They talk of hogs, and the crops . They are prone to thrust
themselves forwards in verbose, dreary talk, with what they
think , what they should have done in such a case. I don t
know one great name sprung from the clod-hopping fraternity.
A gentleman-farmer, one who reads, thinks, and is of good
stock is one of the finest fellows in the world; but your e
clods are more tolerable & not to be endured than the
city-fast man or keen-witted mechanic, spite of all their vices.
4. Tuesday. Down to the town, to get the horse rough
shod, &c after packing up & adieus at the house. At
about noon off with Heylyn in the cutter, (or little sleigh,)
for West Bergen & Mr Hall s. Not much snow having
fallen, our progress was somewhat difficult. We were icy
cold, spite of the buffalo-skins, and ere long my beard &
moustache were covered with ice. Country all bare &
wintry, tall trees starting up from congealed snow fields,
no sound even of axe to be heard; only our own sleigh
bells. Arrived at Halls, we met Homer on the road,
sitting behind a team & jogging on to his own house. A few
words passed, and we then went to the house. Old Mr
Hall proved to be in Canada, having been there some three
weeks or more, but was daily expected home. Talk
with them all, & with Homer, who soon came in. Now
| Page |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Five: page one hundred and twenty-four |
| Description: | Gives his thoughts on country folks. |
| Date: | 1853-01-03 |
| Subject: | Gunn, Thomas Butler; Hall, Elisha; Hall, Homer; Heylyn, Edward; Horses; Travel; Winter |
| Coverage (City/State): | [Le Roy, New York]; West Bergen, [New York] |
| Scan Date: | 2011-02-07 |
| Volume |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Five |
| Description: | Includes descriptions of Gunn looking for drawing and writing work among New York publishers, witnessing a fire at a chocolate factory, attending a religious camp meeting, his friendship with Lotty Whytal, the 1852 presidential election, a visit to Niagara Falls in the winter, a visit to Toronto, Canada, and the Crystal Palace in New York. |
| Subject: | Gunn, Thomas Butler; Railroad; Publishers and publishing; Religion; Travel; Women |
| Coverage (City/State): | New York, New York; Niagara, New York; Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Note: | Thomas Butler Gunn was born February 15, 1826, in Banbury, England, and came to New York in 1849. During the Civil War he worked as a correspondent for the New York Tribune and the New York Evening Post. He returned to England in 1863, and died in Birmingham in April 1903. The collection includes twenty-one volumes of his diaries, including newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, sketches, and various other items inserted by Gunn. Diary entries date from July 7, 1849, to April 7, 1863, and include his experiences with the New York publishing and literary world, his descriptions of boarding houses, his travels throughout the United States, and his experiences traveling with the Federal army as a Civil War correspondent. |
| Publisher: | Missouri History Museum |
| Rights: | Copyright 2011 Missouri History Museum. |
| Source: | Page images, transcriptions, and metadata of the Thomas Butler Gunn diaries have been provided by the Missouri History Museum. |
