The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-08-27


despotic tyranny.
Pen Pictures Of Nashville.
A letter writer of the New York
Times TINS sketches some notable
points in the "City OF Rocks -
Right opposite Mr.. Berry's, on the
east side of the square, is the South
ern Methodist Publishing House,
This was once famous institution
but looks forlorn and woebegone
enough now. The building is plain
and unpretending, but with ample ca
pacity for carrying on efficiently the
varied operations of the "House''
when i'm the full meridian ofits sue
cess. In that palmy day it had its
Quarterly Review, its House Circle
and Sunday school Visitor, and it,
Nashville Christian Advocate, a W eek,
ly religious paper. Its corps of edi-
tors for the batch, were Rev. Drs. Nc.
Ferrcn, McPier, Somers and Huston,
all vehemently secesh, and of course
all "evanishing amid the storm
which burst upon Nashville on the fall
of Donnelson."
In fact, the Methodist Church South
out Herods Herod in its hatre d
to the Union, and in its fierce
zeal to prop up the Rebellion. The
Publishing House, therefore, its guild
ing and supporting mind departed,
stands as swift, in its gloomy deca-
dence, stood-"a driveler and a
show" It's long rows of books are
there, many Of the volumes being
choice and valuabie-its eight print
ing presses, one of them q cylindri-
cal, half-printed edition of the New
Testament on the .orms-the whole
apparatus for pressing, binding, dc.
remains just as the editors and work
men deserted them. a suit at law to
test the teason of the conductors of
the Advocate, involving, of course,
that of the establishment, is to be had
before the property will be distribu-
ted. The question is interesting, as
its decision must be important. Mean
while the tabooed "House' keeps
open by day, wearing sorrowful arr
that seems to elicit the passer's sym.
pathy. ss
The State house is but four or
FIVE blocks from the square. In leav .
ing the latter bv Cedar street, which
runs directly in front of the Capitol,
you pass the plain brick residence of
Mr.. John Bell, almost adjoining the
Capitol grounds. Mr.. Bell left Nash
vile shortly before the Union troops
occupied it, taking up his abode in
Rome, Ga. living quietly there, Iheard
on best authority, and not mixing
up in any of the rebel communica-
tions. Recently tidings reached his
family of his serious illness, and q
daughter left here to visit her father
under a flag Of truce. have heard
nothing further from him. Mrs. Bell
is lady Of high intelligence and Of
courteous, frank and agreeable man
ners. do not doubt her to be I'm
ion at heart, and opposed strongly
as Mr.. Bellalways professed himself 10
be-to the vagaries and villainies of
secession,
Mrs. Folks residence is in Vine
street, running west by south from the
capitol, and almost as near it as Mrs,
Bells. 1t is substantial though not
elegant brick house, running to the
caves and wide verandah, a very com
mon and pleas'n feature Of houses here.
It stands back from the street, with a
proft,sion of tasteful shrubbery in the
foreground. The monument of Mr..
Polk-his remains lying underneath
it's nearly midway between the
house and the street, to the right of
the main avenue, as you enter from
the latter. There is little about the
monument to conflict with ones ideas
of republican simplicity, except, per-
haps, its great inscription. This re-
counts with great particularly all the
offices, State and national, that Mr..
Polk held, and all the measures as
sociated with his name. There may
be question about the good taste of
this. Mrs. Polk, though understood to
have secession proclivities, is, am
told, the only citizen suffered to re-
main quiet in her home without
taking the oath Of allegiance. The
exemption is the effect of her former
relations, and he must be a morose
Unionist, indeed, who would quarrel
with its proprierty.