USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
But poor Appleby did not long live to enjoy his triumph. In his last moments, a friend was with him, who vainly entreated him to send for a clergyman.
" My good fellow," said the friend, " you wish to enter heaven?"
"In course," replied Appleby, faintly: " wheels -beggin' your par-big wheels-little-"
" Then if that be your wish," resumed the friend-" if you wish to enter heaven, how can yon expect it, unless -- "
" Leave that to me," said Appleby-"Apple- by's the man." And having uttered these, his last words, he turned his head upon his pillow, and expired.
Appleby is no more; but the race of those qui ne pensent pas petite bierre d'eux memes is not extinct.
Journal of Rev. David Jones, in 1773. Communicated by HI. G. Jones, Jr., of Leter- ington, Pa.
Genius .- The Shawanese naturally, are an ac- tive, sensible people; in common not so large and well made as the Delawares. They are the most cheerful and merry people I ever saw; all their study seems to be some kind of drollery, conse- quently both men and women are the greatest laughers I ever met in any nation. At the same time they are the most deceitful that perliaps exist in human shape. They are also very sus- picious that white people have some design to en- slave them. This made me fare the worse, for they surinised that the white people had sent me as a spy. What the Cretian sage remarked con- cerning that nation, is true when applied to the Shawanese, viz: "They are always liars, evil beasts," &c. This I found to be a craft among them; if they imagined any thing in their own heart about you, and they could not find out whether it was true or not, they would come and tell you that some one told them such things, and all this cunning is to find out your thoughts about them.
Government .- This people are unacquainted with civil power or authority. Every town has some head men, some of whom are called kings by us; but by what I can learn, this appellation is given to none by the Indians only as they have learned it from us. These head men have no power; nor do they pretend to have any, only to give their advice in councils, especially in war affairs. These are also made use of in con- versing with us on any occasion. They have no laws among them to redress thie oppressed. They are much given to stealing, both from white people and each other. When any one among them steals, the sufferer steals as much from that person, as he judges satisfactory ; and I am persuaded that the second thief has the best bargain, for he is not easily satisfied. In case any person kills another, there is nothing said or done; but if the murdered person has a friend, he often kills the murderer in some drunken fit, and 'tis likely intoxicates himself for this purpose, for an Indian has not much resolution without a dram. Mrs. Henry told me that it was not un- common for women to hang their children, or drown them, and never regard them so much as to bury them afterwards; nor are they guilty of this inhumanity secretly, nor is any thing said on the occasion any more than if a puppy had been drowned. This gentlewoman told me that during her captivity, she has known this to be done, with many other acts of barbarity that could scarcely be imagined. When white cap- tives were brought in, they would run a knife
205
through between the wrist bones, and passing deer sinews through would tie them up naked in their long house and make all the diversion pos- sible of them; sometimes coming up and taking hold of the captives nose, and to divert them- selves and make sport, would cut off the nose. After all diversion was past, they would lead them out and kill them.
Customs .- This nation make considerable lam- entation for their dead, if the person is of note. It is common for the survivor to dress good victuals and lay it at the head of the grave for several nights after the person is buried, suppo- sing that the deceased eats it; but in truth if they were to dress a buffalo every night, their hungry dogs could dispose of it, without one morsel for the dead. They have no form of marriage, only the man and woman agree, and make a bargain for so many bucks, that she shall live with him. I think from information, and what I saw, that it may be said they have no more natural affec- tion than the beasts of the field, for no woman marries out of any love she has for the person, the only motive being the reward which he gives her; and if this features are not so agreeable, she regards it not, if he has only enough to give her. There may be some of a different turn; but what I have said will be found true among the general part of them. "Tis said by those who have been best acquainted with them, that women are purchased by the night, week, month or winter, so that the chief way that women support them- selves is by fornication, which is esteemed no crime or shame. Polygamy is not considered a crime, and it is common to have several wives at the same time, and as cemmon to part on the least dislike. It often proves offence enough if a woman prove with child; but this does not of- ten happen, for their women seldom have many children, nor can they, while whoredem is so common. It is probable if they do as they have done only for one century, that there will be few of them on the earth. The whole nation of the Shawanese, according to Mr. Henry's calcula- tion, does not exceed six hundred, including men, women, and children, and I am persuaded from what I saw and heard, that this account is full large enough.
Diversions .- In the winter season they spend a great part of their time in playing cards, and a game something like dice, called Mamundis. They have a kind of game, which consists in pulling a greasy thong, by which they gain prizes. They are most indefatigable dancers, i the winter nights: their musical instruments are a keg with a skin stretched over it, and a gourd which has a parcel of grains of corn in it. But all sing as they dance, so that the echo of their
united voices may be heard for near a mile. Fishing and hunting employ the men in summer, and raising corn is the occupation of the women: indeed they are the only drudges; but they have all the profits and riches of the nation, for what the men make in the summer, they give to the women for their winter's lodging. Among thie diversions of this people may be reckoned their Mock Devils, three of which I saw myself, and if I had not heard that Mr. Brainerd described such, I should have been more surprised. These they call manitous. Not long before my de- parture, a young Indian came into the house where I lodged, and told me that the manitous were coming, and if we did not give them some- thing they would bedaub us with all nastiness. Upon which I looked out and saw them near one hundred yards off. All the Indians knew me, and therefore the manitous seeing me, I appre- hend intended to scare me. Each had a stick in his hand, and one stooped down by a tree as if he was going to shoot at me; but I could see that he had no gun. Afterwards he came towards me, with all the pranks imaginable, making as hideous noises as he could possibly invent: each made the same noise. Each had false faces of light wood, and all were dressed in bear skins, with the black hair on, so that they had no ap- pearance of any thing human. The foremost one had a great red face, with a huge, long nose, and prodigious large lips, his head above being covered with bear skin. As he came near me, he made a wonderful rattling, with a great dry tortoise shell, having an artificial neck and head, and being filled with grains of corn, and other trinkets. The other two had black faces, re- sembling the countenance of a bear, with very long chins. They came around me with an abundance of pranks, making a noise nothing like the voice of a man. After some time, I asked them what they wanted; but manitous cannot speak. They continued their racket, and at last showed me a pipe, by which I understood they wanted tobacco. Upon the reception of any gift, they make some kind of obeisance and de- part, dancing the strangest capers that are possi- ble. In short, their looks, voice and actions, are such that I thought if they had got their samples from beneath, the scene could not be much ex- ceeded. This apparel is used also by their pow- wowers in their attempts at conjuvation.
·
Religion .- The Shawanese, as well as all other Indians, that I either saw or heard of, say they believe there is a good manitou and a bad mani- tou; but they neither worship one nor the other. It is wrong to say they worship the devil, for they give themselves no concern about God or the devil: they have not one thought worthy of
206
a God. They never in any way acknowledge any mercy or judgment as from God. They look on it that he made the world at first, but have no conception that he has any concern with it as a governor. They never, in any distress, call upon any higher power to help them, neither do they apprehend that he is displeased with any of their actions, for they have no thought that any thing is a sin. It was never known that they have any reproof of conscience for any crime committed; so that it may well be said they are without any kind of religion, good or bad. There is a great deal of noise in the world about natural religion, but I am now fully con- vinced that there is no such thing existing; for if men had neither tradition nor revelation, they would concern themselves about God, no more than the brutes that perish.
I know some will say that there have been heathen who wrote well concerning God. I know what they have said, and also know that whoever reads Grotius on Revelation, will see how they came by their knowledge; but this will prove nothing, till it is first proved that these persons had no tradition to begin on, and who- ever considers that the world was then compara- tively young, will see that tradition was not ex- tinct. I could wish that these vain talkers (who call the improvements which men make on reve- lation, natural religion,) would only go and see the Indians who are least acquainted with us, and I am persuaded they would be convinced of the falsity of their principles, and readily give up the point and acknowledge that if God had not revealed himself to us, we would never have made it our study to concern ourselves about him. Nothwithstanding that this is the deplora- ble case, I am of the opinion that is peopleth might be brought into a civilized state in a short time, if the matter became one of public concern, and authority would interpose.
Literary Notices.
·
THE ARTIST, MERCHANT, AND STATESMAN, by C. E. LESTER, late U. S. Consul at Genoa, is the title of a new work, the first part of which has just reached here, and which we have looked over with considerable interest. The volume before us is principally devoted to a subject in- teresting to every American, and especially to Cincinnatians, viz: the early history and later efforts of the first Sculptor of the age, HIRAM POWERS, written by Mr. Lester, from conversa- tions held in his Studio with the Sculptor himself. The following passage we extract, as well on ac- count of its intrinsic interest-being the artist's own narration of his first attempt in modelling a bust from life-as from its deserved mention of one of our most worthy fellow-citizens, whose
well known taste and discrimination in the fine arts, were never more strikingly shown, than in his early discerminent and encouragement of the genius of the now world-renowned Sculptor.
After mentioning his introduction to a gentle- man engaged in modelling a bust of Gen'l. Jack- son, which operation he closely watched, the artist says:
" I determined to make a trial myself, and an- ticipating that on my first work, occupied as I was in other matters, I should consumc much time, I concluded to work in wax instead of clay; and accordingly I procured several pounds of beeswax, and in melting it, stirred in a quantity of colouring matter to render it sufficiently opaque. When it was all prepared, I began a reduced copy of a head of the Venus de' Medici which some Italian plaster-worker had brought to Cincinnati. I had a little apartment in the garret of the clock-factory which I used for a studio. A gentleman to whom I showed this work was so well pleased he desired me to make a bust of his daughter only four years old. This gentleman was Mr. John P. Foote. This head, too, I did in wax, and finished it as I had the other, in the garret of the clock-factory; and I can say, with all honesty, that when I compare it with other busts I have made, that so far as the likeness and finish of it are concerned, I have never surpassed it, nor could I improve it now, if I except some portions of the hair. This was my first order, and I received for it all I asked, which was deemed a very reasonable sum by the child's father, who assured me it would give him pleasure to pay me more if I would consent to receive it. The work was finished in plaster, and my price for it was twenty-four dollars."
The cast thus referred to is still in existence, and should long be preserved-a memento no less of the early talent of the artist, than of the in- fantile grace and beauty of the fair subject.
Bating a good deal of needless glorification of Mr. C. Edwards Lester, himself, in the dedica- tion, prefatory letter, and other fillings up of the book, we commend this little volume to the pub- lic, as one with which we have been much pleased, and one which cannot but be interesting to the friends of the great Sculptor, in this city.
THE GROVES OF BLARNEY, by Mrs. S. C. HALL: -An Irish novel! and by Mrs. Hall, and it, too, all about-
" The Groves of Blarney, so charming!"
Who would not wish to read it? We have done so, and can honestly advise all the adinirers of one of the most graceful and pleasing lady writers of the age to do the same. The charac- ters, without being strikingly new, are natural and well drawn; the plot is simple, and the in- cidents are of sufficient interest to fix the atten- tion, while Mrs. Hall's charming descriptive powers, and graceful flow of sprightly dialogue, are always such as to please the most determi- nately not-to-be-pleased reader.
+
,
207
Novelists do not generally make good tale writers, and vice versa. JAMES' stories, and those of other novelists, whose efforts that way we have read, were always " lame and impotent conclusions;" and we would not give the poorest of SIMMS' novels for all the tales with which he has bored the public through the Annuals and Magazines of the day. Hence we think that novel writing is not Mrs. Hall's forte-her short simple tales, each story a picture, finished and perfect, no matter how short, far excel her more laboured efforts. While we cannot rank the "Groves of Blarney," with "The Old French Drawing Master," "It's only a drop," and fifty others that we could name of her smaller tales, yet we believe the candid reader will agree after its perusal with all we have said of its merits.
THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER, by Miss PICKER- ING, though not equal in point of merit, we think, to " Nan Darrell," or " The Grumbler," or (our especial favourite of Miss P.'s delightful novels,) " The Grandfather," is yet a story of much in- terest, and will well repay its readers for the time spent in its perusal. No imaginative writings of the day are more worthy of commendation than tlie novels of Ellen Pickering.
LECTURES ON THE ENGLISH COMIC WRITERS, by HAZLITT; THE TWINS AND HEART, by M. F. Tur- PER, author of the Crock of Gold; and LAMB's SPECIMENS OF THE ENGLISH DRAMATIC POETS, form No. 27 to 30, inclusive, of Wiley & Putnam's excellent " Library of Choice Reading." We have not yet had time to give them a reading, and can only therefore take them upon trust, from the reputation of their respective authors.
Critical Consolation.
Authors, no less than artists, whose works are frequently found fault with by those whom they regard as not peculiarly qualified to play a criti- cal part, are apt to find a fund of consolation in the philosophy of the following:
The celebrated painter, Jarvis, was keenly sensitive to criticism, especially coming from those whom he knew to be unskilled in the rules of his favourite art. Being once told that Judge -, had expressed himself in terms of deci- ded disapprobation of one of his late productious, Jarvis testily exclaimed-" What of that-he's not a judge of painting, he's only Judge of Pro- bate!"
Errors of the Press.
.
vexations by others, almost as ludicrous, and not less provoking, in our own experience:
AN ERRATUM .- Miss Biddy Fudge, in the His- tory of the Fudges in England, recounting the miseries of authors, says, that-
" Though an angel should write, 'tis devils must print;" and gives the following instance of the havoc made by the printers in one of her effu- sions:
But a week or two since, in my Ode upon Spring, Which I meant to have inade a most beautiful thing,
Where I talked of the " dew drops from freshly blown roscs,"
The nasty things made it " from freshly blown noses."
Here is a soap story, in the manufacture of which, we should say, no small quantity of lie was found necessary:
Jim Black, of Beargrass.
Jim Black was one of those persons usually designated " hard customers," and in his case the term applied. A careless fellow that could whip his weight in wild cats, and care no more for a tustle with a bear than a fisticuff with one of his neighbours, for Jim was " cock of the walk" on the head waters of Beargrass. Although he had the good will of most of his neighbours, yet none of the folks in " them diggins" felt inclined to a nearer relationship with him. Of this fact he seemed pretty well satisfied, for he never at- tempted any flirtation with any of the fair ones of Beargrass. It happened that when Jim had reached twenty-eight years, a new family arri- ved, in which were " two of the tallest gals you ever did see," as Jim described them. One of them, Nancy, took his eye " tarnation strong," and he concluded to " sit right up to her." Jim had heard that it always took two to make a bar- gain, but the possibility of a third person coming into a contract never for a moment entered his mind. Things progressed smoothly, and we may say rapidly, for a short time; when Nancy's father took it into his head he ought to have something to say in the matter. This bothered Jim ama- zingly, and came near a broken bone or two for the old gentleman; but, finally Jim was ordered from the premises, with the request that he would forever keep as far as possible from that planta- tion. This was a sad go for Jim; but, having a stout heart, hc determined to never give it up so, and he set his wits to work to out general the old man. The gal was on his side, and why shoulden't he ?- " The track of real genuine love was always crooked," as the poet didn't ex- press it, but as Jim did. Jim laid his plans and waited for an opportunity to carry them into ef- fect. It was not long before he obtained a sight of the fair one, who readily entered into his plot, and as the family were to vacate the cabin on the following Sunday, and be gone the whole day, it was proposed that Jun should spend the day with Nancy, that they might mature their plan for putting the blind upon the old folks.
Some little experience in the amusement of proof-reading, both prose and verse, enables us Sunday came, and according to agreement the family left home to visit a neighbour, and Jini left home to visit Nancy. The day passed off as days will under like circumstances, until near to vouch for the following, as being drawn to the life. There is quite as much of truthi as poetry in it. We could parallel Miss Biddy Fudge's 'sundown. It occurred to Nancy that there could
203
be no impropriety in just stepping to the door to see if the old folks were coming. " Oh, crackee, Jim, here they come home; hide yourself or thie old man will hide me. Here, jump into this bar- rel, quick." " Tarnation?" said Jim, as he soused himself into the barrel. "By golly, Nancy, there's soap in this ere barrel, and it smarts like creation." " Well it does hoss, but you must do it, they are right here, so keep still."
Nancy had hardly time to cover over the bar- rel before the old folks entered the door. All were soon seated about the room, and commenced talking about the way they had passed the day, and when it came Nancy's turn to speak she said,
" Well I'd a done very well, I s'pose if it hadn't been for that ugly bear that was trying to take the pigs off."
" What pigs?" asked. the old gentleman.
" Why the pigs out on the other side of the cornfield."
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the old folks and young ones too, except Nancy and Jim, were off to see after the pigs.
" I say, Nance, it's a mighty hot place here," said Jim; " can't a feller come out now?" he asked.
" Well I guess he can Jim; but you must clear out quick, for they will be back right away."
Jim cleared the barrel at one bound.
" If that ain't the hottest place about this house then I give in," said Jim. "But I say Nance, that yarn of yourn about the pigs is full ·out as slick as that soft soap, and it don't hurt so bad. So good bye; I'm for the Beargrass-gra- .cious how the stuff burns! Good bye, Nance, I'm off'-gosh I'm raw all over."
His doings at the creek we must give in his "owil words:
" Well, in I went-for may be I warn't mad. The water felt mighty cool and comfortable, I tell you. I scrubbed and washed until I got the truck off me, when I began to feel a little better. But if Beargrass didn't run soap suds for a week after that, then I wouln't tell you so."
Choice Recipes.
IMPROVED COOKERY .- To Make a Match .- Catch a young gentleman and lady, the best you can; let the young gentleman be raw, and the young lady quite tender. Set the gentleman at dinner table; put in a good quantity of wine, and whilst he is soaking, stick in a word or two every now and then about Miss: this will help to make him boil. When getting red in the gills take him out into the drawing room, set him by the lady, and sop them both with green tea; then set them at the piano and blow the flame till the lady sighs: when you hear the gentleman sigh it is time to take them off, as they are warm enough. Put them by themselves in a corner of the room or on a sofa, and there let them simper together the rest of the evening. Repeat this three or four times, taking care to place them side by side at dinner, and they will be ready for marriage whenever you want them. After mar- riage great care should be taken, as they are apt to turn sour.
To COMMIT MURDER .- Take a pretty young lady-tell her she has a pretty foot-she will wear a small shoe-go out in wet spring weather -catch a cold-then a fever-and die in a month. This remedy never fails. ".ª
ANOTHER .-- Take a pretty young lady -- tell
her she has a small waist-she will lace tigfiter than ever-her lungs will be compressed-a cough will ensuc-neglect follows-consump- tion attends-and death does not wait long.
He is a rich man, who lives within his income, be it ever so small; he is a poor man, who ex- ceeds it, be it ever so large.
If the best man's faults were written on his forehead, he would pull his hat over his eyes.
As the gem cannot be polished without fric- tion, so neither can man be perfected without ad- versity.
Mother, Home, and Heaven, are the three most beautiful words in the English language:
Never marry a woman who keeps a lap dog- for she who can bring her mind down to love 80 contemptible a thing, can never elevate it to that dignity which man requires.
Some writer very justly compares a coquette to those light wines which every body tastes, and nobody buys; and another no less strikingly says, "A coquette is a rose from which every lover plucks a leaf, while the thorns are left for her fu- ture husband."
There is more truth than poetry in the follow- ing definition of "independence," taken from an exchange:
" INDEPENDENCE .- Speaking your mind freely where it cannot possibly hurt your interests."
An old maid eyes a single gentleman with the same feelings that we look at a street dog in dog- days, viz: wondering whether he intends to bite.
To Young Men.
There is no object so beautiful to me as a con- scientious young man. I watch him as I do a star in the heavens; clouds may be before him, but we know his light is behind them, and will beam again; the blaze of others' popularity may outshine him, but we know that though un- known he illuminates his own true sphere. He resists temptation, not without a struggle, for that is not virtue; but he does resist and conquer; he hears the sarcasms of the profligate, and it stings him, for that is the trial of virtue, but he heals the wound with his own pure touch. He heeds not the watchword of fashion, if it leads to sin; the atheist who says, not only in his own heart, but with his lips, " there is no God," con- trols him not; he sees the hand of a creating God and rejoices in it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.