Impressions of America | Page 5

country, we also
saw here exhibited in a way really quite amusing, and by a class to
whom it would be well were it confined, since the display was more
becoming in them than in any less precocious corps of volunteers I
remember to have seen.
Whilst standing in the shade of our hotel, the rattle of drums gave note
of some display of war; an event of daily occurrence during this season
of the year throughout these northern States, where playing at soldiers
is one of the choicest amusements. Captain B----n asked a stander-by
what volunteer corps was parading to-day: "Why, I don't rightly know;
but I guess it may be the Taunton Juvenile Democratic Lancers."
Our informant was quite right; for whilst, puzzled by the gravity of the
man, I was considering whether or no he meant a hoax by the style
which he bestowed upon the gallant corps, into the square it marched,
with drums beating and colours flying. The colonel commanding was a
smart little fellow, about twelve years old, dressed in a fancy uniform
jacket, and ample linen cossacks; his regiment mustered about forty
rank and file, independent of a numerous and efficient staff: they were
in full uniform; most of them were about the colonel's age, some of the
cornets perhaps a trifle younger, as became their station; they were
armed with lances; and their motto was most magnanimous, being all
about glory, death, liberty, and democracy. Nothing could be more
steady than the movements of this corps on foot; and, when mounted, I
have no doubt they prove as highly efficient a body as any volunteer
lancer cavalry in the Union.
This could not be called "teaching the young idea how to shoot," since

the corps only bore l'arme blanche; but it was highly creditable to the
waggery of the citizens of Taunton, and the most efficient burlesque
upon the volunteer system I had yet seen, although I have encountered
many more elaborately gotten up.
Whilst we were devising some means of visiting the principal
manufactory, a gentleman entered our room, and introducing himself
said, that, having recognised me in the street, he had called to know if
he could be of any service in showing myself and friend the only lions
of the place,--its manufactories.
This act of politeness, which I have found a common occurrence in
every part of the Union, at once relieved us from our difficulty, and off
we set in company with our civil guide to visit the largest depôt of the
place.
The designs of the printed cottons, and the colours, both struck me as
being exceedingly good; in texture, however, I did not conceive any of
the cloths equal to similar stuffs which I had seen at home in
manufacturing towns. One of the partners informed me that they
supplied large quantities of goods to the markets both of India and of
South America: the manufacturer's chief drawback, he said, was found
in the cost of labour; indeed, judging by the dress and neat appearance
of the young women employed here, they must be exceedingly well
paid: a comparison drawn between them and the same class of
employées in England would be singularly in favour of the Taunton
"Maids of the Mill."
The cool time of the day being come, we once more had our active
ponies put to, and away they went as eager to "go a-head" as on our
first start. From this place to Pocassett the ride was lovely: our road lay
high above the river; and, over the luxuriant foliage, topsail-schooners,
large sloops, and other craft, were seen working their different courses,
some bound up, others to Providence, Newport, or the ports on the
coast.
A few miles from the town we came upon a small clearing by the
road-side, evidently in use as a place of burial, and nothing ever struck

me as more neglected; a few decayed boards, with an ill-shaped falling
head-stone or two, were all the prosperous living had bestowed upon
their departed kindred. This neglect of those little decencies with which,
amongst most people, places of sepulture are surrounded, is a thing of
common observance in this part of the Union, and is one of the
reproaches readily noticeable by all strangers. The distinction in this
respect between the North and South is remarkable, and highly
creditable to the feelings of the latter.
By the time we reached Pocassett it was nearly dark, and here we
settled for the night, having driven the ponies fifty odd miles, without
their being in the least distressed, and on a day of no ordinary fervor.
In the evening we attended a book sale, and were much amused by the
volubility and humour of the Yankee salesman, who, with his coat off
in