102 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



declaration ; and yet a few weeks since a 

 Boston paper gave vent to the following 

 somewhat amazing utterance : ' It is not easy 

 for Americans to understand the depth, and 

 even violence, of feeling with which this 

 foolish and demoralizing custom is defended 

 by intelligent and well-meaning men.' It is 

 allowable, under the circumstances, to inquire 

 if Southerners are not * Americans.' Granted 

 that the inclination towards settling ' points 

 of honour ' by means of single combat is 

 now, in the South, a thing of the past, that 

 same past is but a few short years old. And 

 even if it be conceded that the formal duel is 

 abolished, such abolition by no means in- 

 cludes the not uncommon habit still prevalent 

 of ' shooting on sight ' and shooting, more- 

 over, with intent to kill. 



Late political agitations have shown a 

 tendency in the South to follow the lead 

 of the West, and in doing so it certainly 

 travels far from its ancient enemy, but of late 

 years nominal friend. The lack of sympathy 

 between the Far Easterner and the Westerner 

 is a thing to marvel at for the new-comer 

 to the West. He may, indeed, be pardoned 



