Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1900 — From Judge Thompson’s Party. [ARTICLE]

From Judge Thompson’s Party.

A Breeze From the Southland. There is a notioeable difference in the scenery and products of the two Carolinas. From Asheville there is a gradual ascent until we reach Saluda, on the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains, when the slope downard is very steep. The track winds around the mountains, jmd frequently the engine of one’s 'own train is visible, as the curves are so short. On the south side of the watershed, we began to see cotton fields, which are large in extent, as the country is more level. As we entered Spartanburg SC. we saw the large factories surrounded by clusters of houses built for the mill hands. From the gin, the cotton is sent to the mills and goes through various stages until it becomes cloth, ready to be printed into calico in the noith.

there is a difference in the climate, for in S. C. we found warm September weather and saw several rose bushes in bud, but as Asheville is of higher altitude it is much cooler, here. In Spartanburg there are many of the old fashioned Southern mansions, for Northern have not favored the people so much. Both Asheville and Spartanburg have'pflblie squares with a monument in the center. In the North Carolinian town, Senator Vance is the patron and in the South Carolinian, is the statute of General Morgan of Revolutionary fame. In Asheville the Market law is v < strictly enforced, which provides that vegetables and meats shall not be sold within a quarter of a mile of the market place. The .Dispensary law is enforced in Spartanburg, so we did not notice the signs of the saloonkeepers. Here the tobacco ware house is an interesting place for Northern people but in Spartanburg the cotton mills are the leading attraction. Christmas in the Sputh resembles somewhat our Fourth of July, for here we have fireworks displays and crackers and they form a leading part of the window decorations. We Northerners hailed a slight snow storm with delight but the few flakes soon disappeared under the warm rays of the sun. Christmas g/eens are very abundant and here holly and mistletoe are no luxury. Christmas, Dec. 25, 1899. Asheville, N. C. *