The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-07-16
LETTER FROM CLAIBORNE.
Extraordinary Mail Facilities
Sketch Of 4. @. Hill, Ed. "Clai-
borne AdrOcnte''-iScH00I &c.
HOMER, La, July l, 1870.

pOnOent In this remote corner OF INC
dominioEs of Gen. Molasses Grant. We
are here so far removed from all rail-
roads, telegraphs and navigable streams
that when we get our news it is news
no longer. For example, at-this date we
have just received your paper of June
4th-onky neonth,-a trifling matter
between points separated by distance
Of 60 miles. Could we not improvise
a miniature chariot-attach terripins
and have snaies for drivers ON the line?
Truly. this is fast age.
We have as yet no announcement for
| the legislative Offices. 1t is under
stood,1 think. generally, that Col "A
G. Hill will be one Of the candidates.
have heard no other name suggested.
Col. Hill would make good, reliable
| and active member. He is a man Of
generous impulses; as an editor, he goes
off half cooked" often, and is sadly off
the track; editing a paper. strictly po-
liti cal, he will now and then get o # a
"leader'' on theology-and oh how he
1 smashes things then. His brethren
! the other "pcrsuasion' will, of course
feel deeply injured; but the Col. bows
himself out of the scrape so handsome:
ly-is so pcnitent. SO complacent, and
full of love for all, the other side "Eor
give and forget" He never allows
himself to get into an editorial passion:
no matter how sharp the shrusts may
come, he mantains his quiet good hu-
mor-his self possession never deserts
him.
He has made the Claiborne Advocate
q complete success. Starting with an
Insignificant sheet. he now issues the
largest paper in North Louisiana out
side of Shreveport. ~Pecuniarily, I
expect, it is the best paying paner in
the country parishes. excepting, o
course, those under Radical support,
and paid out Of the State and federal
treasures.
Religiously, I believe Col. Hill
claims to be q Hard-Shell Baptist,
though he belongs to the ''Soft- Shelf
church He is a man of huge proper
tions, and his appearance indicates
/ good living: and an abundance of it.
With an arm like blacksmith's and
fist like q sledge, if he should take
it into his head to come down on any
Of US little folks, we should find ii
rather an uphill business to resume
! the perpindicular again.
As writer, he is forcible, without
Sany regard to rhetorical rules &c
T writes without reflection, and prints il
d without correction. He is not with
out goodly share of ready wit, anc
gets up Just that style Of a paper which
the great majority of his patrons read
with avidity. It is not generally
known, I think, that Col. Hill is :
brother of Ben Hill, the distinguished
lawyer. of Georgia, and who has 1
Il. National reputation, both as 'awye
In and politician. Our Hill says he ha
Id great deal more sense than Ben, bu
Xxi can't show it as we'll. Taken all i
all, the editor Of the Claiborne .Advocat
or is rather a remarkable man. Throw
a ing himself upon the world when bu
III a boy, coming from the State c
he Georgia. and trudging westward j
sr. search Of fortune, fame or somethin
ns else, he settled here many years ag'
ic was admitted to the. Bar, but has nev
er given much attention to his profes
n, sion. He is greatly esteemed for h
itfEi fine social qualities, and openshande
nd generosity. Should he he the nomin'
ng. of the Democrats for either the Soma
'"s or House, he cannot be. defeate
;hs ;is Our colleges, male and female, ha'
li Just closed their commencement exc
,.,,, cises, with crowds of people in atten
ance. The Male college opens aga
las, under Rev. J. e. Cobb, with pro,
yes. Use of large patronage. The Fema
anu a. school, under patronage Of the Maso
boz boz ic fraternity, and care of L. r Wilco
hoo heep a rreat success and it la Ss