The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-02-22
Sketches Of Travel
10 H.

"a I
tive Of the Monumental city. They were
both nice, clever and aFable gentlemen. To
the Baltimorean and myself, who had never
before seen the elephant in this section
Of country the journey By night over the
rough roads, and through the dense and I
almost continual Arkansas forests, was By /
no means as pleasant as we had imagined it
to be. Before We left home, while antiei- I
pating our journey, Fancy would oftentimes
bear us upon her golden wings to these very
scenes, bat her glittering plumage concealed
all of their repulsiye features, and caused
them to appear inviting in the highest de-
gree Now the gay deceiver had left rs in
the lurch, and we we're slowly and anxiousIy
piodding along q muddy and rooty road, in
the dark, fatigued, hungry and sleepy.
Soon, however, we saw the giimmering Of
light through the interviewer boughs and
aPproaehing the house explained our situa-
ton, but we're Informed that we could not
quarter there for love nor money Again
we took up our reluctant march, all-but the
Notwithstanding no very pious thoughts
Of Arkansas, and we concluded lie would be
very justifable in putting on at least sour
face. Going on several miles farther, we
arrived at another house on the road side
and halted We calculated, halIoal No
answer HaHoai BY this time troop Of
dogs darted out as though they had heard
the d. The noise attracted the atten-
ton of the inmates Of the house, and
Who's dar?' came in imperative accents
from the yard "Trayelers, on our way to
Dallas. Can We stay with you tonight
He hesitated awhile " Well, rather guess
you may if you have the greenback; but
you will have to put up with one bed, for
Sal and her old man arriv this eyenin' and
took tother." We didn't know who Sal was,
but naturally concluded he had two beds for
company, and were highly gratifed at what
we considered the best of luck. Ny roost-
ing place that night was the porch, for GA
examination of the dormitory [ was not
willing to be lowered to level with the
vegetable creation, though It were only for
one night My companions, however, tried
it and made q narrow escape. These woods,
during the war, were infested by the Jay
hawkers, and woe to the plethoric purse
then that happened to be travelling there
abouts. Dark and hideous are the tales
narrated of these robbers by Arkansians
We were informed that at the very place
where VIC lodged that night very respect
able lady was burned alive because she per-
sisted in saying she had no gold.
Having breakfasted and settled our bill
fifty cents each--we were again on the road
by sunrise A pleasant breeze was afoat, a
messenger that bore tone and vigor to our
jaded systems The .cerulean vault above
was without cloud, and bent softly and
tenderly down. The far-east glowed with
the splendor of the advancing king of the
skies. Birds Of tie gayest plumage and
most delightful song, charmed us witt. their.
matin melody. The emerald foliage glitteged
in the borning beam. Our spirits Of course
were light and buoyant. Advancing several
miles we left behind US those lye-eolored
streams, that seem to be the habitations Of
,innumerable chills and fegeFs, and striking
what is called Tulip Ridge, our ears were
soon greeted with the merriment Of waters
that sported away over paths of pebble.
The nature of the soil was changed, and the
roads became more compact and agreeable.
The scenery now resembled that Of Eastern
North Carolina, and home with all its vivid
memories, clustered once again around the
altar of my heart.
The morning hours few rapidly away and
noon found rs at Tulip, situated on the
monster stage line from Little Rock to Cam
den It is q modest Fase. No palatial
mansions, glittering with co3ored panes, or
namented by verandahs and engironed by
parks filed with the music Of jetteans and
waterfalls, feed the ight with their magnif
eenee, buta more tasty Ind palatabie opti7
cal aliment is furnished 70 the Tourist
Snow-white cottages, nesting beneath groves
Of graceful oaks, and surrounded By yards,
tastily ornamented with flowers and shrub
berry, delight the eye Of the passer by. As
we ratted along the grayelly road that
passed through the village, The rosy hand of
summer threw US gifts of loveliest bloom
and sweetest fragrance. The little birds
screened in the shady depths Of the roset
trees twittered US a hearty welcome Loved
ones, never before seen, met as, and dres
us to their afectionate bosoms. The angel
Of love and beauty seemed to haze passed
along and cleft her robe on the.trees and
her breath on the gale. We were delighted
with Tulip. Here, as IN many other places
in the South, the wreck Of prosperity, gayety
and fashion is plainly visible. The inhabi
tants were mostly wealthy planters, who
owned large cotton farms on the Arkansas
river and this wasT considered one Of the
most pleasant and eligible places in the
State. The society, in respect to morals
and intelligence, was as good as could be
found, and the rough hand OF war has not
demeralized it much. Here lives the Rev.
Andrew Hunter, a good and noble man, who
declined nomination to Congress, pre-
ferring to suffer with the people of God