Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1904 — FROM “OLE VIRGINNY.” [ARTICLE]

FROM “OLE VIRGINNY.”

From a business and personal letter from J. F, M*j >r, now of Loudon, Virginia, to Caps. R. W. Marshall, of our city, ind handed us for the purpose we extract the following interesting remarks about that venerable and historic region: You may say to all inquiring friends that we are getting along very nicely and are well satisfied with the change. Tue climate is fine and healthy, we havent been as well iu 20 years as since oom ng here, am on the gi from before sun up and until sun down, sleep like a log and can eat any thing can get between my teeth. Crops of all kinds are reasonaoly good. Tobacco is the money crop but corn and cotton, wheat and oats are all very good. 1 wish you could bo here in the course of a week or two for I know you enjoy good hunting, and we surely could give you the finest quail shooting in the world. They are thicker than “Niggers” at a Baptist Camp meeting. And if you ever saw a colored Baptist Gamp meeting running its full capacity you know that is pretty thick, but quails are really very plenty. Squirrels in abundance coons, opossums and a little later ducks, and geese. There are a few wild turkeys and an occasional deer. The hounds chased a fine large Buck across our cotton field the other Sunday and fun him into the river and while the laws are very strict in regard to killing deer, we had venison for dinner next day. This would be a paradise for game if it was no for The “Niggers” and his innumerable pack of dogs and the only reason it is as as it is, is owing to the vast emount of uncultivated country which has J grown up with underbrush and timber since the war. This affording cover and shelter for all kinds of game. As I walk around the plantation and through the woods can’t help but think, of the people in Indiana, who about this time in the season £have to buy wood, when we have so much going to waste.

Am satisfied we could easily get on our place a thousand cords of the finest Hickory and white oak wood and never touch a standing tree, all down timber perfectly sound and as dry as some of the old bones that walk the streets of Rensselaer. It is absolutely worthless here. We have seven fire places and one stove in our house, and am going to run every one of them full blast this winter. It seenis to me be mighty pleasant to sit before a roaring hickory wood fire knowing that it costs nothing. The "Nigger” he cuts the wood, can get good hand for SB.OO per month. They are here, got to live, better to hire and pay them a little. If you dont they will steal more than that. Must live some how. Give my regard to all enquiring friends and tell them that though a little disfigured, are still in the ring, and if any of them oare to write or want to know anything in particular in regard to this country, would be very glad to bear from them or you at any time and will do my best in answering. Give our special regards to your brother The Editor; shall always have a kindly feeling towards him in bis treatment awarded us in his paper. Being of opposite politics be might have made what was to us a very undesirable job very unpleasant, but during all the time we were in the office there never was an item published reflecting in any manner on the way the business of the office was conducted. Very Truly Yours, John F Major.