The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-10-16
THE WICHITA COUNTRY.
A Trip on a Mississippi River
Steamer, Years Ago.
Luke West, the Minstrel, Performs on the
Boat-An Eden-Like Plantation and an
Arcadian Village--A Bear Adventure.

Solomon says: ''Man hath sought out
many inventions" but among all his
devices for personal locomotion he has
never hit on any thing to surpass-for
the man of leisure-the Western steam
er, as it existed in the anti-railroad days,
thirty or forty years ago. The "foat-
ing palaces" as some of the finer ones
were designated, were then the only
means of travel on long journeys, and
there are numerous citizens of st, Louis
who can remember when our levee was
lined with them three or four abreast,
from one end to the other. The ocean
steamer is more commodious, stately
and grand; but for solid comfort the
more humble Western boat, discounted
it by very large odds, On such a craft
one could be as much at home as in his
own house, and for semi-invalid or
one who from any cause was indolent
and wanted to kill time pleasantly,
there was no better euthanasia for old
chronos than a trip on a tirst-class
Western steamer. | was suffering from
the restessness incident to a tedious
convalesccnce after Il long illness, and
uncertain where to seek relief, bethOught
me of long cherished desire to see
New Orleans and other Southern points,
and having concluded to make the trip,
consider myself lucky when | found
my old friend, Captain Dickinson, with
his small but elegantly-iitted steamer,
the Princeton, just ready to start out
The boat was built by Captain Dickin-
son, Darrah & Pomroy and the vener-
able Captain Clark, who was recently
harbor master at st. Louis, and was
especially designed for the navigation
of the Southern rivers. On this-her
first trip-there were Just enough pas
sengers to fill her comfortably and one
could scarcely wish for a pleasanter set
of people for fellow-passengers. Many
of them were ladies, and among item
were several musicians, both vocal and
instrumental. There was a good piano
in the ladies' cabin, and several of the
gentlemen had flutes, viojns or guitars,
so there was plenty o. good music to
cheer the passengers.
On the first night out the sky was
dark and lowering, with indications of
a storm. Long before it was shutdown
it was so dark in the cabin that the
lamps had to be lighted. The passen-
gers huddled together, most of them
looking anxious, and some of them
frightened. Ailoat in a storm would
have been a new experience to nearly
all of them. Just at this juncture a
startling effect was produced by a num-
Der of hands fling in and proceeding to
remove the furniture, take down the
chandeliers and put up side lights.
Every one thought it was preparation
for danger and for q moment panic
seemed imminent 1t was soon learned,
however, that the captain was only
having the cabin cleared for dance.
A good string band had been provided
for the occasion and soon the pleasant
motion of the dance to the merry music
baniShed all thought of the threatened
storm, which, in fact, failed to material
ize. Among the gentlemen was one
who called himself Kelly. He was q
remarkably fine violnist, and as he was
handsome and of peculiarly agreeable
manners, he Immediately became q
general favorite. As the night grew or
and the dancing began to flag, Captain
D. came into the cabin, announced tina
there was an old negro on board, who
was somewhat noted for his ability as s
vocalist aud dancer, and that, although
he was a little uncouth, he would prob
ably afford some amusement for the
company, and if they cared to hear hin
he would bring him in. The propose
was eagerly embraced, and the cap
tain introduced what appeared to be al
old and decrepit negro, bending unde
the weight of sixty or seventy years
The ancient-looking colored brother
proceeded to regale the passenger
with "Old Black joe" The Log Cabin
in the Lane" My Old Rentuck,
Home and several other negro melo
dies, with dancing interludes, fairl,
surprising the company with the rar,
excellence of his performances, no on
doubling that he was what he purporte,
to be. When he had concluded. il wa
proposed to take up a collection TO
him. but he said: "No. thankee gem
mea and ladies. Dis old niger nebbe