第10章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"AMERICAN NOTES",免费读到尾

  tops,ofscatteredcabins;childrenrunningtothedoors;dogsburstingouttobark,whomwecouldseewithouthearing:terrifiedpigsscamperinghomewards;familiessittingoutintheirrudegardens;cowsgazingupwardwithastupidindifference;menintheirshirt-sleeveslookingonattheirunfinishedhouses,planningoutto-morrow\'swork;andweridingonward,highabovethem,likeawhirlwind。Itwasamusing,too,whenwehaddined,andrattleddownasteeppass,havingnoothermovingpowerthantheweightofthecarriagesthemselves,toseetheenginereleased,longafterus,comebuzzingdownalone,likeagreatinsect,itsbackofgreenandgoldsoshininginthesun,thatifithadspreadapairofwingsandsoaredaway,noonewouldhavehadoccasion,asI

  fancied,fortheleastsurprise。Butitstoppedshortofusinaverybusiness-likemannerwhenwereachedthecanal:and,beforeweleftthewharf,wentpantingupthishillagain,withthepassengerswhohadwaitedourarrivalforthemeansoftraversingtheroadbywhichwehadcome。

  OntheMondayevening,furnacefiresandclankinghammersonthebanksofthecanal,warnedusthatweapproachedtheterminationofthispartofourjourney。Aftergoingthroughanotherdreamyplace-alongaqueductacrosstheAlleghanyRiver,whichwasstrangerthanthebridgeatHarrisburg,beingavast,low,woodenchamberfullofwater-weemergeduponthatuglyconfusionofbacksofbuildingsandcrazygalleriesandstairs,whichalwaysabutsonwater,whetheritberiver,sea,canal,orditch:andwereatPittsburg。

  PittsburgislikeBirminghaminEngland;atleastitstownspeoplesayso。Settingasidethestreets,theshops,thehouses,waggons,factories,publicbuildings,andpopulation,perhapsitmaybe。Itcertainlyhasagreatquantityofsmokehangingaboutit,andisfamousforitsiron-works。BesidestheprisontowhichIhavealreadyreferred,thistowncontainsaprettyarsenalandotherinstitutions。ItisverybeautifullysituatedontheAlleghanyRiver,overwhichtherearetwobridges;andthevillasofthewealthiercitizenssprinkledaboutthehighgroundsintheneighbourhood,areprettyenough。Welodgedatamostexcellenthotel,andwereadmirablyserved。Asusualitwasfullofboarders,wasverylarge,andhadabroadcolonnadetoeverystoryofthehouse。

  Wetarriedherethreedays。OurnextpointwasCincinnati:andasthiswasasteamboatjourney,andwesternsteamboatsusuallyblowuponeortwoaweekintheseason,itwasadvisabletocollectopinionsinreferencetothecomparativesafetyofthevesselsboundthatway,thenlyingintheriver。OnecalledtheMessengerwasthebestrecommended。Shehadbeenadvertisedtostartpositively,everydayforafortnightorso,andhadnotgoneyet,nordidhercaptainseemtohaveanyveryfixedintentiononthesubject。Butthisisthecustom:forifthelawweretobinddownafreeandindependentcitizentokeephiswordwiththepublic,whatwouldbecomeofthelibertyofthesubject?Besides,itisinthewayoftrade。Andifpassengersbedecoyedinthewayoftrade,andpeoplebeinconveniencedinthewayoftrade,whatman,whoisasharptradesmanhimself,shallsay,\'Wemustputastoptothis?\'

  Impressedbythedeepsolemnityofthepublicannouncement,I

  beingthenignorantoftheseusageswasforhurryingonboardinabreathlessstate,immediately;butreceivingprivateandconfidentialinformationthattheboatwouldcertainlynotstartuntilFriday,ApriltheFirst,wemadeourselvesverycomfortableinthemeanwhile,andwentonboardatnoonthatday。

  CHAPTERXI-FROMPITTSBURGTOCINCINNATIINAWESTERNSTEAMBOAT。

  CINCINNATI

  THEMessengerwasoneamongacrowdofhigh-pressuresteamboats,clusteredtogetherbyawharf-side,which,lookeddownuponfromtherisinggroundthatformsthelanding-place,andbackedbytheloftybankontheoppositesideoftheriver,appearednolargerthansomanyfloatingmodels。Shehadsomefortypassengersonboard,exclusiveofthepoorerpersonsonthelowerdeck;andinhalfanhour,orless,proceededonherway。

  Wehad,forourselves,atinystate-roomwithtwoberthsinit,openingoutoftheladies\'cabin。Therewas,undoubtedly,somethingsatisfactoryinthis\'location,\'inasmuchasitwasinthestern,andwehadbeenagreatmanytimesverygravelyrecommendedtokeepasfaraftaspossible,\'becausethesteamboatsgenerallyblewupforward。\'Norwasthisanunnecessarycaution,astheoccurrenceandcircumstancesofmorethanonesuchfatalityduringourstaysufficientlytestified。Apartfromthissourceofself-congratulation,itwasanunspeakablerelieftohaveanyplace,nomatterhowconfined,whereonecouldbealone:andastherowoflittlechambersofwhichthiswasone,hadeachasecondglass-doorbesidesthatintheladies\'cabin,whichopenedonanarrowgalleryoutsidethevessel,wheretheotherpassengersseldomcame,andwhereonecouldsitinpeaceandgazeupontheshiftingprospect,wetookpossessionofournewquarterswithmuchpleasure。

  IfthenativepacketsIhavealreadydescribedbeunlikeanythingweareinthehabitofseeingonwater,thesewesternvesselsarestillmoreforeigntoalltheideasweareaccustomedtoentertainofboats。Ihardlyknowwhattolikenthemto,orhowtodescribethem。

  Inthefirstplace,theyhavenomast,cordage,tackle,rigging,orothersuchboat-likegear;norhavetheyanythingintheirshapeatallcalculatedtoremindoneofaboat\'shead,stem,sides,orkeel。Exceptthattheyareinthewater,anddisplayacoupleofpaddle-boxes,theymightbeintended,foranythingthatappearstothecontrary,toperformsomeunknownservice,highanddry,uponamountaintop。Thereisnovisibledeck,even:nothingbutalong,black,uglyroofcoveredwithburnt-outfeatherysparks;abovewhichtowertwoironchimneys,andahoarseescapevalve,andaglasssteerage-house。Then,inorderastheeyedescendstowardsthewater,arethesides,anddoors,andwindowsofthestate-

  rooms,jumbledasoddlytogetherasthoughtheyformedasmallstreet,builtbythevaryingtastesofadozenmen:thewholeissupportedonbeamsandpillarsrestingonadirtybarge,butafewinchesabovethewater\'sedge:andinthenarrowspacebetweenthisupperstructureandthisbarge\'sdeck,arethefurnacefiresandmachinery,openatthesidestoeverywindthatblows,andeverystormofrainitdrivesalongitspath。

  Passingoneoftheseboatsatnight,andseeingthegreatbodyoffire,exposedasIhavejustdescribed,thatragesandroarsbeneaththefrailpileofpaintedwood:themachinery,notwardedofforguardedinanyway,butdoingitsworkinthemidstofthecrowdofidlersandemigrantsandchildren,whothrongthelowerdeck:underthemanagement,too,ofrecklessmenwhoseacquaintancewithitsmysteriesmayhavebeenofsixmonths\'

  standing:onefeelsdirectlythatthewonderis,notthatthereshouldbesomanyfatalaccidents,butthatanyjourneyshouldbesafelymade。

  Within,thereisonelongnarrowcabin,thewholelengthoftheboat;fromwhichthestate-roomsopen,onbothsides。Asmallportionofitatthesternispartitionedofffortheladies;andthebarisattheoppositeextreme。Thereisalongtabledownthecentre,andateitherendastove。Thewashingapparatusisforward,onthedeck。Itisalittlebetterthanonboardthecanalboat,butnotmuch。Inallmodesoftravelling,theAmericancustoms,withreferencetothemeansofpersonalcleanlinessandwholesomeablution,areextremelynegligentandfilthy;andI

  stronglyinclinetothebeliefthataconsiderableamountofillnessisreferabletothiscause。

  WearetobeonboardtheMessengerthreedays:arrivingatCincinnatibarringaccidentsonMondaymorning。Therearethreemealsaday。Breakfastatseven,dinnerathalf-pasttwelve,supperaboutsix。Ateach,thereareagreatmanysmalldishesandplatesuponthetable,withverylittleinthem;sothatalthoughthereiseveryappearanceofamighty\'spread,\'thereisseldomreallymorethanajoint:exceptforthosewhofancyslicesofbeet-root,shredsofdriedbeef,complicatedentanglementsofyellowpickle;maize,Indiancorn,apple-sauce,andpumpkin。

  Somepeoplefancyalltheselittledaintiestogetherandsweetpreservesbeside,bywayofrelishtotheirroastpig。Theyaregenerallythosedyspepticladiesandgentlemenwhoeatunheard-ofquantitiesofhotcornbreadalmostasgoodforthedigestionasakneadedpin-cushion,forbreakfast,andforsupper。Thosewhodonotobservethiscustom,andwhohelpthemselvesseveraltimesinstead,usuallysucktheirknivesandforksmeditatively,untiltheyhavedecidedwhattotakenext:thenpullthemoutoftheirmouths:puttheminthedish;helpthemselves;andfalltoworkagain。Atdinner,thereisnothingtodrinkuponthetable,butgreatjugsfullofcoldwater。Nobodysaysanything,atanymeal,toanybody。Allthepassengersareverydismal,andseemtohavetremendoussecretsweighingontheirminds。Thereisnoconversation,nolaughter,nocheerfulness,nosociality,exceptinspitting;andthatisdoneinsilentfellowshiproundthestove,whenthemealisover。Everymansitsdown,dullandlanguid;

  swallowshisfareasifbreakfasts,dinners,andsuppers,werenecessitiesofnaturenevertobecoupledwithrecreationorenjoyment;andhavingboltedhisfoodinagloomysilence,boltshimself,inthesamestate。Butfortheseanimalobservances,youmightsupposethewholemaleportionofthecompanytobethemelancholyghostsofdepartedbook-keepers,whohadfallendeadatthedesk:suchistheirwearyairofbusinessandcalculation。

  Undertakersondutywouldbesprightlybesidethem;andacollationoffuneral-bakedmeats,incomparisonwiththesemeals,wouldbeasparklingfestivity。

  Thepeopleareallalike,too。Thereisnodiversityofcharacter。

  Theytravelaboutonthesameerrands,sayanddothesamethingsinexactlythesamemanner,andfollowinthesamedullcheerlessround。Alldownthelongtable,thereisscarcelyamanwhoisinanythingdifferentfromhisneighbour。Itisquitearelieftohave,sittingopposite,thatlittlegirloffifteenwiththeloquaciouschin:who,todoherjustice,actsuptoit,andfullyidentifiesnature\'shandwriting,forofallthesmallchatterboxesthateverinvadedthereposeofdrowsyladies\'cabin,sheisthefirstandforemost。Thebeautifulgirl,whositsalittlebeyondher-fartherdownthetablethere-marriedtheyoungmanwiththedarkwhiskers,whositsbeyondHER,onlylastmonth。TheyaregoingtosettleintheveryFarWest,wherehehaslivedfouryears,butwhereshehasneverbeen。Theywerebothoverturnedinastage-coachtheotherdayabadomenanywhereelse,whereoverturnsarenotsocommon,andhishead,whichbearsthemarksofarecentwound,isboundupstill。Shewashurttoo,atthesametime,andlayinsensibleforsomedays;brightashereyesare,now。

  Furtherdownstill,sitsamanwhoisgoingsomemilesbeyondtheirplaceofdestination,to\'improve\'anewly-discoveredcoppermine。

  Hecarriesthevillage-thatistobe-withhim:afewframecottages,andanapparatusforsmeltingthecopper。Hecarriesitspeopletoo。TheyarepartlyAmericanandpartlyIrish,andherdtogetheronthelowerdeck;wheretheyamusedthemselveslasteveningtillthenightwasprettyfaradvanced,byalternatelyfiringoffpistolsandsinginghymns。

  They,andtheveryfewwhohavebeenleftattabletwentyminutes,rise,andgoaway。Wedosotoo;andpassingthroughourlittlestate-room,resumeourseatsinthequietgallerywithout。

  Afinebroadriveralways,butinsomepartsmuchwiderthaninothers:andthenthereisusuallyagreenisland,coveredwithtrees,dividingitintotwostreams。Occasionally,westopforafewminutes,maybetotakeinwood,maybeforpassengers,atsomesmalltownorvillageIoughttosaycity,everyplaceisacityhere;butthebanksareforthemostpartdeepsolitudes,overgrownwithtrees,which,hereabouts,arealreadyinleafandverygreen。Formiles,andmiles,andmiles,thesesolitudesareunbrokenbyanysignofhumanlifeortraceofhumanfootstep;norisanythingseentomoveaboutthembutthebluejay,whosecolourissobright,andyetsodelicate,thatitlookslikeaflyingflower。Atlengthenedintervalsalogcabin,withitslittlespaceofclearedlandaboutit,nestlesunderarisingground,andsendsitsthreadofbluesmokecurlingupintothesky。Itstandsinthecornerofthepoorfieldofwheat,whichisfullofgreatunsightlystumps,likeearthybutchers\'-blocks。Sometimesthegroundisonlyjustnowcleared:thefelledtreeslyingyetuponthesoil:andthelog-houseonlythismorningbegun。Aswepassthisclearing,thesettlerleansuponhisaxeorhammer,andlookswistfullyatthepeoplefromtheworld。Thechildrencreepoutofthetemporaryhut,whichislikeagipsytentupontheground,andclaptheirhandsandshout。Thedogonlyglancesroundatus,andthenlooksupintohismaster\'sfaceagain,asifhewererendereduneasybyanysuspensionofthecommonbusiness,andhadnothingmoretodowithpleasurers。Andstillthereisthesame,eternalforeground。

  Theriverhaswashedawayitsbanks,andstatelytreeshavefallendownintothestream。Somehavebeentheresolong,thattheyaremeredry,grizzlyskeletons。Somehavejusttoppledover,andhavingearthyetabouttheirroots,arebathingtheirgreenheadsintheriver,andputtingforthnewshootsandbranches。Somearealmostslidingdown,asyoulookatthem。Andsomeweredrownedsolongago,thattheirbleachedarmsstartoutfromthemiddleofthecurrent,andseemtotrytograsptheboat,anddragitunderwater。

  Throughsuchasceneasthis,theunwieldymachinetakesitshoarse,sullenway:venting,ateveryrevolutionofthepaddles,aloudhigh-pressureblast;enough,onewouldthink,towakenupthehostofIndianswholieburiedinagreatmoundyonder:soold,thatmightyoaksandotherforesttreeshavestrucktheirrootsintoitsearth;andsohigh,thatitisahill,evenamongthehillsthatNatureplantedroundit。Theveryriver,asthoughitsharedone\'sfeelingsofcompassionfortheextincttribeswholivedsopleasantlyhere,intheirblessedignoranceofwhiteexistence,hundredsofyearsago,stealsoutofitswaytoripplenearthismound:andtherearefewplaceswheretheOhiosparklesmorebrightlythanintheBigGraveCreek。

  AllthisIseeasIsitinthelittlestern-gallerymentionedjustnow。Eveningslowlystealsuponthelandscapeandchangesitbeforeme,whenwestoptosetsomeemigrantsashore。

  Fivemen,asmanywomen,andalittlegirl。Alltheirworldlygoodsareabag,alargechestandanoldchair:one,old,high-

  backed,rush-bottomedchair:asolitarysettlerinitself。Theyarerowedashoreintheboat,whilethevesselstandsalittleoffawaitingitsreturn,thewaterbeingshallow。Theyarelandedatthefootofahighbank,onthesummitofwhichareafewlogcabins,attainableonlybyalongwindingpath。Itisgrowingdusk;butthesunisveryred,andshinesinthewaterandonsomeofthetree-tops,likefire。

  Themengetoutoftheboatfirst;helpoutthewomen;takeoutthebag,thechest,thechair;bidtherowers\'good-bye;\'andshovetheboatoffforthem。Atthefirstplashoftheoarsinthewater,theoldestwomanofthepartysitsdownintheoldchair,closetothewater\'sedge,withoutspeakingaword。Noneoftheotherssitdown,thoughthechestislargeenoughformanyseats。Theyallstandwheretheylanded,asifstrickenintostone;andlookaftertheboat。Sotheyremain,quitestillandsilent:theoldwomanandheroldchair,inthecentrethebagandchestupontheshore,withoutanybodyheedingthemalleyesfixedupontheboat。Itcomesalongside,ismadefast,themenjumponboard,theengineisputinmotion,andwegohoarselyonagain。Theretheystandyet,withoutthemotionofahand。Icanseethemthroughmyglass,when,inthedistanceandincreasingdarkness,theyaremerespeckstotheeye:lingeringtherestill:theoldwomanintheoldchair,andalltherestabouther:notstirringintheleastdegree。AndthusIslowlylosethem。

  Thenightisdark,andweproceedwithintheshadowofthewoodedbank,whichmakesitdarker。Afterglidingpastthesombremazeofboughsforalongtime,wecomeuponanopenspacewherethetalltreesareburning。Theshapeofeverybranchandtwigisexpressedinadeepredglow,andasthelightwindstirsandrufflesit,theyseemtovegetateinfire。Itissuchasightaswereadofinlegendsofenchantedforests:savingthatitissadtoseethesenobleworkswastingawaysoawfully,alone;andtothinkhowmanyyearsmustcomeandgobeforethemagicthatcreatedthemwillreartheirlikeuponthisgroundagain。Butthetimewillcome;andwhen,intheirchangedashes,thegrowthofcenturiesunbornhasstruckitsroots,therestlessmenofdistantageswillrepairtotheseagainunpeopledsolitudes;andtheirfellows,incitiesfaraway,thatslumbernow,perhaps,beneaththerollingsea,willreadinlanguagestrangetoanyearsinbeingnow,butveryoldtothem,ofprimevalforestswheretheaxewasneverheard,andwherethejungledgroundwasnevertroddenbyahumanfoot。

  Midnightandsleepblotoutthesescenesandthoughts:andwhenthemorningshinesagain,itgildsthehouse-topsofalivelycity,beforewhosebroadpavedwharftheboatismoored;withotherboats,andflags,andmovingwheels,andhumofmenaroundit;asthoughtherewerenotasolitaryorsilentroodofgroundwithinthecompassofathousandmiles。

  Cincinnatiisabeautifulcity;cheerful,thriving,andanimated。

  Ihavenotoftenseenaplacethatcommendsitselfsofavourablyandpleasantlytoastrangeratthefirstglanceasthisdoes:

  withitscleanhousesofredandwhite,itswell-pavedroads,andfoot-waysofbrighttile。Nordoesitbecomelessprepossessingonacloseracquaintance。Thestreetsarebroadandairy,theshopsextremelygood,theprivateresidencesremarkablefortheireleganceandneatness。Thereissomethingofinventionandfancyinthevaryingstylesoftheselattererections,which,afterthedullcompanyofthesteamboat,isperfectlydelightful,asconveyinganassurancethattherearesuchqualitiesstillinexistence。Thedispositiontoornamenttheseprettyvillasandrenderthemattractive,leadstothecultureoftreesandflowers,andthelayingoutofwell-keptgardens,thesightofwhich,tothosewhowalkalongthestreets,isinexpressiblyrefreshingandagreeable。Iwasquitecharmedwiththeappearanceofthetown,anditsadjoiningsuburbofMountAuburn:fromwhichthecity,lyinginanamphitheatreofhills,formsapictureofremarkablebeauty,andisseentogreatadvantage。

  TherehappenedtobeagreatTemperanceConventionheldhereonthedayafterourarrival;andastheorderofmarchbroughttheprocessionunderthewindowsofthehotelinwhichwelodged,whentheystartedinthemorning,Ihadagoodopportunityofseeingit。

  Itcomprisedseveralthousandmen;themembersofvarious\'WashingtonAuxiliaryTemperanceSocieties;\'andwasmarshalledbyofficersonhorseback,whocanteredbrisklyupanddowntheline,withscarvesandribbonsofbrightcoloursflutteringoutbehindthemgaily。Therewerebandsofmusictoo,andbannersoutofnumber:anditwasafresh,holiday-lookingconcoursealtogether。

  IwasparticularlypleasedtoseetheIrishmen,whoformedadistinctsocietyamongthemselves,andmusteredverystrongwiththeirgreenscarves;carryingtheirnationalHarpandtheirPortraitofFatherMathew,highabovethepeople\'sheads。Theylookedasjollyandgood-humouredasever;and,workingherethehardestfortheirlivinganddoinganykindofsturdylabourthatcameintheirway,werethemostindependentfellowsthere,I

  thought。

  Thebannerswereverywellpainted,andflaunteddownthestreetfamously。Therewasthesmitingoftherock,andthegushingforthofthewaters;andtherewasatemperatemanwith\'considerableofahatchet\'asthestandard-bearerwouldprobablyhavesaid,aimingadeadlyblowataserpentwhichwasapparentlyabouttospringuponhimfromthetopofabarrelofspirits。Butthechieffeatureofthispartoftheshowwasahugeallegoricaldevice,borneamongtheship-carpenters,ononesidewhereofthesteamboatAlcoholwasrepresentedburstingherboilerandexplodingwithagreatcrash,whileupontheother,thegoodshipTemperancesailedawaywithafairwind,totheheart\'scontentofthecaptain,crew,andpassengers。

  Aftergoingroundthetown,theprocessionrepairedtoacertainappointedplace,where,astheprintedprogrammesetforth,itwouldbereceivedbythechildrenofthedifferentfreeschools,\'singingTemperanceSongs。\'Iwaspreventedfromgettingthere,intimetoheartheseLittleWarblers,ortoreportuponthisnovelkindofvocalentertainment:novel,atleast,tome:butIfoundinalargeopenspace,eachsocietygatheredrounditsownbanners,andlisteninginsilentattentiontoitsownorator。Thespeeches,judgingfromthelittleIcouldhearofthem,werecertainlyadaptedtotheoccasion,ashavingthatdegreeofrelationshiptocoldwaterwhichwetblanketsmayclaim:butthemainthingwastheconductandappearanceoftheaudiencethroughouttheday;andthatwasadmirableandfullofpromise。

  Cincinnatiishonourablyfamousforitsfreeschools,ofwhichithassomanythatnoperson\'schildamongitspopulationcan,bypossibility,wantthemeansofeducation,whichareextended,uponanaverage,tofourthousandpupils,annually。Iwasonlypresentinoneoftheseestablishmentsduringthehoursofinstruction。Intheboys\'department,whichwasfulloflittleurchinsvaryingintheirages,Ishouldsay,fromsixyearsoldtotenortwelve,themasterofferedtoinstituteanextemporaryexaminationofthepupilsinalgebra;aproposal,which,asIwasbynomeansconfidentofmyabilitytodetectmistakesinthatscience,I

  declinedwithsomealarm。Inthegirls\'school,readingwasproposed;andasIfelttolerablyequaltothatart,Iexpressedmywillingnesstohearaclass。Booksweredistributedaccordingly,andsomehalf-dozengirlsrelievedeachotherinreadingparagraphsfromEnglishHistory。Butitseemedtobeadrycompilation,infinitelyabovetheirpowers;andwhentheyhadblunderedthroughthreeorfourdrearypassagesconcerningtheTreatyofAmiens,andotherthrillingtopicsofthesamenatureobviouslywithoutcomprehendingtenwords,Iexpressedmyselfquitesatisfied。ItisverypossiblethattheyonlymountedtothisexaltedstaveintheLadderofLearningfortheastonishmentofavisitor;andthatatothertimestheykeepuponitslowerrounds;butIshouldhavebeenmuchbetterpleasedandsatisfiedifIhadheardthemexercisedinsimplerlessons,whichtheyunderstood。

  AsineveryotherplaceIvisited,thejudgeshereweregentlemenofhighcharacterandattainments。Iwasinoneofthecourtsforafewminutes,andfounditlikethosetowhichIhavealreadyreferred。Anuisancecausewastrying;therewerenotmanyspectators;andthewitnesses,counsel,andjury,formedasortoffamilycircle,sufficientlyjocoseandsnug。

  ThesocietywithwhichImingled,wasintelligent,courteous,andagreeable。TheinhabitantsofCincinnatiareproudoftheircityasoneofthemostinterestinginAmerica:andwithgoodreason:

  forbeautifulandthrivingasitisnow,andcontaining,asitdoes,apopulationoffiftythousandsouls,buttwo-and-fiftyyearshavepassedawaysincethegroundonwhichitstandsboughtatthattimeforafewdollarswasawildwood,anditscitizenswerebutahandfulofdwellersinscatteredloghutsupontheriver\'sshore。

  CHAPTERXII-FROMCINCINNATITOLOUISVILLEINANOTHERWESTERN

  STEAMBOAT;ANDFROMLOUISVILLETOST。LOUISINANOTHER。ST。LOUIS

  LEAVINGCincinnatiateleveno\'clockintheforenoon,weembarkedforLouisvilleinthePikesteamboat,which,carryingthemails,wasapacketofamuchbetterclassthanthatinwhichwehadcomefromPittsburg。Asthispassagedoesnotoccupymorethantwelveorthirteenhours,wearrangedtogoashorethatnight:notcovetingthedistinctionofsleepinginastate-room,whenitwaspossibletosleepanywhereelse。

  Therechancedtobeonboardthisboat,inadditiontotheusualdrearycrowdofpassengers,onePitchlynn,achiefoftheChoctawtribeofIndians,whoSENTINHISCARDtome,andwithwhomIhadthepleasureofalongconversation。

  HespokeEnglishperfectlywell,thoughhehadnotbeguntolearnthelanguage,hetoldme,untilhewasayoungmangrown。Hehadreadmanybooks;andScott\'spoetryappearedtohaveleftastrongimpressiononhismind:especiallytheopeningofTheLadyoftheLake,andthegreatbattlesceneinMarmion,inwhich,nodoubtfromthecongenialityofthesubjectstohisownpursuitsandtastes,hehadgreatinterestanddelight。Heappearedtounderstandcorrectlyallhehadread;andwhateverfictionhadenlistedhissympathyinitsbelief,haddonesokeenlyandearnestly。Imightalmostsayfiercely。Hewasdressedinourordinaryeverydaycostume,whichhungabouthisfinefigureloosely,andwithindifferentgrace。OnmytellinghimthatI

  regrettednottoseehiminhisownattire,hethrewuphisrightarm,foramoment,asthoughhewerebrandishingsomeheavyweapon,andanswered,asheletitfallagain,thathisracewerelosingmanythingsbesidestheirdress,andwouldsoonbeseenupontheearthnomore:butheworeitathome,headdedproudly。

  Hetoldmethathehadbeenawayfromhishome,westoftheMississippi,seventeenmonths:andwasnowreturning。HehadbeenchieflyatWashingtononsomenegotiationspendingbetweenhisTribeandtheGovernment:whichwerenotsettledyethesaidinamelancholyway,andhefearedneverwouldbe:forwhatcouldafewpoorIndiansdo,againstsuchwell-skilledmenofbusinessasthewhites?HehadnoloveforWashington;tiredoftownsandcitiesverysoon;andlongedfortheForestandthePrairie。

  IaskedhimwhathethoughtofCongress?Heanswered,withasmile,thatitwanteddignity,inanIndian\'seyes。

  Hewouldverymuchlike,hesaid,toseeEnglandbeforehedied;

  andspokewithmuchinterestaboutthegreatthingstobeseenthere。WhenItoldhimofthatchamberintheBritishMuseumwhereinarepreservedhouseholdmemorialsofaracethatceasedtobe,thousandsofyearsago,hewasveryattentive,anditwasnothardtoseethathehadareferenceinhismindtothegradualfadingawayofhisownpeople。

  ThisledustospeakofMr。Catlin\'sgallery,whichhepraisedhighly:observingthathisownportraitwasamongthecollection,andthatallthelikenesseswere\'elegant。\'Mr。Cooper,hesaid,hadpaintedtheRedManwell;andsowouldI,heknew,ifIwouldgohomewithhimandhuntbuffaloes,whichhewasquiteanxiousI

  shoulddo。WhenItoldhimthatsupposingIwent,Ishouldnotbeverylikelytodamagethebuffaloesmuch,hetookitasagreatjokeandlaughedheartily。

  Hewasaremarkablyhandsomeman;someyearspastforty,Ishouldjudge;withlongblackhair,anaquilinenose,broadcheek-bones,asunburntcomplexion,andaverybright,keen,dark,andpiercingeye。TherewerebuttwentythousandoftheChoctawsleft,hesaid,andtheirnumberwasdecreasingeveryday。Afewofhisbrotherchiefshadbeenobligedtobecomecivilised,andtomakethemselvesacquaintedwithwhatthewhitesknew,foritwastheironlychanceofexistence。Buttheywerenotmany;andtherestwereastheyalwayshadbeen。Hedweltonthis:andsaidseveraltimesthatunlesstheytriedtoassimilatethemselvestotheirconquerors,theymustbesweptawaybeforethestridesofcivilisedsociety。

  Whenweshookhandsatparting,ItoldhimhemustcometoEngland,ashelongedtoseethelandsomuch:thatIshouldhopetoseehimthere,oneday:andthatIcouldpromisehimhewouldbewellreceivedandkindlytreated。Hewasevidentlypleasedbythisassurance,thoughherejoinedwithagood-humouredsmileandanarchshakeofhishead,thattheEnglishusedtobeveryfondoftheRedMenwhentheywantedtheirhelp,buthadnotcaredmuchforthem,since。

  Hetookhisleave;asstatelyandcompleteagentlemanofNature\'smaking,aseverIbeheld;andmovedamongthepeopleintheboat,anotherkindofbeing。Hesentmealithographedportraitofhimselfsoonafterwards;verylike,thoughscarcelyhandsomeenough;whichIhavecarefullypreservedinmemoryofourbriefacquaintance。

  Therewasnothingveryinterestinginthesceneryofthisday\'sjourney,whichbroughtusatmidnighttoLouisville。WesleptattheGaltHouse;asplendidhotel;andwereashandsomelylodgedasthoughwehadbeeninParis,ratherthanhundredsofmilesbeyondtheAlleghanies。

  Thecitypresentingnoobjectsofsufficientinteresttodetainusonourway,weresolvedtoproceednextdaybyanothersteamboat,theFulton,andtojoinit,aboutnoon,atasuburbcalledPortland,whereitwouldbedelayedsometimeinpassingthroughacanal。

  Theinterval,afterbreakfast,wedevotedtoridingthroughthetown,whichisregularandcheerful:thestreetsbeinglaidoutatrightangles,andplantedwithyoungtrees。Thebuildingsaresmokyandblackened,fromtheuseofbituminouscoal,butanEnglishmaniswellusedtothatappearance,andindisposedtoquarrelwithit。Theredidnotappeartobemuchbusinessstirring;andsomeunfinishedbuildingsandimprovementsseemedtointimatethatthecityhadbeenoverbuiltintheardourof\'going-

  a-head,\'andwassufferingunderthere-actionconsequentuponsuchfeverishforcingofitspowers。

  OnourwaytoPortland,wepasseda\'Magistrate\'soffice,\'whichamusedme,aslookingfarmorelikeadameschoolthananypoliceestablishment:forthisawfulInstitutionwasnothingbutalittlelazy,good-for-nothingfrontparlour,opentothestreet;whereintwoorthreefiguresIpresumethemagistrateandhismyrmidons

  werebaskinginthesunshine,theveryeffigiesoflanguorandrepose。Itwasaperfectpictureofjusticeretiredfrombusinessforwantofcustomers;herswordandscalessoldoff;nappingcomfortablywithherlegsuponthetable。

  Here,aselsewhereintheseparts,theroadwasperfectlyalivewithpigsofallages;lyingaboutineverydirection,fastasleep。;orgruntingalonginquestofhiddendainties。Ihadalwaysasneakingkindnessfortheseoddanimals,andfoundaconstantsourceofamusement,whenallothersfailed,inwatchingtheirproceedings。Aswewereridingalongthismorning,I

  observedalittleincidentbetweentwoyouthfulpigs,whichwassoveryhumanastobeinexpressiblycomicalandgrotesqueatthetime,thoughIdaresay,intelling,itistameenough。

  Oneyounggentlemanaverydelicateporkerwithseveralstrawsstickingabouthisnose,betokeningrecentinvestigationsinadung-hillwaswalkingdeliberatelyon,profoundlythinking,whensuddenlyhisbrother,whowaslyinginamiryholeunseenbyhim,roseupimmediatelybeforehisstartledeyes,ghostlywithdampmud。Neverwaspig\'swholemassofbloodsoturned。Hestartedbackatleastthreefeet,gazedforamoment,andthenshotoffashardashecouldgo:hisexcessivelylittletailvibratingwithspeedandterrorlikeadistractedpendulum。Butbeforehehadgoneveryfar,hebegantoreasonwithhimselfastothenatureofthisfrightfulappearance;andashereasoned,herelaxedhisspeedbygradualdegrees;untilatlasthestopped,andfacedabout。

  Therewashisbrother,withthemuduponhimglazinginthesun,yetstaringoutoftheverysamehole,perfectlyamazedathisproceedings!Hewasnosoonerassuredofthis;andheassuredhimselfsocarefullythatonemayalmostsayheshadedhiseyeswithhishandtoseethebetter;thanhecamebackataroundtrot,pounceduponhim,andsummarilytookoffapieceofhistail;asacautiontohimtobecarefulwhathewasaboutforthefuture,andnevertoplaytrickswithhisfamilyanymore。

  Wefoundthesteamboatinthecanal,waitingfortheslowprocessofgettingthroughthelock,andwentonboard,whereweshortlyafterwardshadanewkindofvisitorinthepersonofacertainKentuckyGiantwhosenameisPorter,andwhoisofthemoderateheightofsevenfeeteightinches,inhisstockings。

  Thereneverwasaraceofpeoplewhosocompletelygavethelietohistoryasthesegiants,orwhomallthechroniclershavesocruellylibelled。Insteadofroaringandravagingabouttheworld,constantlycateringfortheircanniballarders,andperpetuallygoingtomarketinanunlawfulmanner,theyarethemeekestpeopleinanyman\'sacquaintance:ratherincliningtomilkandvegetablediet,andbearinganythingforaquietlife。Sodecidedlyareamiabilityandmildnesstheircharacteristics,thatIconfessI

  lookuponthatyouthwhodistinguishedhimselfbytheslaughteroftheseinoffensivepersons,asafalse-heartedbrigand,who,pretendingtophilanthropicmotives,wassecretlyinfluencedonlybythewealthstoredupwithintheircastles,andthehopeofplunder。AndIleanthemoretothisopinionfromfindingthateventhehistorianofthoseexploits,withallhispartialityforhishero,isfaintoadmitthattheslaughteredmonstersinquestionwereofaveryinnocentandsimpleturn;extremelyguilelessandreadyofbelief;lendingacredulouseartothemostimprobabletales;sufferingthemselvestobeeasilyentrappedintopits;andevenasinthecaseoftheWelshGiantwithanexcessofthehospitablepolitenessofalandlord,rippingthemselvesopen,ratherthanhintatthepossibilityoftheirguestsbeingversedinthevagabondartsofsleight-of-handandhocus-pocus。

  TheKentuckyGiantwasbutanotherillustrationofthetruthofthisposition。Hehadaweaknessintheregionoftheknees,andatrustfulnessinhislongface,whichappealedeventofive-feetnineforencouragementandsupport。Hewasonlytwenty-fiveyearsold,hesaid,andhadgrownrecently,forithadbeenfoundnecessarytomakeanadditiontothelegsofhisinexpressibles。

  Atfifteenhewasashortboy,andinthosedayshisEnglishfatherandhisIrishmotherhadrathersnubbedhim,asbeingtoosmallofstaturetosustainthecreditofthefamily。Headdedthathishealthhadnotbeengood,thoughitwasbetternow;butshortpeoplearenotwantingwhowhisperthathedrinkstoohard。

  Iunderstandhedrivesahackney-coach,thoughhowhedoesit,unlesshestandsonthefootboardbehind,andliesalongtheroofuponhischest,withhischininthebox,itwouldbedifficulttocomprehend。Hebroughthisgunwithhim,asacuriosity。

  Christened\'TheLittleRifle,\'anddisplayedoutsideashop-window,itwouldmakethefortuneofanyretailbusinessinHolborn。Whenhehadshownhimselfandtalkedalittlewhile,hewithdrewwithhispocket-instrument,andwentbobbingdownthecabin,amongmenofsixfeethighandupwards,likealight-housewalkingamonglamp-posts。

  Withinafewminutesafterwards,wewereoutofthecanal,andintheOhioriveragain。

  ThearrangementsoftheboatwerelikethoseoftheMessenger,andthepassengerswereofthesameorderofpeople。Wefedatthesametimes,onthesamekindofviands,inthesamedullmanner,andwiththesameobservances。Thecompanyappearedtobeoppressedbythesametremendousconcealments,andhadaslittlecapacityofenjoymentorlight-heartedness。Ineverinmylifedidseesuchlistless,heavydulnessasbroodedoverthesemeals:theveryrecollectionofitweighsmedown,andmakesme,forthemoment,wretched。Readingandwritingonmyknee,inourlittlecabin,Ireallydreadedthecomingofthehourthatsummonedustotable;andwasasgladtoescapefromitagain,asifithadbeenapenanceorapunishment。Healthycheerfulnessandgoodspiritsformingapartofthebanquet,IcouldsoakmycrustsinthefountainwithLeSage\'sstrollingplayer,andrevelintheirgladenjoyment:butsittingdownwithsomanyfellow-animalstowardoffthirstandhungerasabusiness;toempty,eachcreature,hisYahoo\'stroughasquicklyashecan,andthenslinksullenlyaway;

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