The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-03-07
Sketches Of Travel
&C. III

Nothing OF interest occurred on cur Jour |
ney to Princeton. The road was firm pass
ing through gently rolling country, and
boFdered at intervals, by crops Of corn and
cotton, that were truly pleasant to the eve.
Made the trip in one and a half hours. In
the bosom Of a trave'er in Tennessee. or anv
other Of the Mississippi States. where
towns and villages are so numerous, the en-
trance into such a place as Princeton would
not excite other than ordinary emotions, but,
as 1t was with me, this little town awoke
feelings that were source Of no little com
fort. After leaving the river, my first tray
cling experience in Arkansas confirmed i'm
pFessions that I bad long received Of the
"iidness. isolation and rudeness Of this
country, but now began to see that those
Impressions were not correct in respect to
every portion of it. It was as though /
had passed.out Of the shades of night into a
rosy twilight that was Frightening into per-
feet day Princeton is at the vortex Of a
scaieEe triangle, the base Of which extends
from Akadelphiato Pine Bluff, and is spread
out on an undulating plain, environed by
extensive tracts Of oak and pine forest The
town is laid out in the form Of a very irreg-
ular circle, circumscribed about a rectagle,
IN the centre Of which is a very nice court
house. Around thisis the business portion
of the town. saw no brick buildings here.
The incest residences, which are small have
suburban locality. The hotel to which I
was dricen was far from being inferior Its
exterior appearance was agreeable De
scending from the coach was ushered into
room, beautifully earpeted, lastly adorned
with paintings, etc, and was nicely fur
nished in every way. 1t contained library,
the superior to which have not seen since
left the halls of my Alma Mater Besides
these attractions charming young maiden
was seated at the piano, warbling one Of the
most exquisite ballads of the day, and what
was particularly gratifying she did not
seem to be at all disconnected by the en-
trance of the Tennessee hoosier. After
twilight ! sauntered forth to get night
view Of the town The moon held bril-
liant leyee in her blue-domed palace and
her starry courtiers moved around in re-
spectful dignity. Down through the jessa
mines that clambered in fragrant festoons
DER the trelis work, she seemed to send the
brightest of her messengers. The soft
signing of the zephyr seemed to be the
melody Of the air as it glided through the
moonbeams. Far and near a veil of mel
low radiance hung over the smiling face Of
nature. As I passed along through this
scene Of nocturnal glory, / caught sight of
an oriental star, that, but one short year ago
was the subject Of remark among group
gathered in a rose eneircled cottage of the
Old North State. Mother, sister, brothers,
q happy assemblage, now scattered probably
forever. One tolls where the soft breezes
of the Gulf sigh him merry roundelay,
while he lies on his rancho, and looking up
to the bending sky, thinks of the happy
home Of his childhood. Another roams
over the hills Of Virginia's beautiful Daw 3
others repose among the majestic pines of
Carolina, and sbe-the dearest, best Of all
on earth-the focus where meet the warmest
ravs of affection from all these different
spots-bends daily beneath Carolina sky
to invoke the blessing Of God on her scat
tered oifsp ring. But / must cease my dream
ing. open q gate pass through, and am
disturbed in my reverie by the magisterial
command of some one behind me, Don't
shut that gate sir" / turned and saw that
it proceeded from a Yankee. The whole
wrath Of four years war concentrated in
nv bosom for a moment and | seriously
contemplated re enaetng, in miniature, the
bloody scenes Of Richmond. But 81 beg
yonr pardon, sir cooled me down to the
proper temperature lie had mistaken me
for one Of his su5ordinates This occur
renee turned the current of my thoughts
I recalled the time when President Lincoln
ordered the Southern people not to shut she
gate. To wiat2 To oppression, to famine
70 penurv 20 pain, toignoranee, 70 disgrace
They refused to obey him. but in spite oil
their endeayor he thrust it open, Now, be-
hold the nerciless form Of ruin overshad-
owing the land, and peeking like a7pltpre
at the very vitals of a once glorious govern
ment Now the South must beg pardon.
It is the North that shou.,' do that
Engrossed with such tumble Of rehec,
tions IS the above, l of course could not see
muel, of Princeton By moonlight. but on re-
entering my hotel ] was informed that it
was place s. about two thousand inhabi-
tants, bad TIVE aolirishing schools male
and female, several churches, and net a
tippling shop. The mercantile business was
quite active, but money was q comparative
stranger in those parts The business ope-
ra.ions we're all based on hopes of the forth
coming cotton crop. What has transpired
since confirms Us in the belief that the com
mercial world is shrouded in Cimmerian
darkness. thas fhe most sagaeious and pene-
trating Judgment has no power to pierce.
Turning about ID the room the magnetic
power of the library comp letely oFereame
all nv Efforts at resistance, and saw works
tbat rarely ever see IN this part Of enlight-
? : % md lngTl-