Western Characters

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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CHARACTERS ***

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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