"Her Daughters Are High-Spirited, Good-Humoured, Large-Sized Girls -
Fresh, Natural And Charming.
One of them has a fine face with eyes of
blue, just like those Bradley liked to paint - and the other two are
good looking enough.
They have, however, no conversation - lots of talk
and gossip; much of it, too, amusing and quick witted, but it wants
thought. They all come from Kentucky, where they are now going. Colonel
Stewart is, I think, from Louisiana. He talks little, and does not
interest me. Mr. Stone is a voluble high-spirited Northern man, with
Southern tendencies. He says that the men who started this secession,
and have made it what it is, ought (on both sides) to be hung, and he
'would go home on purpose.' It seems that a house in which he had a
large sum has failed, and, to use a phrase I have heard both Mr.
Preston and himself make use of, the civil war has 'shocked' his
property above one half, i.e. has reduced its value above one
half. They all agree, in fact, that the value of all property has gone
down at least half, a loss, if the nation had to sell up - which it has
not, but has only to 'liquidate' - of a sum greater than required to buy
up all the slaves and set them free. Credit is gone - the faith of the
people in their Government is weakened, and thousands are ruined in
every city in the land.
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