people of the
East, generally sober, law. abiding and APP
preciative of the lives of their fellow men.
The saloon is western institution, q thing
not essentially different from Georgia
or Maryland CROSS road "grogshop," but
different in its adornments.
The saloon is pretty thing, attractive
as a London gin palace. House gaudily
painted, numerous bottles of varously col
Ored liquors on the shelves, with often an
exquisite to wait politely and willingly
upon the man Of the fiat. boat or shanty, or
dug out, n sort of compensation for the
barren life that these poor fellows generally
live. Into these gilded palaces of ruin
death often stalks, for the frequenters are
familiar with the use Of the bowie knife
and pistol, and frcnzied by the mad drinks
they quaff, often use them fatally in the
settlement of their quarrels. This MUIR
derous propensity is, am sorry to say, not
confined to the saloon. Everywhere there
is manifested q disregard OF human life
truly appalling, and their murders are gen
orally assassinations. Lacking the chival'
rio qualities that give q chance to one an.
tagonist to save his life by taking the life
of the other, the western desperate, like
the Tipperary man, shoots under cover