The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-30
Letter from Tennessee.
Correspondence Ottawa Free Trader.
PARIS, TENN,

correspondence OtssWA rree lfhuer.
PARIS, TENN,
Is town of some 1000 inhabitants, and the
county seat Of Henry county, county which,
previous to the late little unpleasantness, was
uneIcelled in wealth and prosperity. 1t is noted
as the home Of Ex-Governor Isham p Harris.
But grim-visagcd war played sad havoc here
about, and many years will elapse before it re-
gains its once prosperous condition. The Lou
q Memphis r. r. touches here, distance to the
latter place 151 miles. Several cotton factor
les are in successful operation in and near the
tswn, and their fabrics are reported second to
none in point Of quality, and are greatly in de.
mand. Cotton in considerable quantity is rails
cd in this and adjoining counties, and was once,
with tobacco the staple product. The citizens
have accepted the situation and are law-abiding
and industrious, though they seem to the observ-
or to lack the enterprise and vim which charac-
terize the go-ahead wssterners.
Since my last letter to you, business called me
to the eastern part OF this state Passing through
Nashville, over the Nashville & Chattanooga R.
R., every foot of which was battle field, the
most sanguinary being the hotly contested ones
of Stone River and Lookout Mountain, arriv-
ed at Chattanooga. A farther ride of 40 miles
over the East Tennessee & Georgia r. r. brings
me to my destination,
KNOXVILLE, afs
A city of $1,000 inhabitants, pleasantly and
quite romantically located among the hills, the
home Of the ex-parson, ex-editor, governor
BRowNLow,
Who lives in very plain and unpretending
frame build ng, of moderate dimensions, and as
you ascend 'he steps from the street reminds one
Of double tenement house, rather than sub
swsred by sprishtly looking yellow girl, and
in 3 moment you are ushered into the presence
Of the man who has probably received more bless
ings and curses than any other person in our
cOsntry's history. Entering the room, you OBJ
serve, with his back toward you, and standing
crate, small-sized man, who, stesdyiug himself
with one hand on the mantle, with the other sup
ports the limb which he il endeavoring to warm
BY the glowing Goals. Slowly and carefully,
trembling in every nerve and fiber of the emac-
lated frame, the feeble form gradually confronts
you, and you are standing face to face with "Old
PROF." as he is Familiarity termed An intrsduc-
ton follows, and motioning you to = seat, the
Governor totteriugly sinks into large and COM
Portable looking arm chair; few commonplace
remarks touching the state of the weather, &C.,
and you approach the very sentative subject
h,al an II. II =
audible sentences, that it is '"very good" And
when you laughingly say, why Governor, the
newspapers every few days report you dead or
dying" with = smile overspreading the sallow
countenance, and an unusual fire cleaning from
his piercing eye, he, with msmsntsry energy,
exclaims, young Is.n, I'm not going to die"
And for the nonce you inclined to believe his
words are no idle boast. And as he informs you
of his intended journey to Washington, as sena-
tor, you come to the conclusion that you are
conversipg with one of the most ambitious of
mortnls
In the community and neighborhood you are
told that the Governor and his undoubted most
estimabe lady are the kindest and best of neigh
bors, and at the bedside of the sick or unfsrtu-
nate, are often to be found dispensing charities
with lavish hand, and offering words of cheer
and comfort IN the hour of need. A glance
aroand the well but plainly furnished apart
ment shows you that comfort and not display
mark the surroundings. Small oval framed lith-
ographs Of Brownlow, Washington and Grant
and a few family photographs are suspended from
the walls. while diminutive bronze bust OF
the Prairie state President rests upon the long
and old fashioned mantle piece. Your business
terminated, you take your departure, and, al
though an opponent morally and politically, you
try to convey the impression to yourself that the
parsonage you've just parted from is not quite SO
black as he is painted. Such was the interview
and such were the thoughts of your oorrespon-
dent en- route home he journeyed.
THE WEATHER,
Since the New Years advent has been as varied
and changeble as the most inconsistent could
wish for. Sunshine, rain and snow, have 30 al
ternated one with another that one is led to be-
lieve that the clerk of the weather is making his
round of New Years calls-took in too much
~Fusl OIL" Tor he is certainly giving US poor
sublunary mortals severe 7anin. Tho FREE
TRADERS
CARRIERS ADDRESS
Was good, and perussd with genuine
pleasure OttawAs aud your we'll ish0.