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 Chapter 09

Estimation and Confidence Intervals

True / False Questions

1. A point estimate is a single value used to estimate a population parameter.

True False

2. A point estimate is a range of values used to estimate a population parameter.

True False

3. An interval estimate is a single value used to estimate a population parameter.

True False

4. An interval estimate is a range of values used to estimate a population parameter.

True False

5. A sample of 2,000 union members was selected, and a survey recorded their opinions
regarding a proposed management union contract. A total of 1,600 members were in favor of
it. A 95% confidence interval estimated that the population proportion was between 0.78 and
0.82. This indicates that about 80 out of 100 similarly constructed intervals would include the
population proportion.

True False

6. A confidence interval for a population proportion uses the uniform distribution to approximate
the binomial distribution.

True False

9-1
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McGraw-Hill Education.
7. The 95% confidence interval states that 95% of the sample means of a specified sample size
selected from a population will lie within plus and minus 1.96 standard deviations of the
hypothesized population mean.

True False

8. One factor in determining the size of a sample is the degree of confidence selected. This is
usually 0.95 or 0.99, but it may be any degree of confidence you specify.

True False

9. The population variation has little or no effect in determining the size of a sample selected
from the population.

True False

10. To determine the value of the standard error of the mean, the standard deviation is divided by
the sample size.

True False

11. To determine the size of a sample, the standard deviation of the population must be estimated
by either taking a pilot survey or by approximating it based on knowledge of the population.

True False

12. When using the t distribution to calculate a confidence interval, we assume that the
population of interest is normal or nearly normal.

True False

13. A z statistic is used for a problem involving any sample size and an unknown population
standard deviation.

True False

9-2
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14. The finite population correction factor is used to adjust the z-statistic.

True False

15. The finite population correction factor is applied when the population size is known.

True False

Multiple Choice Questions

16. The mean number of travel days per year for salespeople employed by three hardware
distributors needs to be estimated with a 0.90 degree of confidence. For a small pilot study,
the mean was 150 days and the standard deviation was 14 days. If the population mean is
estimated within two days, how many salespeople should be sampled?

A. 133
B. 452
C. 511
D. 2,100

17. A research firm needs to estimate within 3% the proportion of junior executives leaving large
manufacturing companies within three years. A 0.95 degree of confidence is to be used.
Several years ago, a study revealed that 21% of junior executives left their company within
three years. To update this study, how many junior executives should be surveyed?

A. 594
B. 612
C. 709
D. 897

9-3
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18. There are 2,000 eligible voters in a precinct. A total of 500 voters are randomly selected and
asked whether they plan to vote for the Democratic incumbent or the Republican challenger.
Of the 500 surveyed, 350 said they would vote for the Democratic incumbent. Using the 0.99
confidence coefficient, what are the confidence limits for the proportion that plan to vote for
the Democratic incumbent?

A. 0.647 and 0.753

B. 0.612 and 0.712
C. 0.397 and 0.797
D. 0.826 and 0.926

19. A random sample of 85 supervisors revealed that they worked an average of 6.5 years before
being promoted. The population standard deviation was 1.7 years. Using the 0.95 degree of
confidence, what is the confidence interval for the population mean?

A. 6.99 and 7.99

B. 4.15 and 7.15
C. 6.14 and 6.86
D. 6.49 and 7.49

20. The mean weight of trucks traveling on a particular section of I-475 is not known. A state
highway inspector needs an estimate of the population mean. He selects and weighs a
random sample of 49 trucks and finds the mean weight is 15.8 tons. The population standard
deviation is 3.8 tons. What is the 95% confidence interval for the population mean?

A. 14.7 and 16.9

B. 13.2 and 17.6
C. 10.0 and 20.0
D. 16.1 and 18.1

9-4
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21. A bank wishes to estimate the mean credit card balance owed by its customers. The
population standard deviation is estimated to be $300. If a 98% confidence interval is used
and an interval of $75 is desired, how many customers should be sampled?

A. 44
B. 212
C. 629
D. 87

22. Which of the following is a point estimate for the population mean (µ)?

A. σ
B. x/n
C.

D. s

23. Mileage tests were conducted on a randomly selected sample of 100 newly developed
automobile tires. The results showed that the mean tread life was 50,000 miles, with a
standard deviation of 3,500 miles. What is the best estimate of the mean tread life in miles for
the entire population of these tires?

A. 50,000
B. 3,500
C. 500
D. 35

9-5
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24. What is the interpretation of a 96% confidence level?

A. There's a 96% chance that the given interval includes the true value of the population
parameter.
B. Approximately 96 out of 100 such intervals would include the true value of the population
parameter.
C. There's a 4% chance that the given interval does not include the true value of the
population parameter.
D. The interval contains 96% of all sample means.

25. Which statement(s) is/are correct about the t distribution?

A. The mean is zero.

B. Its shape is symmetric.
C. Its dispersion is based on degrees of freedom.
D. All apply.

26. What kind of distribution is the t distribution?

A. Continuous
B. Discrete
C. Subjective
D. A z distribution

27. How is the t distribution similar to the standard z distribution?

A. Both are discrete distributions.

B. Both are skewed distributions.
C. Both are families of distributions.
D. Both are continuous distributions.

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28. A random sample of 20 items is selected from a population. When computing a confidence
interval for the population mean, what number of degrees of freedom should be used to
determine the appropriate t-value?

A. 20
B. 19
C. 21
D. 25

29. Of the following characteristics, the t distribution and z distribution are the same in all BUT
one. Which one is it?

A. Continuous
B. Symmetrical
C. Bell-shaped
D. Mean = 0, and standard deviation = 1

30. Suppose 1,600 of 2,000 registered voters sampled said they planned to vote for the
Republican candidate for president. Using the 0.95 degree of confidence, what is the interval
estimate for the population proportion (to the nearest 10th of a percent)?

A. 78.2% to 81.8%
B. 69.2% to 86.4%
C. 76.5% to 83.5%
D. 77.7% to 82.3%

31. Which of the following is NOT necessary to determine how large a sample to select from a
population?

A. The level of confidence in estimating the population parameter

B. The size of the population
C. The maximum allowable error in estimating the population parameter
D. An estimate of the population variation

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32. A sample mean is the best point estimate of _______.

A. the population standard deviation

B. the population median
C. the population mean
D. the sample standard deviation

33. A sample standard deviation is the best point estimate of the ___________.

A. population range
B. population skewness
C. population mode
D. population standard deviation

34. A confidence interval for a population mean __________.

A. estimates the population range

B. estimates a likely interval for a population mean
C. estimates likelihood or probability
D. estimates the population standard deviation

35. Knowing the population standard deviation, a 95% confidence interval infers that the
population mean ___________.

A. is between 0 and 100%

B. is within ±1.96 standard deviations of the sample mean
C. is within ±1.96 standard errors of the sample mean
D. is too large

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36. When a confidence interval for a population mean is constructed from sample data,
__________.

A. we can conclude that the population mean is in the interval

B. we can conclude that the population mean is not in the interval
C. we can conclude, for an infinite number of samples and corresponding confidence intervals,
that the population mean is in a stated percentage of the intervals
D. we cannot make any inferences

37. The distribution of Student's t has _________.

A. a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one

B. a mean of one and a standard deviation of one
C. a mean of zero and a standard deviation that depends on the sample size
D. a mean that depends on the sample size and a standard deviation of one

38. The distribution of Student's t is ________.

A. symmetrical
B. negatively skewed
C. positively skewed
D. a discrete probability distribution

39. When using Student's t to compute an interval estimate, ___________.

A. we assume that the samples are collected from populations that are uniformly distributed
B. we estimate the population mean based on the sample mean
C. we use the z distribution
D. we assume that the samples are collected from normally distributed populations

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40. A random sample of 42 college graduates revealed that they worked an average of 5.5 years
on the job before being promoted. The sample standard deviation was 1.1 years. Using the
0.99 degree of confidence, what is the confidence interval for the population mean?

A. 5.04 and 5.96

B. 5.06 and 5.94
C. 2.67 and 8.33
D. 4.40 and 6.60

41. When we use a confidence interval to reach a conclusion about the population mean, we are
applying a type of reasoning or logic called __________.

A. descriptive statistics
B. the normal distribution
C. statistical inference
D. graphics

42. A local company wants to evaluate their quality of service by surveying their customers. Their
budget limits the number of surveys to 100. What is their maximum error of the estimated
mean quality for a 95% level of confidence and an estimated standard deviation of 5?

A. 0.9604
B. 0.98
C. 1.96
D. 5%

9-10
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43. A local retail company wants to estimate the mean amount spent by customers. Their store's
budget limits the number of surveys to 225. What is their maximum error of the estimated
mean amount spent for a 99% level of confidence and an estimated standard deviation of
$10.00?

A. $10.00
B. $1.00
C. 1%
D. $1.72

44. A university surveyed recent graduates of the English Department for their starting salaries.
Four hundred graduates returned the survey. The average salary was $25,000, with a standard
deviation of $2,500. What is the best point estimate of the population mean?

A. $25,000
B. $2,500
C. $400
D. $62.5

45. A university surveyed recent graduates of the English Department for their starting salaries.
Four hundred graduates returned the survey. The average salary was $25,000. The population
standard deviation was $2,500. What is the 95% confidence interval for the mean salary of all
graduates from the English Department?

A. [$22,500, $27,500]
B. [$24,755, $25,245]
C. [$24,988, $25,012]
D. [$24,600, $25,600]

9-11
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46. A university surveyed recent graduates of the English Department for their starting salaries.
Four hundred graduates returned the survey. The average salary was $25,000. The population
standard deviation is $2,500. A 95% confidence interval is constructed. What does the
confidence interval mean?

A. The population mean is in the interval.

B. The population mean is not in the interval.
C. The likelihood that any confidence interval based on a sample of 400 graduates will contain
the population mean is 0.95.
D. There is a 5% chance that the computed interval does not contain the population mean.

47. A survey of an urban university (population of 25,450) showed that 870 of 1,100 students
sampled supported a fee increase to fund improvements to the student recreation center.
Using the 95% level of confidence, what is the confidence interval for the proportion of
students supporting the fee increase?

A. [0.767, 0.815]
B. [0.759, 0.822]
C. [0.771, 0.811]
D. [0.714, 0.866]

48. A survey of an urban university (population of 25,450) showed that 870 of 1,100 students
sampled supported a fee increase to fund improvements to the student recreation center.
Using the 99% level of confidence, what is the confidence interval for the proportion of
students supporting the fee increase?

A. [0.751, 0.829]
B. [0.759, 0.823]
C. [0.767, 0.814]
D. [0.771, 0.811]

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49. University officials say that at least 70% of the voting student population supports a fee
increase. If the 95% confidence interval estimating the proportion of students supporting the
fee increase is [0.75, 0.85], what conclusion can be drawn?

A. Seventy percent is not in the interval, so another sample is needed.

B. Seventy percent is not in the interval, so assume it will not be supported.
C. The interval estimate is above 70%, so infer that it will be supported.
D. Since this was not based on the population, no conclusion can be drawn.

50. A group of statistics students decided to conduct a survey at their university to find the
average (mean) amount of time students spent studying per week. Assuming a population
standard deviation of six hours, what is the required sample size if the error should be less
than a half hour with a 95% level of confidence?

A. 554
B. 130
C. 35
D. 393

51. A group of statistics students decided to conduct a survey at their university to find the
average (mean) amount of time students spent studying per week. Assuming a population
standard deviation of three hours, what is the required sample size if the error should be less
than a half hour with a 99% level of confidence?

A. 196
B. 239
C. 15
D. 16

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52. A group of statistics students decided to conduct a survey at their university to estimate the
average (mean) amount of time students spent studying per week. They sampled 554
students and found a mean of 22.3 hours per week. Assuming a population standard deviation
of six hours, what is the 95% level of confidence?

A. [21.80, 22.80]
B. [16.3, 28.3]
C. [21.64, 22.96]
D. [20.22, 22.0]

53. A group of statistics students decided to conduct a survey at their university to find the
average (mean) amount of time students spent studying per week. They sampled 240
students and found a mean of 22.3 hours per week. Assuming a population standard deviation
of six hours, what is the 99% level of confidence?

A. [21.80, 22.80]
B. [16.3, 28.3]
C. [21.30, 23.30]
D. [20.22, 22.0]

54. A research firm wants to compute an interval estimate with 90% confidence for the mean time
to complete an employment test. Assuming a population standard deviation of three hours,
what is the required sample size if the error should be less than a half hour?

A. 196
B. 98
C. 10
D. 16

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55. A survey of 50 retail stores revealed that the average price of a microwave was $375, with a
sample standard deviation of $20. Assuming the population is normally distributed, what is the
95% confidence interval to estimate the true cost of the microwave?

A. $323.40 to $426.60
B. $328.40 to $421.60
C. $350.80 to $395.80
D. $369.31 to $380.69

56. A survey of 50 retail stores revealed that the average price of a microwave was $375 with a
sample standard deviation of $20. Assuming the population is normally distributed, what is the
99% confidence interval to estimate the true cost of the microwave?

A. $367.42 to $382.58
B. $315.00 to $415.00
C. $323.40 to $426.60
D. $335.82 to $414.28

57. A survey of 50 retail stores revealed that the average price of a microwave was $375, with a
sample standard deviation of $20. If 90% and 95% confidence intervals were developed to
estimate the true cost of the microwave, what similarities would they have?

A. Both have the same confidence level

B. Both use the same t statistic
C. Both use the same z statistic
D. Both use the same point estimate of the population mean

58. If 95% and 98% confidence intervals were developed to estimate the true cost of an MP3
player with a known population standard deviation, what differences would they have?

A. The standard errors would be different.

B. The point estimates of the population mean would be different.
C. The sample sizes would be different.
D. The z statistics would be different.

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muddy south. We are all coated with the most adhesive of muds, the
fineness of the grain rendering it difficult to remove from the
clothes. The town is full of negroes, celebrating the holiday; and
nearly all carry suspicious looking jugs. The costumes and shouting
would make the fortune of a museum in the north. Found it
impossible to secure a turkey fit to eat, but got the Missis some fine
oysters and a chicken, and bear-steaks for our dinner—at 25 cents a
pound. Game is not allowed to be sold in the state. Pity they do not
extend the prohibition to whisky.
We made candy, and in the evening had the crew all in, and grabbed
for presents in a big basket under a newspaper. We had a happy
time, although we were all out on the big river far from home. The
Desplaines let their wild goose spoil, and threw it overboard this
morning. At 10 a. m. we set out for down the river.
We searched the Memphis papers for some intimation as to J. J.'s
fate, but found none. Found the tale of an Indiana man who was
coming down on a houseboat with his wife, intending to make his
home in Greenville, Miss. He was told at Cairo that there was a law
in Tennessee against carrying concealed weapons, so here he
started out with his pistol in his hands. He was arrested and
sentenced to jail for a year less a day, and $50 fine, the law
forbidding the carrying of weapons. Such a punishment,
administered to a stranger unaware of the law seems a travesty of
justice. It is said here that it is safer to kill a man than to carry a
weapon; and it seems so.
 CHAPTER XV.

MOORING.
We have been studying the subject of mooring, and present the
following as an ideal moor:
The fenders are stout poles six inches thick at the butt, three at the
small end, which rests on shore. This end is deeply embedded in the
dirt, so that it will not float away or ride up on the bank. The big end
is firmly fastened to the side timbers, the four-by-fours running
across the boat under the floor, by a short chain, which will not
chafe out like a rope. The latter is better, as being elastic, however.
Either must be strong to spare. The cable is an inch Manilla rope.
Thus moored we are ready for all chances. The best thing to moor
to is a stump or log firmly embedded, and as far as possible from
shore, if crumbly, for the current may cut in fast. At Memphis our
stake, forty feet from shore, was washed out in an hour. Never tie
close to a bank that may fall in on the boat, or to a tree that may fall
and crush you; or to a bank that may hold you ashore if the water
falls in the night; or, worst of all, over a snag, for the waves of a
passing steamer may lift the boat up and drop it so hard on the snag
as to knock a hole in the bottom. When possible moor where you
will have a bar to protect you from the force of waves rolling in from
a broad stretch of water. A narrow creek or cove would be ideal, but
as yet we have hardly seen such a thing where we wanted to stop.
When moored with the long side to the shore, less surface is
exposed to the current and the wind, and less strain put upon the
cables.
AN IDEAL MOOR.
 CHAPTER XVI.

A LEVEE CAMP.
Allison's Landing, Ark., Dec. 26, 1903.—We landed here after dark
last night, having been delayed at Friars' Point by the tug getting
aground. The cabinboat floated down the river some distance, and
then the back current and wind carried her on a sand bar. The tug
was three hours getting free, by warping off with the anchor.
We found this a levee camp. Hardly had we landed when a big
negress came aboard to see what we had for sale. They wanted
drygoods badly, and were much disappointed. Two pleasant
gentlemen boarded us, the heads of the camp; and spent the
evening on the tug, with singing and music. They are here
surrounded by negroes, and a little white association seemed as
agreeable to them as it was to us. In the night all hands but Dr. and
Taylor went cat-hunting.
At 11 p. m. a furious wind storm sprang up from the northeast,
exactly the direction from which to blow us on shore; which was
providential, as we only had one long line out and that poorly
secured to a stake in the soft, oozy bank. Frank saw that everything
was right, and wisely went to bed; but we could not rest easy, and
sat up till 4 a. m. The canoe on the roof blew over against the
stovepipe and we had to get out four times and push it back with a
pole. It grew quite cold and the fire was grateful.
About midnight the hunters came back with the usual luck to tell of.
This morning Jake, the boy and Doctor went out to a bayou after
ducks, but saw none. This country is said to swarm with game but it
keeps hidden from us. What a thing is a bad reputation!
In the woods we noted the buds springing from the roots of the
cypress, the size of an egg, and growing upward in hollow cones,
called cypress knees. It is a remarkable and noble tree, the
buttressed stumps giving promise of superb height, which seems
rarely realized. Half a mile back from the landing we came upon the
levee, a great bank of earth but partly covered with grass. Deep and
narrow bayous run parallel with it, in which could be seen the
movements of quite large fish.
Robins, redbirds, jays, woodpeckers, blackbirds, and a variety of still
smaller birds abounded; but we did not get any game. The two
gentlemen in charge of the levee camp, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Ward,
went with us into the woods, but the game was wary. All hands so
thoroughly enjoyed the visit at this hospitable camp that for the rest
of the trip we talked of it. We were indebted to these gentlemen for
a roast of fresh pork. Their task is a difficult one, to keep in order so
many negroes, all of the rough and illiterate sort. Quarrels over
"craps" and shooting among the negroes are not infrequent, and in
one a white man, passing by, was killed. Mr. Rogers has the repute
of getting his men to work, and we heard a scrap of a song among
them, expressive of their sentiments or impressions:

"Blisters on yo' feet an' co'ns on yo' han',

Wat yo' git for wo'kin' fo' de black-haired man."

A firm hand is absolutely necessary to rule these men, with whom

weakness is perilous. Only a few weeks after our visit to one of
these camps a negro got in a dispute over a trivial sum in his
account, got hold of the pistol the white man in charge had
incautiously left in the negro's reach, and shot him dead. If there is
anything in the art of physiognomy, many of these levee men are
desperadoes.
Dec. 28, 1903.—We left our friendly entertainers at Allison's and ran
down to a bar, where Woodruff took in several tons of very good
coal, costing nothing but the trouble of shipping. Mr. Rogers
accompanied us to Modoc.
Tied up at Mayflower landing, a good moor. A German there told us
a trading boat at the landing above took away $6,000 in three days
last year. The trader has a large scow, with a cabin, and a steamer
to handle it. Every place we stop the people come to inquire what
we have to sell. We got off at 7 a. m. today, passed the mouths of
the White and Arkansas, and have run at least 60 miles. We have
landed after dark, and we are not sure as to where we are. The
weather has been most pleasant, temperature about 60 all day, little
wind. The river is full of drift, but there is little traffic. Just now a
little steamer passed up. At Riverton were several small ones, but
otherwise the solitude is unbroken.
The shores are wild, the banks continually crumbling into the river. A
prodigious number of snags must be furnished yearly. Very few wild
fowl appear. Floaters appear occasionally, but probably there will be
fewer now, as many are directed to the White river. This is probably
near Monterey Landing. As the landing was narrow and beset with
snags we moored with the prow to the bank, two lines to the shore
and the anchor out astern. We have much to say about mooring; but
it is a matter of supreme importance to the comfort and even the
safety of the crew. It is not specially pleasant to turn out of bed in
one's nightclothes, with the temperature below freezing, to find the
boat adrift in a furious storm and pounding her bottom out on
snags.
We bought a new anchor from a trading boat at Allison's. It is 50
pounds, galvanized, with folding flukes and a ring at the end for a
guy rope, so that if fouled as the other was, we can pull the flukes
together and free it. Paid four dollars for it—same as for the other,
but this is a much better anchor, though not as strong as the solid
one.
Jim has gone around the cabin and puttied up the cracks, and we
hope the next rain will keep out. If not, we will get deck pitch and
pay the seams.

Arkansas City, Ark., Dec. 30, 1903.—Landed here shortly after noon,
and spent the balance of the day. About 1,000 people, mostly black;
some good stores; got a few New Orleans oysters, which are sold by
number, 25 cents for two dozen; bought a new anchor rope, 75 feet,
3.4 inch, for $3.04, or 14½ cents a pound. Eggs, 35 cents a dozen.
No trade for extinguishers, though Woodruff had a nibble for his
steamer. Weather clear, and temperature rising to about 60 in
midday, cold at night. This morning at 8, temperature 34. No wind.
River smooth. What a lot of gasoline engines are in use. There are at
least six boats rigged with them here. One Memphis party is building
a new hull ashore and moving an old cabin on it. The lady who owns
the hotel and drug store has mocking birds for sale, $25.00 for a
singer—lady birds not worth selling.
Got off near 9 a. m., for Greenville.

January 1st, 1904.—We left Arkansas City on the 30th, at 9 a. m.,

and reached Greenville, Miss., that evening just before dark. It is a
rambling town, behind the levee, about 10,000 people, but evidently
has considerable business. Twenty-five mills of various kinds are
there. Supplies higher than since leaving Chicago—15 cents for meat
of any sort, 35 cents for eggs or butter, 25 cents for a dozen fine
large shell oysters from New Orleans, the first we have met, and
which the sick woman appreciated $25.00 worth.
The Desplaines did some business, but many of the mills are owned
in the cities and the managers cannot buy here.
An old negro lives in a little gully washed by the rain in the bank,
close to where we tied up. He has a little fire, and lies there all night
with a board on edge to rest his back against. In the morning we
took him a cup of coffee which he took eagerly, but without thanks.
An old negress brought him something—presumably food. Last night
it rained some, but this morning he was still there. During the day
we saw him wandering about the streets, reminding one of a lost
dog.
We left at noon, but as it was still raining it was equally
uncomfortable going or lying still. They tried the tug alongside, but
the rudder would not swing the big cabinboat and they had to return
to towing. About 2 p. m. the fog shut in so dense that we had to
make a landing, presumably in Walker's Bend, on the Arkansas side.
Frank brought off some of the finest persimmons we have yet seen.
The cabin is so warm that some flies have appeared, probably left-
overs, though the Missis says they have them all the winter down
here. Picked up a nice lot of drifting boards for stove.
Exploration establishes the fact that we are just below Vaucluse
Landing, and that the land is rich in pecan trees, well laden with
nuts, which these lazy darkies let go to waste. Frank found a store in
the neighborhood. Chicot lake, back of us, is said to be rich in ducks,
and if the fog lasts tomorrow we must have some. The putty has
kept out the rain today very well. We suffer for ventilation, though,
and awake in the morning with headaches. It is bright moonlight,
but still foggy. It rained during the night and we secured a fine
supply of rainwater in the launch cover.

Shiloh Landing, Miss., Jan. 3, 1904.—We lay last night at Wilson's

Point, La., and all night we listened to the creaking of our fenders
against the side, and felt the heave of the tug as she surged against
our side under the influence of a driving northwest wind. Said wind
carried us along yesterday for a run of over 44 miles, sometimes
with and at others against us, as the river curved. It was a cold wind
and made the cabin fire comfortable. Two sailboats passed us going
down, one a two-master from Chicago and the other the Delhi, from
Michigan City. They made good with the wind. There was a large
trading boat with stern wheel above our landing, but we did not visit
her.
About 1 p. m. we ran in here, and the tug people stopped because
Mr. Rogers' brother was in charge. We found a levee camp with 36
tents, and examined the commissary with interest. Got some canned
oysters for the Missis. No milk or eggs, fresh meat or chickens. The
men all carry big 44s, and sometimes use them, we hear. It grows
colder—at 5 p. m. temperature outside 30—and the cold is harder to
bear than a much lower one up north. Every few miles there is a
landing, and a pile of cotton bales and bags of seed waiting for the
Delta or American, fine steamers that ply between Vicksburg and
Greenville.
The great, greedy river, forever eating its banks, which crumble into
the current constantly, even now when the water is so low. Every
sand bar has its wrecks, and opposite Lake Providence we saw men
and teams busy over the coal in sunken barges.

Monday, Jan. 4, we left Shiloh at 7:20, clear and cold, temperature

28, moon shining, but the sun not yet visible from behind the bluff.
Yesterday we passed the steamer City of Wheeling, fast on a bar,
and we hear she has been there for two months—grounded on her
first trip. But the water is rising and she expects to be soon released.
 CHAPTER XVII.

VICKSBURG.
Thursday, Jan. 7. 1904.—We arrived at Vicksburg in the afternoon of
Monday, Jan. 4, and were much impressed by the beauty of the city
as seen from the river. Spread along the heights it looks like a large
city, though it only claims a population of about 22,000. Contrary to
expectation we found it busy, with evidences of life and enterprise.
The Government has built a levee which blocks up the mouth of the
Yazoo, and by a canal diverted the water of that river into the
channel that runs along the front of the city; the old bed of the river
Mississippi previous to 1876, when it cut a new bed for itself and
threatened to leave the historic fortress an inland town.
Just before reaching the city we met a row of whirlpools reaching
across the channel, whose violence would make a man in a skiff feel
queer. These are the only notable ones we have seen, except just
before reaching Arkansas City.
The Desplaines could not tow us against the swift current in the
Yazoo, so left the houseboat about 300 yards up that stream and
steamed up to the city. After visiting the postoffice we started to
walk back along the levee, reaching the place we had left the boat
just before dark. She was not there, and we walked along the bank
up stream till it grew too dark to see, then got lost among the
railway buildings till directed by a friendly youth to the street where
the cars ran. Reached the tug at last, and the owner took us back
with a lantern along the levee, finding the boat in the great river, the
boys having dropped down out of the Yazoo. As we received the
flukes for our launch, which Taylor put on, we concluded to part
company from the tug, and settled up with them. Meanwhile the
quarreling among her crew came to a climax and Jake was set on
shore by them. He was pilot, cook, hunter and general all-round
utility man, coming for the trip without wages, and it seems to us
suicidal for them to dismiss him, when negro roustabouts are
refusing $4.00 a day from the steamers, and engineers impossible to
secure at any price. We were full handed, but liked Jake, so we took
him aboard as a supernumerary till he could do better.
The 6th was dull and rainy but we got off, and ran about 16 miles in
the afternoon, tying up somewhere in Diamond Bend, probably
below Moore's Landing.
At V. had a letter from J. J., saying he had been sentenced to a year
in the workhouse and $50.00 fine for carrying weapons.
During the night it rained heavily, and we caught a fine lot of
rainwater in the launch cover. One learns to appreciate this on the
river.
During the afternoon we saw a negro shoot from the bank directly
down on a few geese, of which he wounded one. It swam across the
river and we got out the skiff and followed. On shore it crouched
down as if dead, and waited till Jim got within ten feet, when it got
up and flew across the river. We followed, and he shot it with a rifle
when about 150 yards off.
By that time we were miles below the darky, and as he has no boat
we fear he will not be on hand to put in a claim for the goose. We
bought one at V. for 90 cents; also eight jack-snipe for a dollar. Roast
beef was 12½ cents for round, 25 for rib, and 17½ for corned beef.
Milk 10 cents a quart from wagon, buttermilk 20 cents a gallon,
butter, 30 for creamery and 25 for country.
Waterproof Cutoff, Friday, Jan. 8, 1904.—We ran about 23 miles on
the 7th, the engine simply refusing to go; and we drifted most of the
time. Once we got fast on a nasty snag and it took all our force to
get off. We tied up to a sand bar near Hard Times Landing, in the
bend of that name. Bluff and the children had a refreshing run on
the sand. Got off today at 8 a. m., and by 1O the engine started off
in good shape and has been running well all day. The weather is
clear and warm, thermometer standing at 72 this afternoon. Little
wind, but that from the south. Some clouds betoken a possible rain.
Our first wild goose for dinner on the 6th, and all liked it well.

Saturday, Jan. 9, 1904.—We ran about forty miles yesterday, tying

up above L'Argent in a quicksandy nook. At 4 this morning these lazy
boys got up and started to float, making several miles before
daybreak. It is foggy at 8 and the sun invisible, but warm and with
little wind. The launch is running fitfully. Passed Hole-in-the-Wall and
now opposite Quitman Bluff.

Jan. 10, 1904.—Yesterday we reached Natchez at 1 p. m., and by 4

had got our mail and supplies and were off down the river. The
engine balked under the influence of a lower temperature, and we
had only made about five miles when we had to tie up on account of
the darkness. It rained hard.
 CHAPTER XVIII.

RIVER PIRATES.
We had had our suppers, the children and Missis had gone to bed,
and we were about following them, when through the rain we heard
someone get upon the front deck. It was raining hard. We called
out, asking who was there. A man replied in a wheedling voice,
saying that he was alone, lost in the rain, and wished to remain till it
was light enough to see his way. We asked who he was, and he
responded that he was a prominent citizen of the neighborhood and
asked us to open up the cabin a little bit. The doors are on the sides,
and he was evidently puzzled as to how to get into the cabin. We
were undressed and told him we could not let him in; but he
insisted. We called to the boys to see what was wanted, thinking it
might be some one in trouble; so Jake went out. The man began to
talk pretty saucily, but then Jim and Frank got out, and at once his
tone changed. He suddenly got very drunk, though perfectly sober a
moment before. Another man turned up also, in a skiff alongside. He
gave a rambling incoherent account of why he was there; but the
other man called angrily for him to come on, and soon they left,
rowing into the darkness. The man who came aboard was about 5
feet 6; 45, red-faced, deep-set eyes; his hat drawn well over his
face; rather heavily set. The other was a sulky-faced man about 25,
with light hair. That they were river pirates there is not a doubt; and
had we been short-handed there would have been trouble.
Next morning we set out, slowly floating with a little headwind,
through a fog. Temperature at 8 a. m., 50. Natchez-under-the-hill
has disappeared under the assaults of the river, and with it the wild
characters that made it famous, or rather notorious. The city is now
said to be as orderly and safe as any in the south. We now get fine
gulf oysters at 50 cents to $1 a hundred. They come in buckets.
Shell oysters are still rare. We got a small bunch of bananas at
Natchez, for 60 cents.
We passed Morville, floating about three miles an hour. We have
never been able to secure any data as to the speed of the current in
the rivers.

Jan. 11, 1904.—We ran 42 miles yesterday, to near Union Point,

tying up to a sand bar. The boys crossed to a railway camp and were
told game was very abundant, so that it was hardly safe for a single
man to go out with the hounds at night—bear, panther and cat. We
had a head wind all day, from the west, sometimes strong enough to
raise a few whitecaps, and the engine did her stunt of bucking—
which shows what she is good for when in good humor. Temperature
went up to 72 and hung around 70 all day. This morning at 8 it is
42. The children and dog had a much needed run on the sand. The
boy needs much exercise and laboriously chops at the heaviest wood
he can find.
 CHAPTER XIX.

THE ATCHAFALAYA.
By lunch time we reached the mouth of the Red River, and found a
rapid current running into it from the Mississippi. We landed on the
bar and sent to town for mail, but found the postoffice had been
moved to Torrasdale, several miles away—and after walking up there
found no letters. At 3 p. m. we started up the Red, rapid, crooked,
much in need of the services of a snag boat; weather so warm the
invalid came out on deck for an hour or more. Turned into the
Atchafalaya about 5 p. m., a deep stream, said to be never less than
50 feet deep. The same shelving banks as the great river, formed by
the continual caving. We found a bed of pebbles at the mouth of the
Red and really they were like old friends. Stone is a rarity here.
We tied up a little way beyond Elmwood Landing. Henceforth we
have neither charts nor lights, but we have a born pilot in Jake, and
he will pull us through. A bad day for the asthma, in spite of the
warmth.
 RED RIVER.

Jan. 12, 1904.—If solitude exists along the Atchafalaya it is not here.
The left bank is leveed and roofs appear about every 100 yards. The
right bank is lined with little trees growing down to and into the
water. At Denson's Landing, or Simmesport, the right bank begins a
levee; there is the inevitable gas launch, a tug, and numerous other
craft, with a fish market. The wind blows dead ahead, and raises
waves nearly as big as in the big river. Pretty bum houseboats,
apparently occupied by blacks. Some noble trees with festoons of
Spanish moss. No nibbles on the trotline last night, but a huge fish
heaved his side out of the water just now. Alligator gar.
Pleasant traveling now. All day long we have voyaged along the
Atchafalaya with a wind from—where? It requires a compass to
determine directions here. In fact the uncertainty of things usually
regarded as sure is singular. Now up north we know just where the
sun is going to rise; but here the only certainty about it is its
uncertainty. Now it comes up in the east—that is, over the east bank
of the river; but next day it may appear in the west, north or south.
The wind was against us all morning, but since lunch—which we had
at Woodside—it has been back of us or sideways, and has driven us
along. Fine levees line the banks. Just now we are passing a camp
at work. It is a noble river, wide and deep, with a current about as
swift as the great river. Even now, when the Barbre gauge shows
6¾ feet above low water only, there is no obstruction to navigation
by as large steamers as plow the Mississippi. Now and then a little
spire or black stack peeping above the levee shows the presence of
a village. Temperature hovers about 62. Only a solitary brace of
ducks seen in this river as yet.
All afternoon we have been pursuing Melville. At 3 p. m. it was four
miles away; an hour later it was five miles off, and at 5 we had
gotten within three miles of the elusive town. We concluded to stop,
in hopes it might get over its fear and settle down; so tied up. We
ascended the levee, and a boy told us the town was within half a
mile. The river is lonely, not a steamer since leaving the mouth of
Red, where the Little Rufus came down and out, politely slowing up
as she neared the cabin boat, to avoid rocking us. An occasional skiff
is all we see, though the landing is common, but no cotton or seed,
nothing but lumber.
We were correct as to our estimate of the visitors we had the other
night—river pirates. Their method is to come on rainy nights when
the dogs are under cover. By some plausible story they gain
admittance to the cabin and then—? Have the windows guarded by
stout wire screens, the doors fitted with bars, and a chain. Any
visitor to a cabin boat after night is a thief, and on occasion a
murderer. If he desires admittance after being told you are not a
trader or whisky boat, open the chain and when he tries to enter
shoot him at once. It is the sheerest folly to let one of those fellows
have the first chance. No jury in the world would fail to congratulate
you for ridding the river of such a character. There are no
circumstances that can be imagined in which an honest man would
act in the way these men did. If they wanted shelter from the rain
the shore was handy. If they mistook the boat for friends, the
mistake was apparent and they knew very well they had no business
to continue their visit.

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1904.—Made a good start. We got under way

about 8:30, and Melville bridge soon came in view. The day is clear
and warm, water smooth as glass, with no perceptible current, and
the engine starts off as if nothing ever ruffled her temper.
 CHAPTER XX.

MELVILLE—FIRST DEER HUNT.

Melville, La., Jan. 19, 1904.—We found this a quiet little town of 600
people, including negroes; with sufficient stores for our simple
needs, and a daily mail east and west. We found some pleasant
young gentlemen here, with plenty of leisure and hounds, and some
of us go out for deer every day. So far no one has brought in any
venison, but Jim and Frank have had shots.
The thermometer stands at about 60 to 70 all day; fires are
superfluous except at night for the weak one, the grass and clover
show up green in spots, and really we seem to have skipped winter.
In the swamps the palmettoes raise their broad fans, the live oaks
rear their brawny trunks, and bits of green life show up on all sides.
Really, we do not see what excuse the grass has for being brown, if
it be not simple force of habit, or recollection of a northern ancestry.
The negro women wear extraordinary sunbonnets, huge flaring
crowns with gay trimming. The foreigners are Italians or Greeks; and
are in the fruit and grocery trade. An old superannuated Confed.
brings us a small pail of milk daily, for which he gets 10 cents a
quart.
The river is leveed 15 miles down, and the system is being extended
southward. There is a difference of opinion as to the levees, some
claiming they are injurious as preventing the elevation of the land by
deposit of mud; while one large sugar raiser said it would be
impossible to raise crops without them. The truth seems to be that
the immediate needs require the levees; but if one could let the land
lie idle, or take what crops could be raised after the floods subside, it
would be better for the owner of the next century to let in the water.
We have had our first deer hunt. Six of us, with four hounds, set out
in the launch. Arriving at the right place we disembarked and walked
through the woods about a mile, the dogs having meanwhile started
out independently. Here they located us, in a small clear space, and
the rest went on to their respective stands. We looked about us and
were not favorably impressed with our location. It was too open.
Deer coming from any quarter would see us long before we could
see them. So we selected a spot where we could sit down on a log,
in the shade of a huge cypress, with the best cover attainable, and
yet see all over the clearing. Then we waited.
By and by we heard a noise as of breaking twigs to one side. We
crouched down and held our breath, getting the rifle up so as to
allow it to bear in the right direction. Waited. A little more noise, but
slight. Waited. No more. Sat till our backs got stiff and feet cold.
Then carefully and quietly paced up and down the path. Sat down
again. Concluded to eat lunch, an expedient that rarely fails to start
the ducks flying. No good for deer.
Shifted position, walked up the path to a bunch of hollies, laden with
berries. A bird was at them, and as by this time our faith in deer was
growing cool we concluded to take a shot at a robin. Did so. Missed
him—but to our horror and relief he turned out to be a mocking bird!
Walked up the path and found a sluggish bayou with running water
across it. Weren't thirsty, but doubted the wisdom of drinking that
water, and that made us thirsty. Circled around the center of our
clearing. Noted the way the cypresses throw up stumps from the
roots. Saw a big turtle in the bayou. Red birds came about, but no
robins—they are game birds here. Searched the trees for squirrels—
none there. Thought of everything we could recollect—even began
to enumerate our sins—and got into an animated discussion with a
stranger on the negro question, awaking with a start. Shot at a hawk
that roosted on a tree just out of gunshot. Scared him, anyhow.
Finally, when desperate with the task of finding expedients to keep
us awake, we heard a horn blown—or wound?—and not knowing but
that some one might be lost, whistled shrilly in reply. Occasionally a
shot was heard here and there; once in a moon the dogs gave
tongue in the remote distance. Finally one of the boys appeared,
then the old uncle, and the rest came stringing in. One had seen a
deer but did not get a shot at it. So we took up the line of march for
the river, where the launch returned us to the cabin boat. And so
ended our first deer hunt.
We have now been at it a week, and several of the boys have had
shots at the animals, but no horns decorate our boat, nor does
venison fill our craving stomachs. There are deer here, their
evidences are as plain as those of sheep in a pasture. But the only
benefit they have been to us is in the stimulation of the fancy. The
weird and wonderful tales spun by those who have had shots at the
elusive creatures, to account for the continued longevity and activity
of their targets, are worth coming here to hear. Surely never did
deer go through such antics; never did the most expert tumbler in
any circus accomplish such feats of acrobatic skill. The man who
catches flying bullets in his teeth should come down here and
receive instruction from these deer.
We took the Missis and daughter over to Baton Rouge, and installed
them in a huge, old-fashioned room, on Church St., a block from the
postoffice and the leading stores; with a lady of means, who sets an
excellent table, lavishly spread, and with the best of cookery, at a
price that seems nominal to us. The lofty ceilings seem doubly so
after the low deck of the cabin; the big canopied bed of walnut and
quilted silk recalls the east; while violets, camellias, hyacinths and
narcissus blooming in the open air, as well as sweet olive, and the
budding magnolias, make one realize that the frozen north is not a
necessity.
January 23, 1904.—We find Melville a very good place to stay—
supplies plentiful, the people pleasant, and the place safe. The boys
go out for deer every day, but as yet no success has rewarded them.
One day they chased a doe into the river, where two boys caught
her with their hands and slaughtered her. Bah!
The weather has been ideal—warm enough to make a fire
oppressive save nights and mornings—but we are now having a cold
snap, whose severity would make you northern folk, who sit in
comfort over your registers, shiver. We have actually had a white
frost two nights in succession. Fact!
On the shore close by roost at least 100 buzzards. They are
protected and seem aware of it; roosting on the roof of the fish boat
below us. They tell us the sharks come up here so that bathing is
unsafe, and tell queer stories of the voracity and daring of the
alligator gars. The alligator is by no means extinct in Louisiana,
being still found of gigantic size in the bayous.
Little is said here on the negro question, which seems to be settled
so well that no discussion is needed.
Day after day we sit at the typewriter and the work grows fast.
Tomorrow we go to Barrow's convict camp for a shoot, and quite a
lot have gathered, and are waiting till the engine chooses to start.
Every day we have to push the boat from shore or we might be hard
aground in the morning, as we are today. The water fell last night till
it uncovered six feet of mud by the shore. The river is said to be
over 100 feet deep opposite. The bridge is built on iron tubular piers
that seem to be driven down till they strike a stratum capable of
supporting the weight. These are said to be 100 feet deep.

January 24, 1904, we all went down to Capt. Barrow's camp for a
deer hunt, which possessed no features differing from those of the
five preceding. At 4 p. m. we quit, and started on our return. But the
dogs had not come in, so when we got up to the old convict camp
we stopped, and Budd and Jake went back for them. And there we
waited till after 10 p. m. It grew quite cool so that the boys built a
fire. Just on the bluff above us was an old deserted house, about
ready to fall into the river when the banks shall have crumbled away
a little more. We found in it an ancient mahogany four-post
bedstead and a spinning-wheel, an old horn powderhorn, and other
relics of antiquity.
There were our own party of four, Budd and Wally, Thomassen and
his son "Sugar," Mr. Sellers (from one of the Melville stores), and two
negro hunters, Brown and Pinkham—and right worthy men and good
hunters they are. The fire was fed by beams from the old house, and
as its cheerful warmth was felt, the scene would have been a worthy
one for an artist's pencil. The odd stories and ceaseless banter of the
negroes and the boy were enhanced by the curious dialect.
Constantly one blew his horn, and was answered by the party who
were out, or by others; and some one else was blowing for other
lost dogs, so that the woods were musical. An old hound had come
in early, tired out, and when the horns blew he would try to get off,
but was tied; so he would give vent to his discontent in the most
doleful of long-drawn-out howls, like a prolonged note from an owl.
At last boys and hounds came in, and we were home to our boat by
midnight.
Somehow the yoke once worn till thoroughly fitted to the neck,
becomes a part of the bearer; and the best contented of the negroes
were those who held with their old masters. Even the shackles of
civilization become attractive in time—and we have resumed the
reading of a daily paper since we can get it regularly. And we like
the Picayune, finding in its editorials a quiet dignity that we
appreciate, even though we may not agree with the political
sentiments. And there is an air of responsibility about it; a
consciousness that what it says counts, and must therefore be
preceded by due deliberation, that is novel. The local color is also
attractive. For instance the river news, and—the jackstaffs! Now,
don't say you do not know what jackstaffs are. We will not spoil it by
telling. And Lagniappe!
 CHAPTER XXI.

BATON ROUGE—THE PANTHER.

Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 1, 1904.—While you in the North are
wrestling with zero temperatures, we are experiencing what these
folk term terrible winter weather. Men go about with heavy overcoats
buttoned up to the chin, and I saw one the other day with a tall
coonskin cap, with folds down over his neck, and earflaps. An open-
grate fire is comfortable in the mornings and tempers the chill of
night for the little one. Even the Chicago man finds a light overcoat
advisable in the mornings, though with light-weight underwear and
thin outer clothes.
Nevertheless, the violets bloom everywhere, jonquils, polyanthus
narcissus, camellias and sweet olive are in bloom, and the big rose
bushes are covered with leaves and buds that already show the color
of the flower. The grass is green in New Orleans parks, and the
magnolias are budding. Masses of chickweed cover the margins of
drains and several plants of unknown lineage—to the writer—are in
bloom. And this is the weather to which we constantly hear the
epithet "terrible" applied here.
But residents of the North who were raised in Dixie do not freeze.
Exposure to cold brings with it the ability to withstand it, and not
only that but all other morbific influences as well. It increases the
vitality, the power of resisting all noxious powers that threaten the
health and life of man.
But this applies to the sound and well, not to those who already
possess a material lesion of one or more organs. For them this soft,
balmy air, this temperature that permits a maximum of exposure to
the open air, are health-giving, life-prolonging, comfort-securing.
People speak of the sudden changes here—warm today and
tomorrow cold—as objectionable; but so they do everywhere, and
we have found no more changeability than elsewhere. And as to the
rains: When it does rain it pours, but most of it has been at night so
far, and during the day it dries off nicely. It it said that this is the
rainy month, and we may have to modify this view later. So far the
rains have not been a feature worthy of citation, as against the
climate.
Much attention has been given the drinking water of late years in
the riverine cities, and generally they have water on which they
pride themselves. Artesian wells are mostly utilized. The river water
is muddy and unsightly, but probably safe and certainly palatable.
We depend on our Puritan still, and a tripoli filter, and utilize the rain
water we catch in the canvas cover of the launch. No trouble has as
yet affected us from this source; and we are satisfied it pays well to
take precautions.
From St. Louis down the river fairly bristles with opportunities for
men who understand business and have a little capital. But timber
lands are pretty well taken up. An Ohio party paid $100 an acre for
100 acres here in this Atchafalaya country the other day.
The people? Well, we have simply adopted the whole—white—
population, and find them delightful. There has not been a
discordant note in our intercourse with this warm-hearted,
hospitable folk, who unite the courtesy of the French with a sincerity
that makes itself felt every moment.
Dogs! Everyone seems to own hounds here. We had a few runs with
them; they came aboard and inspected us, and after due
deliberation approved of us, took up their home with us and declined
to stay away; so that at night one can scarcely set foot outside the
cabin without stepping on a sleeping hound. Even the women folk
are disarmed when these dogs look up with their big, beautiful eyes
and nuzzle their cold noses into the hand for a caress. One great
fellow reared up against us, placed his paws on our shoulders and
silently studied our face awhile, then dropped to the ground and
henceforth devoted himself to us, never being far from our side. We
felt complimented!
Go out with the gun, and see how these slumberous animals awake
to joyous life and activity. Then the long, musical bay, the ringing of
the hunters' horns, the quick dash of the deer past your stand, with
the dogs after, in full cry—say, brother, these low lands when leveed,
cleared and cultivated, will yield two bales of cotton to the acre, and
with cotton at 15 cents and over, is not that splendid? So shut your
ears against the cry of the wild, and only consider what Progress
means, and how the individual and civic wealth is increasing as
these wild lands are brought under the plow and made productive of
dollars. For is not all of life simply a question of dollars, and success
measurable only in the bank account? So put away from you the
things that make life worth living, and devote yourself with a whole
heart to the task of making your son a millionaire, that he may make
his son a multimillionaire, and so on. It will do you so much good in
the Great Beyond to know this. That the money for which we give
up all that renders life enjoyable will either render our descendants
dissipated and useless, or enable them to oppress their fellowmen,
need not be considered. Money is all there is in life.
The wife, daughter and Doctor are domiciled at Baton Rouge, while
the boys took the boats down to Alabama Bayou for a week with the
big game. Here is the small boy's report, verbatim:
Dear Mama and Papa: You talk about us not sending you any
venison. If I had any money I would send you enough to make you
sick. I went hunting with the boys this morning. Jim, Hudson and I
went together. Bud drove with the dogs. Jake and Frank went
together. Frank took his shotgun and he got lost from Jake, went to
shooting robins. Jake got on an island and did not know where he
got on at. He had to wade a stream two feet deep. After we had
been looking for a stand we heard a shot behind us, and then a rifle
shot to the right of us, and three blows of Bud's horn, which means
dead deer. Jake was the first one to him, being only 300 yards. We
walked two and one-half miles before we got to him. When we got
there he had a big doe laying over a log. Bud drew him and they
took turns carrying him home. Every tooth in my head aches from
chewing venison. How are all of you? I waded about 30 ditches
today over my shoe tops and one over my knees. Bud said if I
followed the dogs with him he would give me first shot, and if I
missed he would get him. Millie made me a belt to fit the rifle
cartridges. I christened my axe in deer blood. Bud said Queen was
10 feet behind it, King 20 feet and Diamond ran up and threw the
deer after it was shot. Then it got up and Diamond got it in the
throat and brought it down. I will have to close as it is time to go to
bed. With love to all,
William.
Not bad for an 11-year-old. Everyone has been complaining of the
terrible weather here—frost three nights last week, and a light
overcoat not oppressive, though it is hardly necessary except for the
tendency one has to put his hands in his pockets otherwise. We
asked one of the natives what they would do in Chicago with zero
weather, and he replied with an air of conviction: "Freeze to death."
We have a nibble for the boat. The river at Memphis is so full of
floating ice that the ferry boats cannot run; and that looks as if we
might not be able to get our boats towed to St. Louis before late
spring—and we want to be free. We note blooming in the open
many violets, polyanthus narcissus, camellias, sweet olive, magnolias
just budding out, and white hyacinths. The grass is putting up green
shoots. Large beds of chickweed are plentiful. The vinca was nipped
by frost last night. Next door is a fine palmetto and the great roses
covering the gallery are full of green leaves and the remains of the
last crop of blossoms, with new buds coming out. What a terrible
winter!
There is a street fair here. These people go about the country and
exhibit wherever they find a town that will pay them, their price here
being, it is said, $2,000 for a week. The Red Men pay them, and
probably the merchants subscribe to it, the business brought to town
compensating them. There are a number of attractions, like a little
splinter broken off the poorest part of Atlantic City. But it gives
something to see and do and talk about, to a town where there is
too little of either for the demand. There are a huge and a dwarf
horse, glass blowers, a human dwarf, contortionist, jubilee singers,
kinetoscope, trained dogs and monkeys, dissolving statue, and of
course the nigger babies and knives to throw at and miss. We have
run against these aggregations all the way down, and they are
evidently becoming a feature of the smaller towns.
Curious place for a State Capital. In our room stands a fine walnut
wardrobe with a door broken open; and there is not a mechanic in
the city who can mend it. Glass is broken, and it remains so; any
quantity of miscellaneous mending and repairing needed, but it
stands. The sunny south is a bit slipshod; the ladies are delightful,
but they do not work their finger ends off cleaning out the last
possibilities of dust and dirt—they leave it to the darkies, who do
what they cannot avoid doing and stop right there.

That our boys are not devoid of descriptive ability—and imagination?

—this chapter, written by Frank, will demonstrate.
"At Melville, on the Atchafalaya, we became acquainted with some
young men who had a fine pack of deer hounds. They also call these
"nigger dogs," because they are employed for trailing convicts who
escape from the camps along the river.
"Early in the morning our hunting party gathered on the levee—the
Doctor, Budd Tell, his brother Wylie, and two uncles, and four of us.
The old men were settlers and hunters of bobcat, deer, panther, bear
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