 | The western merchant |  |
PREFACE.
The merchants of the West, and particularly of the Far
West, constitute a distinct class of society. This class is
not only important from its numbers, but powerful and influential
from its intelligence, enterprise, and wealth. Whereever
the surges of “manifest destiny” scatter the seeds of
civilization—whether it be in the solemn shade and solitude
of the dark forests bordering the “Mad Missouri,” or
on the interminable prairies beyond the woods—the merchant
or trader is always found in their midst, taking root
among them, “growing with their growth, and strengthening
with their strength.” He is a general locum tenens,
the agent of everybody, and familiar with every transaction
in his neighborhood. He is a counselor without license,
and yet invariably consulted, not only in matters of business,
but in domestic affairs. Parents ask his opinion before
giving their consent to their daughters' marriages; and
he is always invited to the weddings. He furnishes the
nuptial garments for both bride and groom, and his taste
is both consulted and adopted. Every item of news, not
only local, but from a distance,—as he is frequently the
post-master, and the only subscriber to the newspapers,—
has general dissemination from his establishment, as from
a common centre; and thither all resort, at least once a
week, both for goods and for intelligence. Of course the
merchant is indefatigable in his efforts to keep up and increase
affording pleasure to the “greatest number,” the most
pleased himself; for each and all are pretty certain to deposit
with him, sooner or later, all their “loose change.”
Thus it is that western merchants become important
personages in their immediate circles; and as the circles
of these indispensable individuals embrace every populated
league in the West, it is obvious that they must form a
class of paramount importance in all the new states and
territories. Candidates for the state legislature, for Congress,
for Governor, bestow upon them their most gracious
smiles; for they are supposed, and very truly, to possess
considerable influence over the minds of their customers.
So also with the lawyer and the doctor; for they perceive
clearly that the shortest and surest road to popularity and
employment, is by means of the effectual influence of him
who furnishes every description of merchandize which cannot
be produced or manufactured in the neighborhood,
and who is the ultimate recipient of all the money not paid
in at the Land office.
There is a charm in the life of the western merchant,
notwithstanding his privations and perils, which has never
yet been appreciated by the people dwelling east of the
Appalachian mountains. To the young adventurer, it is
not the enviable social position of the merchant in his locality,
which alone constitutes his happiness: this, it is true,
should the profits of his business be equal to his expectations,
and yield an adequate recompense for his exertions,
might still induce him to embark in the enterprise, and
prosecute it to a successful termination. But when it is
taken into consideration that, upon an average, one-fourth
of his life is spent in traveling to and from the east, and that
it is interspersed with novel incidents and agreeable adventures,—similar
merchants we read of in entertaining tales, on the banks of
the Euphrates and the Tigris, journeying to and from Bagdad,
or Nineveh, or Babylon,—no one can fail to draw the
contrast between such a life and that of the unvaried routine
of the city counting-room, which but too seldom affords
its pale and attenuated occupant the time and opportunity
to lave his wearied limbs in the surf at the Capes.
But we have, perhaps, said enough in the way of introduction.
The object of this book is merely to direct attention
to a class of individuals, of whose pursuits and
peculiarities it is the author's purpose to attempt a brief description.
If his narrative—which will have more of truth
than fiction in it—shall simply suffice to entertain the
reader, in place of one of the many vicious productions
now daily hawked about the streets, he will not be altogether
disappointed in his object; for he will have the
satisfaction of not having contributed to corrupt, if he
shall not have succeeded in aiding to improve, the public
taste.
| The western merchant | |