The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1844-08-10

with the early history ofsoms little town in the
le noghborhOOd, or of which they have been cit
sr gems. They will remember too the high sounC
Il ing terms, in which, the advertisements Of III
J. proprietoFs were clothed, the artful promise
/ hslden out by Spectators, to decoy into Oh
, purchase of their TOWN LOTS, industriou
d and honest men, many OF whom, being strangers
o were deluded into an investment OF their littl
means, believing they were making that invest
{ ment in an embryo city, soon to outstrip New
York or New Orleans. And they will remembe
too, with melancholy, that many poor and use
fu. men, by the tricks, articles, and machina.
tons Ofspeoulating town makers, have been re.
duced from life Of promise and sobriety, Ia
one Of misery and loathsomeness. But we will
not preach homily on the subject, our purpose
being simply to give, briefly, few facts, as they
were exhibited during the first days Of our town,
COLUMBIA. For this detail we are indebted to
a gentleman, who for some years has been pro-
fessionally engaged in our village.
In preparing the scite Of the town, Il was ne
cessary to remove from the front, many very
large cypress trees, which'were cut With as much
care as possible, leaving smooth surface TO the
stump buildings were commemorative axe of
the woodman, and carpenters hammer contin-
ually resOunded thrO' the forest-the lazy team.
ster, almost night and day, might be heard, as
with curses and the whip, he forced the slow OK
en- 10 the performance of their IabOur, or with
oaths andvociferatiOns compelled some worn out |
horse, with his draft, through the stubborn mud.
In short time a few Of the most important |
houses were erected-tavern, front,room Of
grocery, &c. About this time our friend, (thro'
the advice Of friends) visited our town, for che
prosecution Of his profession, and was landed
from a steamer, just preceding midnight. Before
reaching the town. he was no less surprise at the
number of lights which were presented, than at
their seeming Notwithstanding more the
fires of an Indian encampment, than the regu.
larty Of town. However, soon after his dis
cmbarcation the mystery or confusion was soon
explained.
On one Ofthe stumps above mentioned was
chWck-G luck board, the presiding genius over
which was, stout red-haired chap, (whose ma
sal organ had suffered no inconsiderable reduce
ton in recent 6ght) administering to the ga
ming appetite Of as many, as the stump would
accommodate; near by, Faro was displayed on
| larger stump, with the green cloth, dealing box
ind box, whilst the dealer and. ''look. Out' smo-
Led their segars with as much air, as ''gentIe- c
men OF the cloth" would have done in the gay
,st sporting saloon in Orleans; put little dis 4
ance further the accommodation for sporting :
Gentlemen were greatly improved-he here found ;
party at ''old sledge" occupying the end of
arpenter's table, friend holding candle with
ne hand, and bottle in the other; the first he
,as compelled TO hold in the absence of a stick,
be latter, because if he sat it down it would not
lex. To the games Of FIVE COINS, and the dis
ltes as TO theaEpreliminaries Of some quarter u
zee he paid but little attention, having seen q p
for the first visit, &c. 1t is true that al
IT few had sought lodgings near some of the pa
Orting stumps, taking advantage Of the musqui. m
es, which were TO some extent driven away by ca
q smoke from the. torches. Now and then or
int would for short time interfere with the M
arrest game, unless large pGratee was running, an
hen betters and FOUNDERS, would watch the fate Fc
the cOmbatants, however, would perform their be
lty, each casting adrOitly his own torch SO as ca
blind the adversary OF his friend. oil
In SHIRT time, the town had much advanced, VIC
ID general melioration Of society effected. A oil
rye Ball was determined upon-managers APP aw
OF invitation issued-all the re-
ual preparations for the supper made, &c. The
ening of the grand melee came on, and with DIS
some three hundred "ladies, gentlemen and DO
ildrsn," arTayed respectively in their most ap
rgeous habiliments for their 6rst entree at a TN
'urt Ball. Two old negroes, who were indiE 90
ent az to the attuning Of their instruments, toE
endeaVOred TO rival each other in their elbow sec
1lence, and rapid execution, furnished the mu. on
(which was responded 10 by the fee. Of some ma
'ty couple at time. During the festivities, 'e'
ch Of the more staid Of the gentlemen who
IRE not disposed 'tO "trip the light fantastic W
." retired to the s;umps' there to indulge in the
mes Of poker, &c. Sc. The supper was an the
uneed at the usual time upon such occasions, ny
d superabundanee was served up 10 the thi
ests-the ladies having taken their tea, the a c
atlemen were ushered in. One Of the com a 3
ny asked another at The head Of the table for hui
eg Of the turkey,-the carver, seized the fowl in
leg and the neck, tore Off the desired part =
d pitched il some ten feet into the plate Of the
Ter party, at the sane time asking ii he would -.
have some Of the dressing. His manner Of -,
wing the dressing was no less ready, than his
Vins-aS be grasped handful and threw il ~.
near the plate OF The person in want, as pos- -,