ermed "crack"
boats, and both the "Belle" and her rival came under that category.
Both were of the first-class in size and magnificence of fitting; both
ran in the same "trade," that is, from New Orleans to Saint Louis; and
both were commanded by well-known and popular river "captains." They
could not be otherwise than rivals; and this feeling was shared in by
the crews of both, from captain to cabin-slave.

As regards the owners and officers in such cases, there is a substantial
_money motive_ at the bottom of this rivalry. The boat that "whips" in
one of these races, wins also the future patronage of the public. The
"fast boat" becomes the fashionable boat, and is ever afterwards sure of
a strong list of passengers at a high rate of fare--for there is this
peculiarity among Americans: many of them will spend their last dollar
to be able to say at the end of his journey that he came upon the
fashionable boat, just as in England you find many people desirous of
making it known that they travelled "first-class." Snobbery is peculiar
to no country--it appears to be universal.

With regard to the contemplated trial of speed between the "Belle of the
West" and the "Magnolia," the feeling of rivalry pervaded not only the
crews of both boats, but I soon discovered that the passengers were
affected with it. Most of these seemed as eager for the race as an
English blackleg for the Derby. Some no doubt looked forward to the
sport and excitement, but I soon perceived that the greater number were
betting upon the result!

"The Belle's boun' to win!" cried a gold-studded vulgar-looking fellow
at my shoulder. "I'll go twenty dollars on the Belle. Will you bet,
stranger?"

"No," I replied, somewhat angrily, as the fellow had taken a liberty by
laying his hand on my shoulder.

"Well," retorted he, "jest as you like 'bout that;" and addressing
himself to some one else he continued, "the Belle's the conquering boat
for twenty dollars! Twenty dollars on the Belle!"

I confess I had no very pleasant reflections at that moment. It was my
first trip upon an American steamboat, and my memory was brimful of
stories of "boiler burstings", "snaggings", "blowings up," and boats on
fire. I had heard that these races not infrequently resulted in one or
other of the above-named catastrophes, and I had reason to know that my
information was correct.

Many of the passengers--the more sober and respectable ones--shared my
feelings;