Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-24
For the Reporter.
Letter from the South.
Memphis, Tenn, Feb. lst. lS5S.


Memphis, Tenn, Feb. lst, 1885,
The good steamer Sultana, bound
down, rounded to" and landed us at
this place last evening at dusk, and our
first care, after getting our ,s'dog team
and the rest of our ters;ture safely de-,
posted on the wharf boat, was to seek
for good hotel in central point, well
situated for our engraving business
On enquiry, we found all the best ho. ?
tells full to overflowing, and were obliged
to take up with such fare as we could
find. We were directed to very
quiet, respectable boarding house, as we.
were told; and finally succeeded in
finding the house in question. 1t was
a plain brick structure, built-as nearly,
al southern residences are-considera-
bly, elevated from the ground upon a
basement, which is occupied in common,
for the culinary department, blood
hounds, kennel, and lodging rooms for
the house servants. The house was
kept by a crusty, grabbed, old parson,
who is jointly engaged in the three
honorable (?) and high callings of keep
ing hotel, preaching the gospel, and
raising niggers for market. p. .s.-.-.....-
We were conducted by an old do
mestic, sans cerenaomie, to our rooms,
which proved to be the u,adiyided half
of a small, low, frame building, located
in the back yard. This building was
divided in the centre by a rough parti-
tion-the one part occupied by the
slavc-brceding mothers, and the other
by ourselves and two other lodgers.-
Judging by the incessant squalling of
the yoat,ag people in the other room, one
would think, however respectable the
house might be, it was none of the qui-
etest. After being hu1ed during the
live-long night by the music of squall-
ing niger babies, 1 arose from my bed,
ate a very poor breakfast of tough, half.
cooked, cold beef-steak, and horrible
muddy coffee-paid the miserly old
reprobate two dollars, and started out
to seek better location, or, in case Of
failure, to hail the first steamer that
should appear in sight, to take us ont
of the city. I soon found very good
accommodations at reasonable charges
at the Central House, kept by Mrs. r.
q Son. This is the first place we have
put up at since leaving home where IL
quor is not sold, and there is an air of
quietness and order about the place not
often found in public houses in this
country. ..-.r s.G~ro-rf -..-
These people have few slaves--the
remnant of an estate once extensive in
North Carolina, but now reduced and
scattered by marriage and death to the
few we see here; and it would be we'll
for the owners if the balance of the
thriftless crew were scattered to the
four winds. Uncle Caesar, an old, di-
lapidated, rheumatic negro is the s"sboy''
who s'waits and tends'' about house,
and his wife, Aunt Ann, now behind
her spouse in age or infirlnities, is our
chdmtermdid. eli r.-.s +.taa-..-...-
In this family is an old slave woman
over 100 years Of age. She is quite
smart and does a good many chores
about the house. wss somewhat
amused while in conversation with our
landlady on the subject of slavery. 1
remarked that there was one very aged
slave III the house an old lady," said
|. sold lady!' she repeated, with an
air and tone of astohisl1ment; "why.
she's an oM niger ,eon,a,s. brought
her from Carolina .-. .-y
| shall have good opportunities for :.
studying negro character here, as my
window directly orerlooks the negro
quarters. and yard. rs..sas .fs -;a+
FEB. 2nd.--The weather is delight
tul here-warm as summer-very much
like our April weather north. It is
very dry and the streets dusty can
hardly realize that it is winter. But T.
must close this letter. In nv next T.
will try to give you a slight idea how
Memphis looks-that is, if + can have
an opportunity V to look atrit in the
meantime. u aTe vsH4 feF4 ntrfs.ses,
.-,., Ycnrs truly, g.;