Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-25

chicken to break the mornings fast
We rather envied them the luxury bu
had fortified ourselves with o glass OF
two of Vichy with handsome Sam Ma
haffy, the graceful Ganymede, at Chan
dler's iceland fount, before leaving the
city; in addition to which we were still |
stranger save through good report, to tn,
Rice mansion, and did not feel right tC
take liberties. Once more on the road
after brief delay we progressed rapidly
but meeting with no incident worth re
cording, until crossing st. Francis river
and switching back short distance tc
the
TOWN OF MADISON.
Here our company received several ac.
cessions, the most interesting of which
were bevy of ladies, who were bent on
the enjoyment of rural holiday and
the festivities that had been announced
preparation. Madison did not present
any attractive features, being o strag-
Cling village, scattered at uneven dis
tances around a square brick court
house hemmed in by an open plank
fence. There was not much appearance
of business, which may be accounted for
by the extremely hot weather, but per-
haps more readily by the contiguity of
FOREST CITY,
few miles distant, approached by deep
cut, the first on the road, through the
famous Crawley's Ridge, where any
amount Of the finest gravel may be OBJ
tanned for ballasting the road. This
primitive city has every appearance of
thrift and improvement. 1t has several
large, well-flled stores, which are said to
do safe and profitable business. The
most of the population seemed on the
outside, and amid hearty greetings a
host of newcomers entered the train,
male and female, among whom we no.
ticed two beautiful girls, the Misses s.,
handsomely attired in straw-colored
dresses, neatly trimed with black and
said to be very accomplished. 1t was
noticeable that the Assistant Superin-
tendent Robson was truly ubiquitous,
and played the part of the most accom-
plished conductor to the very life,
although we were in charge of the staid
but attentive veteran conductor Glenn
ents, who, beside his ordinary duties,
had an eye to the comfort and accommo-
dation of his passengers.
FINE FARMS AND CROPS.
We had noticed on the way several ex-
tensive farms, with the most promising
crops of both corn and cotton. 1t was
easily perceptible to the practiced eye
where labor had been appropriately ap-
piled and where it had been measurably
stinted. We observed an orchard near
the road, bending with fruit, and were
surprised to see such embellishments of
rural life and adjuncts to domestic econ
omy so rare, where few years growth
can accomplish SO much. How and
when we reached
LAYGUILLE
we shall never tell you, as some how the
drowsy god took full possession of us,
and even the bright faces and radiant
eyes and silvery voices of the gay party
of ladies, with their attendant gallants,
failed to enliven our vigils, and the rock
ing of the cars greatly assisted somno-
lency, and ungallantly we yielded to the
seductive charms of sleep; nor fully re-
covered until we we're dashing over Little
Prairie, the track being straight, and,
though new, of perfect smoothness. We
were brought to q halt at the contem-
plated site of Midway, where the Com
pany will erect a station on their own
section, two miles from Breton, where
the barbecue was to be given, and where
already store and dwelling have been
erected fnrIln
A NUMBER OF WAGONS
we're in readiness to convey passengers
10 the barbecue ground, and, filled with
i've freight, they speedily moved off We
we're here introduced to Col. Campbell,
one of the contractors for laying the
rack, to whom portion of our crowd
we're under obligations for conveniences
or reaching the woodland where the
festivities were already being inaugu-
'ated. Colonel c. informed us Of the
many difficulties he had to encounter,
very rain converting the prairie into a
norass that rendered the hauling of ties
In addition to this the
orce had to be constantly renewed, many
heir own imprudence. We found him
'eing frequently on the sick list through
courteous, atablo gentleman, looking
he man in every respect, and admirably
alculated to press forward the work
nth energy.
THE BARBECUE GROUND
Ias selected in a grove of native oaks, I
leared of underground, but not sufi- J
iently leafy to fairly keep Off the fierce
ays of the sun. A large square Of I
ough boards formed the tables, and at S
onvenient distance was o small trianeu- v
a -