Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1885 — Letter From Little Rock, Ark. [ARTICLE]

Letter From Little Rock, Ark.

Front a Jasper. County School Ma'am. M* Editor: —The Republican ns regularly and its contents are perused with pleasure, as we are always glad to hear from home. 1 understand that you have had an extreme winter. We have also had an unusual winter for this latitude, As for snow, we have had some since the ltith of January, not a flake before, but cannot complain of such blockades as you report, I think at no limo the depth of snow would have measured over four inches, perhaps not that. The principal causes of unpleasant winters here, are the sudden changes. One day may be liky spring, and but. very little, if any fire is needed to make one comfortrble. The next may )>e so cold, the wind so searching, that it seems utterly impossible to keep warm, These changes, aided by the vast amount of rain that falls dutK ing this season of th&year, causes a great deal of sickness, such as diphtheria, pneumonia, rheumatism etc. Although the thermometer never gets to 86 degrees below zero, it goes so much higher in the summer here, than there, that I think the two extremes are equal, and we suffer fully as much with cold.

We were down to the State House to-day, and looked in on the Legislature in session; first, we went into the Hall of Representatives, where we found an assembly composed of ninety-five members, seven of whom - were colored. 1 also learned that twelve were Republicans. From there we went into the Senate Chamber. This body was composed of twenty-three members, one of whom was a Republican. Judging from the short time we were in they seemed very enthusiastic. The principal question in the Representative Hall, during our stay, was the State debt. This state, like most of the southern states, is greatly involved in debt, which accounts for—the- inferior -public buildings^ —bad streets, and no sidewalks, which are some of the things ihut attract the attention of tl»e northerner on his first arrival in the Capital, especially if its a muddy time. Our school, Philander Smith College, is progressing finely, under the supervision of Prof. T. Mason. Our present enrollment is nearly two hundred, .here are only four teachers as yet, but we hope the time is not far distant, when we shall have additions to both building and faculty, which are very necessary to accommodate the growth, and to securo the success ot the school. Tnis is a good work; one that needs and ought to be done; but it is made very hard, by the prejudice of the people.

ANNA DESELMS.