from the wrath to come, and seek refuge in the ark of safety. The people become worked up to the highest pitch of excitement. One after another would rise, and go forward to the "mourning bench." This was an inclosed space immediately in front of the pulpit, and strewn plentifully with straw. Upon this straw, men and women would throw themselves indiscriminately, and roll about in paroxysms of excitement. The loud tones of the preacher's voice would now be mingled with shouts of Amen! Glory to God! Hallelujah! &c., from the congregation; and with groans and cries from the persons in the straw. When the latter fancied that they had "got religion," as they expressed it, they would leap up, dance about, throw up their hats, shout and sing, embrace each other, and go through other antics equally ridiculous.

It may well be doubted whether any permanent good ever resulted from these meetings. The excitement quickly vanished, and the feelings to which it gave rise soon disappeared. The meetings, however, served to give to the preachers of the Methodist denomination a power and consequence among the people not enjoyed by the ministers of any other sect. As new villages sprang up, and as the towns increased in size, the Methodists began to build churches; and as these increased in number, camp-meetings began to decline, and were held less frequently.

The early Methodist preachers were, for the most part, illiterate men, who passed six days of the week in secular labor. They were unsparing in the ridicule which they cast upon the ministers of other sects, who began to come into the State about the year 1837. They

spoke of them in the most contemptuous manner, and said they had brought with them barrels of old sermons that had been preached a hundred years ago. It is much to be regretted that few authentic reports exist of the sermons preached by these pioneer preachers. One extract, however, has been handed down to posterity, the authenticity of which was beyond dispute. The preacher was addressing a congregation which had become somewhat sleepy, and in order to waken them up he used the following language:

"I would ask you a strange question. Who is the most diligent man in the whole country; that surpasseth all the rest in doing of his office? I can tell, for I know him, who it is. I know him well. But now I think I see you listening and hearkening that I should name him. There is one that surpasseth all others, and is the most diligent man in all the West. And will you know who it is? It is not you, Brother Watson, nor you, Farmer Hodge, nor is it honest John Thompson the blacksmith. It is the devil! Among all the pack of you, the devil is the man for my money, for he fulfilleth his business. Therefore, ye idle men and women, learn of the devil to be diligent in your office. If ye will not learn of God, for shame's sake learn of the devil."

The amusements of the people were for the most part of a nature to develop the physical more than the intellectual qualities. Hunting was pursued with avidity, both for the sport and game it afforded, as well as from the necessity of clearing the State of troublesome wild animals. The custom of collecting at the shop of the village blacksmith, and pitching quoits or

horseshoes, promised at one time to become a popular amusement, but happily it was frowned down, and never got much into vogue. It was justly regarded as an idle and unprofitable waste of time. In the winter time, sleighing parties and dancing parties were much in vogue among the inhabitants. These innocent and healthful amusements were the means of bringing together the young people for miles around, and of promoting refinement and good manners. The music for the dancing was furnished by the fiddles played by negro slaves. Senator Douglas and Lyman Trumbull, when young men, frequently danced at these parties, to the music played by these slaves.

Military trainings were kept up in the ancient fashion till as late a period as the year 1838, and in some counties in the State, for some years later. These “trainings," were little more than assemblages of all the able-bodied men in the community, required by law to be made on two days in the year. It was the design of the law that the men should be "trained" on those days in the use of arms, and in military evolutions. But this design was completely defeated by the ignorance of the officers themselves in regard to military matters, and by the lack of arms. Thus the only use in these "trainings" was in keeping up the enrolment of the men able to perform military duty. For all other purposes, these trainings were the broadest farces. The field and staff officers (!!) pranced about on fiery, untamed plough-horses, gorgeous in tinsel, feathers, and fancy uniforms. The men wore their common clothes. Those who had guns or rifles brought them, but these were less than half of the whole number.

The rest actually carried wooden guns, sticks, and even corn-stalks. Some carried umbrellas; and if the sun was hot or the day rainy, did not scruple to raise them in the ranks. The "officers" made a show of instructing the men in the manual exercise, and in marching; -but the instruction did not amount to much. Those who had rifles were usually good marksman; but all the others were the veriest rabble. It will be remembered that we are speaking now of the period between 1835 and 1840, during which time most of the settlers in Illinois came there without arms, because there was little or no use for them. Those who lived in the State in 1831-2, at the time of the Black Hawk War, were well armed, and made excellent soldiers. And by the year 1840 volunteer military companies began to be formed in various parts of the State, and as these were uniformed, and arms furnished to them by the government, the ridiculous features of the trainings soon began to disappear. It may be mentioned here, though greatly in anticipation of the order of time, that the great improvements in fire-arms that were introduced in 1858, did not find their way to Illinois till the close of the year 1860, when the Chicago Light Guard were supplied with the Minie musket.

CHAPTER XXIII.

CONDITION OF THE WESTERN COUNTRY BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF RAILROADS: CONTINUED.

PREVIOUS to the adoption of the system of Public Schools, during the administration of Gov. Mattison in 1853, no adequate provision was made for the education of the rising generation. The schools throughout the State were generally under the District School system of the older States. The teachers were usually young gentlemen from the Eastern States, who had come to the west with the ultimate intention of practising law, but who were willing to devote a few months or a year or two, to teaching school. They were generally well educated and honorable, and made excellent teachers. The custom of the teacher "boarding around" prevailed to some extent. In other localities, the teacher was engaged by the trustees of the district for a certain stipulated sum, and was then at liberty to engage board for himself at any house convenient to the scene of his labors. The schoolhouses were almost invariably built of logs, and if they kept out the rain and the cold, they were thought sufficiently comfortable. The seats were made of logs split in two, and the desks were similarly constructed, both being supported by stakes set in auger holes. Boys and girls attended these schools together. The studies pursued