Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-02-11
From the Sunny South.

DEAR CHRONICLE. Thinking that a
short description of my trip down here
might not DE uninteresting t. your readers
/ concluded to write, with view to that
object. My journey down the river, the
great Father Of waters, was passed without
anything of special interest occurring. |
formed the acquaintance of several passen--
gers, that materially lessened the monotony
of the trip; and here let me mention that
at any time heretofore, the ease and famil
iarity of Americans while travelling, and
| must say that the trait is far more no.
ticeable in the Southern people, than in
our. estern men. | was unfortunate in
not getting on one of the regular line boats,
the one | intended to 60 on being delayed,
consequently it was not a" floating palace"
and the passengers were not as likely and
fast" as we sometimes find on the best
boats of the river. We were detained one
day at Memphis I found this place to be
a busy busting city of $4,000 inhabitants
! t has many peculia:ities which distinguish
it fron our northern cities. The river
from Memphis down is skirted with vast
swamps, Or bayous, interspersed atainter
walls with groves Of cypress and pine.
Vicksburg, with its strong Notifications,
and bold bluffy appearance, presents a
peculiar and striking aspect as every
reader Of the Chronicle doubtless knows,
it is situated on the top of the bluff, and
back from the river. the town is spread
over many hills; many buildings show
the effects of the late war. The streets
leading from the city to the river, are al
lmost inaccessible, they are positively the
worst excuses for streets ever saw, and
show that the south has many steps to
take before she is up to the north in enter
prise, and public improvements. The
lower Mississippi presents nothing Of in
terest to the eye of the tourist; the same
interminable swamps skirt the river,
varied occasionally by a bluff. For some
distance above New Orleans, the river is
bordered with fine plantations, but unfor-
tunately passed this French or Arcadi.n
coast, as it Is called, mostly in the night.
New Orleans, the great Metropolis of the
Southwest, is peculiar town; the labor
ers, especially on the levce and river are
nearly all negroes, and the city presents
less characteristics of any American town
than any place I ever visited on every
side we hear the rapid jargon of the French
creole, and again We are surrounded by the
pale Caucasian, the vivacious Frank, the
gloomy Spaniard, and the sturdy Anglo
Saxon. From New Orleans, after various
perierinations, I turned up at Mobile,
thence | took trip into Florida, which
appeared to be dense interminable forest.
On arriving at Montgomery, I found a
chal- &c in the style of people; and at AT.
lanta, greater change, there being fewer
mixed bloods, and far more Americans,
many of them northern men; arrived at
Atlanta in time to witness the excitement
caused by the ratification of the fifteenth
amendment; on arriving at Augusta |
made stay of three weeks, | found the
place thoroughly southern town; there
is refined and intelligent society at this
place, especially Of. ladies'; the city is one
OF the most delightful places have seen in
the south; the streets are wide, and are
ornamented with beautiful shade trees.
On the whole, as | said before have been
much pleased with my southern town, the
whole souled generosity and open hearted
hospitality of the southern people can not
be too much extoled, and if | were to
dwell OH all the points of interest, both in
the country and people, should fill a
book, but as my time and your space are
limited, will close. leave for Phladel
phia tomorrow, via. Richmond, Washing
ton, &C., where shall probably remain
until return to Wisconsin
sa1vA D. W. AvERILL.
Augusta, Ga, Feb. 4th, 1870.