Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1881 — From the Sunny South. [ARTICLE]

From the Sunny South.

Jackson, Miss., May 11, 1881. Editob Republican: “* For one who is a novice in writing, as well as in traveling, it is a difficult matter, during a flying trip, to “get down” to writing anything like an intelligent or interft <ting account of one’s travels. Theresia always so much to be seen, and so little time in which to look, that, really, one can scarcely do anything but look. But as I am detained here nineteen hours, five of which already hare passed in sleep and seven more in looking about the town, will endeavor to write you a few lines, which, if printed, may answer some of the questions that will probably be naked me on my return home. A person not used to traveling of course is apt to miss many, and very likely some of the most imix>rtant items of intesest, during a first trip in a country that is new to him.

When I left Rensselaer, April 27th, you probably are aware that winter then had scarcely left us, and it would be useless for me to attempt to describe the sensations produced by the rapid transition rrom winter to spring and from spring to summer—just such summer as we have at Rensselaer in June—which I found, May 30th, at Magnolia, Miss. At Lafayette, purchased a ticket for S3O to New Orleans, and return, over the C., L. & C. to Cincinnati, thence over the Cincinnati Southern to Chattanooga. As most of your readers are acquainted with the country from Rensselaer to Cincinnati, will say nothing about that,' except that the gradual advancement of spring was plainly noticeable Us we proceeded southward. Between Indianapolis and Cincinnati many fields of wheat were noticed that looked quite promising, and farmers talked with at different points along the route seemed quite cheerful over the prospect of good crops. Cincinnati was reached at 7 p. m., anti, after a good supper at the Gibson House, called on our genial friend, Harry Smith, of the Enquirer, whom we found as wholesouled and entertaining as usual. Went with him to the Grand Opera House, where Mary Anderson was entertaining a fair sized audience very creditably, judging from the enthusiastic applause. After close of theater, bothered Harry for an hour so in his sanctum. Said good bye, and slept. Next morning walked over the Suspension Bridge into Covington, Ky,, and returned, breakfasted, and at 8:50 a. m. was moving southward over the Cincinnati Southern R. R. For some considerable distance into Kentucky this road passes through a rough, rocky portion of country, not very a vailable for agricultural pursuits. Then comes the “Blue Grass” region, which is grandly beautiful this season of the year. Lexington, Nicholasville, Harrodsburg and Danville are some of the principal towns passed in this .portion of Kentucky, all pretty thriving looking places. This Blue Grass region is the -prettiest and best country I have seen south of the Ohio nver. It is similar to, and probably no better than the Blue Grass portion of Indiana, such as Vigo, Putman, Owen, Clay and other counties. Also much of the southwestern portion of Ohio is equal to, and probably surpasses it in beauty as well as productiveness of soil

The wheat crop in Kentucky and Tennessee for some reason does not look ns well as in Southern Indiana and Ohio. It is badly winter killed. Some fields, however, looked very fine indeed. Sigh Bridge over the Kentucky river, 100 miles south of Cincinnati, is 287 feet above the water, and about 300 feet in length. We stood on the rear platform of the train while passing over it and bad a good new of the scenery, which is grand beyond description. Would be a fine field for a stereoscopic artist. Talked with a number of farmers and other citizens of thia portion of Kentucky, most of whom are well contented and inclined to “accept the situation,” except as it can be changed by peaceable means. Very high prices are asked for land here, but not much welting. One man was on the train who had just sold his farm 1 of 120 acres near Danville for 8125 per acre, cash. He felt so elated with so much money in his pocket that he hardly knew what he was about Talked of going to western Texas or Arkansaa, where he could have “a wider range, moore room to expand,” as he expressed it. After passing Danville a few miles the country becomes hilly and mountainous, and continues so all the way to Chattanooga. Twenty-seven tunnels were passed between High Bridge and Chattanooga. some of them of pretty good length. A party of Swiss emigrants left the train at Danville Junction, bound for the eastern Kentucky hills, where they intend starting a colony and engaging in grape culture. The English colony of Rugby is missed by the railroad and hence did not see it. It is some five miles west of the railroad. At Point Burnside, half way between Cincinnati and Chattannogß, the train takes dinner. Here there is quite an. extensive eoal mine started; also- lumber mart. Tan bark also has lately, become, quite an extensive product of this mountainous region. Here we- began to find some varieties of trees in full leaf, and the white dogwood in bloom, and the scenery all along the route was very beautiful to look upon, and, added to the song of the mocking bird, which was ever heard

among the trees and bushes, made the journey very pleasant indeed. Chattanooga was reached at 10 p. and as we only remained there till 9 a. m. the following morning, had not much opportunity to look around the town. It norma to be a thriving, lively business place, and was tola by citizens that it is rapidly improving in population and wraith. Thai moat of the landmarks of the war Lal disappeared, and that the war had ceased to be atopic pf conversation exoept on special occasions.,' Had , many pleasant conversations with persons who had been in the southern army, and found very few who talked very enthusiastically of the southern cause.

From Chattanooga to Meridian, via Alabama Great Southern, which winds around under the base of Point Lookout, thence down a narrow valley between Lookout Mountain on the left and Sand Mountain on the right, the former extending 87 miles to Attalla, Alabama, one continuous mountain, almost without a break, and is said to be full of fine coal, and mines are beginning to be opened at different points and the coal taken out in large quantities. Sand Mountain is much more broken than Lpokpnt and extends much farther— almost tb,Tusealoosa. It is full of iron ore of very good quality, which is (being taken out at different points and shipped. At (itohn ingham, Ala., there are quite extensive blast furnaces, foundries and machine shops, which employ many men, and it is the most thriving town I have seen south of Chattanooga, except New Orleans. Meridian is about the same as in war times. Very little improvement since then. From here to Jackson was passed in the night and sleep, and no notice taken of the country. Breakfast at Jackson, and thence to Magnolia, which was reached about 2p. m. The country along the route being mostly pine forests and very monotonous, not good for much, except the pine timber, which is now being harvested by enterprising Yankees. At Magnolia I found Bro. Geo. Sigler and his brother John, 61! Porter county, and their families, with whom I had a pleasant sojourn for a few days. Went fishing in the Little and Big Tangipahoa with indifferent success. Magnolia is a very pretty little town, situated on a beautiful slope fronting the Little Tangipahoa, and is said to be a very healthy locality. It is the only town in that region of country that the Yellow fever has been unable do find. By proper attention it could be made a very beautiful and attractive resort.

May 6th, went down to New Orleans and remained until the evening of the 10th. The Siglers came down on Sunday evening, and on Monday and Tuesday we together looked aliom the city. Visited the parks on Lake Pontchartrain. Was shown through the United States mint and saw how silver bullion is changed into silver dollars very rapidly. Visited other places of interest, but left many places unseen for wapt of time. Had a peal pleasant time taken all together and would have been pleased to stay longer in the city if circumstances would have permitted. Almost forgot to mention that I went down and visited the Old Parrish Prison, where the writer was detained a prisoner of war for some four monlhs during the winter of 1861-2. Found the identical cell, No. 4, where we used to lie on our backs and tell stories and sing and declaim, and quote Shakespeare, and whittle out Done jewelry, and do many other things to while away the time until the voice of Dominique Ormea would sing out, “Soup, ho! Here, you fellah, from call numbah foah! Come and get your sheah!" The prison has changed very little since that time, and the sight of No. 4 brought vividly to mind many of the incidents of our sojourn there. The people of New Orleans, most of them at least, appear to be better reconciled and accept the results of the war with better grace than of any other locality I have visited. Many ol them are in favor of a grand reunion and general make up and hand-shaking, and we think the time is not far distant when there will be general good fellowship between the North and the South.

Tuesday evening, May 10th, we left the city for the North, and at midnight I stopped here, the Sigler’s continuing oh to Cairo and homeward. Was sorry to leave them, as their company was very pleasant, but as my journey from here lies in a different route from theirs, couldn’t do otherwise. i Jackson doies seem tqghave grown or improved much Binds the war. is quite a pretty little town, nicely situated on the Pearl river, but is not a very lively business place. Have visited the state house, the penitentiary, the ice factory, and such other places of interest as could find, and scribbled you these lines, and if you find anything in tl\em worthy, you may print such portion as you choose. • At 9p. m. I leave for Meridian, thence to Chattanooga and homeward, where I expect to be ih a week or ten days, and if this should prove interesting enough to print I may at another time give you some-

thing further. . Yours,etc. f

JAY.

Fbom ths Hrß.—There is pern, haps no tonic offered to the people that possesses sspjuch real intriiiskj value as the Hop Bitters. Just at this season of the year, when the stomach needs an appetizer, or the blood needs purifying, the cheapest Mid best remedy is Hop Bitters. An ounce of prevention » worth a pound of cure; don’t wait until you are prostrated by a disease that may take months for you to recover in. —{Boston Globe. Sure Cure for Bad Dreams.— Take off your foolish noodle nighte and lock it up hm one of Warner A Sous’ rofrigoratora.