86 
KANSAS. 
beauty, l*om a rockaway to a rough, springless cart with board 
seats, were fastened around the entrance to the grove, and gave 
to the whole a most novel appearance. There was a large gather¬ 
ing of people, and the services would be impressive were it not for 
the continued “ Amens,” in shrill as well as deep guttural tones, 
which the zealous worshippers are sounding in one’s ears from ail 
quarters. 
A large proportion of the western emigrants to Kansas are 
Methodists, and many of them are very fine people. The presid¬ 
ing eider here is a mild, benevolent-looking man, to whom a stran¬ 
ger would at once feel attracted. He came from Georgia, for¬ 
merly, and for years has been a resident of Missouri. No one 
more than he can have seen the evils of slavery, and, by his firm 
adherence to the principles of liberty, he attests his abhorrence of 
it. There are several clergymen in the territory, who have been 
residents of Missouri over twenty years, whose souls are strong in 
their love of freedom. 
21 st. — The little steam ferry-boat, Lizzie, was here to-day. 
How we wish some enterprising capitalist would build some boats 
with a draft of only ten or twelve inches without load, such as are 
used upon the California waters! Every day we might hear the 
shrill steam-whistle, telling of active business life, and a means 
of communication between us and the rest of the world. Then 
the freights which have to be brought forty-five miles by land, on 
wagons, could more easily be transported into the territory, and 
passengers would find the journey much less tedious. Now, if a 
mill gives way, any part of the machinery breaking, nothing in all 
Missouri, this side of St. Louis, can be found for repairs; and all 
these heavy freights have to be brought by land from Kansas 
city. A boat briskly plying on the river would add much to the 
growth and prosperity of the territory. 
22^. — I have little leisure for reading and writing. This after¬ 
noon I took Mrs. W. to ride, and she acknowledges she never saw 
Vi ^o lovely a country, — thinks it would be pleasant to have a sum¬ 
mer home here, with a winter home in Boston. Before we took 
our drive into the country, she received her first lesson in horse¬ 
back rid in o', and caused us many a hearty laugh by her fearful- 
