The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-13

years. lufpentlne Is one OF the Culel pTo-
ductions ofthe district yet the cost ofwhite
lead and chrome yellow has rendered paint
scarce commodity, and the houses, con-
sequently, all wears dingy, dirty look
Though situated on magnificent bay, q
little below the confluence of three noble
rivers, which drain country Of SURPRISING
richness, and though the center of the finest
ice-growing district in the world, the town
is dead Everything about it wears an air
of delapidation. The few white men you
meet in the streets, or see lounging lazily
around the stores and warehouses, appear
to lack all purpose and energy. Long con.
tact with the aegro has given to them his
shiftless, aimless character.
The ordinance of secession had passed
the legislature short time prior to my visit,
and, as might be expected, the political sit
uation was the all-cngrossing topic ofthought
and conversation. In the estimation of the
whites g'orious future was opening on the
little state. Whether she stood alone, or
was supported by the other slave states, she
would assume a high rank among the nations
of the earth her cotton and rice would draw
tribute from every cline, and when she
spoke creation would tremble. Such over
weenng state pride among such people,
shiftless, indolent and enervated as they are,
strikes a stranger as in the least degree ludi.
crous but when they tell you, in the pres.
ence of the black, whose strong brawry arms
and sinewy frame show that in him lies the
real strength of the state, that this great EN-.
pire is to be built on the shoulders of the
slave, your smile Of incredulty gives way to
an xpression Of pity, and you are tempted
to ask if those snewy machines may not
think, and some day rise, and topple down
the mighty fabric which is to be reared on
their backs /!
Among the peculiar institutions Of the
South, are its inns. do not refer to those
pinchbeck, imitation ST. Nicholas establish
ments which flourish in the large cities, but
to those home made affairs, noted for their
hog and hominy, corn-cake and waff1es,
which crop out here and there in the smaller
towns, the natural growth of southern life
and institutions. A model of its class is the
one at Georgetown. Hog, hominy and corn
cake for breakfast waffles, hog and hominy
for dinner !; and hog, homlny and rn-cake
for supper-and such corn cake, baked in
the ashes of the hearth, plentiful supply Of
the graysh condiment still cinging to it =
is its never-varyng bill Of fare. | endured
this for day, how, has ever since been a
mystery to me, but when night came my ex,
periences were indiscribable Retiring early,
to get the rest needed to fit me for the long
ride of the morrow, | soon realized that
there is no rest for the wicked none, at
least, for sinners at the South. Scarcely had
my head touched the pillow when was be,
sieged by an army Of relocated secession
lists, who set upon me without mercy |
withstood the assault manfuily, till bleeding
at every pore when slowly and sorrowfully
beat retreat. Ten thousand to ore is
greater odds than the gallant Anderson en-.
countered at Sumter. Yet determined not
to abandon the fight. Placing three chairs
in row, mounted upon them, and in that
seemingly impregnable position hurled def
ance at the enemy, in the words of Scott,
Slightly altered to suit the occasion y
Come one. come all, these chairs shall fly
From their Arm base soon as T.
My exu!tation was, however, of short .dura
ton. Soon the persistent foe, scaling my
entrenchments, returned to the assault with
redoubled vigor, and in utter despair final
ly fed. Cropping my may through the hall
and out Of the street door, departed The
Sable Brother-alias the son Of Ham alias
the Image Of God carved in ebony-alias the
Oppressed Type-alias the Contraband-
alias the Irepressible Nigger-alias the
Chattel-aliss the Darky- alias the Cullud
PussoE the Great Cause-alias the
Goose, had informed me that I should find
the Big Bugs at that hotel. l had found
them
The ancient town boasts no public con
veyance, except onehorse gig that takes
the mail IN tri.weckly trips to Charleston
That vehicle, which appeared TO have beer
originally used by some New England doctor
curing the early part Of the past century
l,cI h.,k an, -
the way desired to take, so was forced t.
seek a conveyance at livery stable. Al
the only livery establishment in the place
kept as | learned by a 'cullud pusson,' whc
though slave, owns stud of horses tha
might, among people more moceingly in
clined, yield respectable income, / found
what wanted, light Newark buggy, ane
a spanking gray. Provided with these, ant
a darky driver, who was to accompany mi
to my destination, and return alcne, start
ed. A trip of seventy miles Is something 0
an undertaking in them diggns,' and quit
o crowd gathered around to witness our de
parture, not soul Of whom, | viii wager
will ever hear the rumble OF a stage-coach, O
the whistle ola steam-car, in those sandy
deserted streets.
We soon left the village, and struck |
4 broad open avenue, lined On either side b,
fine old trees, and extending in an air-lin'
for several miles. TWAS skirted by broat
rice fields, and these were dotted here an,
there by large antiquated houses, and littl
] collections Of negro hutS 1t was Mee]