Western Characters

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Western Characters, by J. L. McConnel

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Title: Western Characters or Types of Border Life in the Western States
Author: J. L. McConnel
Illustrator: Darley
Release Date: October 23, 2007 [EBook #23155]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: THE PEDDLER.]
[Illustration: WESTERN CHARACTERS Redfield.]

WESTERN CHARACTERS
OR
TYPES OF BORDER LIFE
IN THE
WESTERN STATES
BY J. L. McCONNEL
AUTHOR OF "TALBOT AND VERNON,"--"THE GLENNS," ETC.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DARLEY
[Illustration]
REDFIELD, 110 AND 112 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. 1853.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853,
BY J. S. REDFIELD,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern District of New York.
STEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE, 13 Chambers Street, N. Y.

PREFATORY NOTE.
Attempts to delineate local character are always liable to misconstruction; for, the more truthful the sketch, the greater is the number of persons, to whom resemblance may be discovered; and thus, while in fact only describing the characteristics of a class, authors are frequently subjected, very unjustly, to the imputation of having invaded the privacy of individuals. Particularly is this so, when the class is idealized, and an imaginary type is taken, as the representative of the species.
I deem it proper, therefore, to say in advance, that no attempt has been made in the following pages, to portray any individual; and that--although I hope I have not been so unsuccessful, as to paint pictures which have no originals--if there be a portrait in any sketch, it consists, not in the likeness of the picture to the person, but of both to the type.
As originally projected, the book would have borne this explanation upon its face; but the circumstances which have reduced its dimensions, and changed its plan, have also rendered necessary a disclaimer, which would, otherwise, have been superfluous.
* * * * *
One or two of the sketches might have been made more complete had I been fortunate enough to meet with certain late publications, in time to use them. Such is the elaborate work of Mr. Schoolcraft upon Indian History and Character; and such, also, is that of Mr. Shea, upon the voyages and labors of Marquette--a book whose careful accuracy, clear style, and lucid statement, might have been of much service in writing the sketch entitled "The Voyageur." Unfortunately, however, I saw neither of these admirable publications, until my work had assumed its present shape--a fact which I regret as much for my reader's sake as my own.
J. L. McC. July 15, 1853.

CONTENTS.
PAGE.
INTRODUCTORY 7
I. THE INDIAN 19
II. THE VOYAGEUR 62
III. THE PIONEER 106
IV. THE RANGER 157
V. THE REGULATOR 171
VI. THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 246
VII. THE PEDDLER 268
VIII. THE SCHOOLMASTER 288
IX. THE SCHOOLMISTRESS 319
X. THE POLITICIAN 340

INTRODUCTORY.
--"Our Mississippi, rolling proudly on, Would sweep them from its path, or swallow up, Like Aaron's rod, those streams of fame and song."
MRS. HALE.
The valley of a river like the channel of a man's career, does not always bear proportion to the magnitude or volume of the current, which flows through it. Mountains, forests, deserts, physical barriers to the former--and the obstacles of prejudice, and accidents of birth and education, moral barriers to the latter--limit, modify, and impair the usefulness of each. A river thus confined, an intellect thus hampered, may be noisy, fretful, turbulent, but, in the contemplation, there is ever a feeling of the incongruity between the purpose and the power; and it is only when the valley is extended, the field of effort open, that we can avoid the impression of energy wasted, and strength frittered away. The great intellect, whose scope is not confined by ancient landmarks, or old prejudices, is thus typified by the broad, deep river, whose branches penetrate the Earth on every hand, and add to the current the tributaries of all climes. In this view, how noble an object is the Mississippi!
In extent, fertility, variety of scenery, and diversity of climate, its valley surpasses any other in the world. It is the great aorta of the continent, and receives a score of tributary rivers, the least of which is larger than the vaunted streams of mighty empires. It might furnish natural boundaries to all Europe, and yet leave, for every country, a river greater than the Seine. It discharges, in one year, more water than has issued from the Tiber in five centuries; it swallows up near fifty nameless rivers longer