Raymond S. Spears

“ The Mississippi, itself, has lost none of its taunts to daring spirits, as a river, and it has added countless varieties of venturesome amusement; even savage human nature does not change, but the resources of the mind give the Mississippi today what La Salle himself could never have found. ”

“ The fact is, where once the utter simplicity of life meant hunting, fishing, fighting savages and enduring hardships, including hunger, we have now every opportunity for old-time difficulties, and all the adventures of modern developments. ”

“ River small-boat navigation has had a big jump, owing to the very desperateness of certain types of humanity. The lower Mississippi is probably wilder, hides more lurking desperadoes and criminals, and offers as great experience as ever in its history—counting in actual numbers.
True, the honest and intelligent element is far and away more numerous in proportion. ”