Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-07
From ChicOt County.
Lake NNage, Ark., July 2, 185

MR EDIToR-Ine blank vlSageS that have so long been the portion of our planting friends in this vicinity, have at length been changed to tosomething like their accustomed good humor. by the copious showers that have been gently distilled during the last few days. Many were the doubts entertained by the initiated as to whether we should have fourth of cotton crop and, indeed, their ominous looks seemed to have "more truth than poety'' about them during the months of May and June for cer- tainly within the recollection of the "oldest in- habitant," such weather was never seen in this portion of the world. In the place of spring reclining in the lap of winter it has been sum- mer coqueting with clustering old Boreas, un- til the genial ife-current shrunk back from the tendrls of the vegetable world, and the dusky hue of autumn hung like a pail upon the face of our forest verdure. Even here upon the bank of our beautiful lake, that bears the eu- phoneous appellation of Old River, where joyous spring has always greeted us with her cheering smiles, and has studded our green sward with flowers, those day stars of the earth, that blending with the stars, the soft night-fowers of the sky, forming panaroma that makes every southern home attractive du- ring Mays gay advent, has been robbed of her accustomed jewels and long had we to look for those refreshing tokens of awakening vitality that spring is usually so prohgate in bestowing. But although we have passed through this severe ordeal, and have allowed hopes and fears to take alternate possession of our minds yet were you to visit us now when our cotton blooms are beginning to shed their rich fragrance upon the air, and the tasseing corn undulates with clustering honors to the morning breeze, you would suppose that we at least had escaped the misfortunes that have been visited upon our southern sphere If we spared the blighting influence of worms and rust, this summer, we may safely hope to make an average yield of cotton and corn; which will not only place our farmers on a square footing with the commercial world, but leave them fair balance to invest in real or personal property.
 Owing to the establishment of general and available system of levee taxation, the lands that have heretofore been dead weight upon the county, are commanding fair prices for the dis poser and are giving such general satisfaction that purchasers are induced to remove their ef- fects from the olden States, and open large and valuable plantations among us. So rapid ly have lands been taken up during the past eight months, that it is with difficulty that pur- chasers can be accommodated with the requisite amount of acres in body.
 had the satisfaction of attending Masonic celebration on the 24th ult., and was much gratitied to see the large number of settlers who have cast their lots among us during the past season. The celebration Was handsomely gotten up well conducted and fully attended. MT. Henry Hays of the Chicot bar, delivered beautiful and appropriate eUlosy on the or der of the mystic tie, after which the audience was regaled with sumptuouS repast that did honor 10 the order, and to the good feelings of the citizens. Certainly no one who partook of the viauds and shared the hospitality of the planters, can fail to cherish the occasion with grateful remembrance. From the good feel ing that universally prevailed, l am satisfied that democracy was the ruling genius of the day. and very much question if our talented and patriotic citizen, the Hon. R. w Johnson can find place in our little democratic State where he can spend few idle hours more pleasantly than in the precincts of Chcot county. ARKANSO