Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-12-15
THE "INNocENTs ABROAD"


Immediately proceeded TO the National
hotel, where we found the first good
rooms and good tables" since we
left the North. They were highly appre-
ciated b. the tired, weary, way-worn
travellers, and we felt very much at home,
as the gentlemanly proprietor did every
thing In his power 10 make our stay
pleasant and instructive. After very
short but refreshing s.eep this company
of " In1ocents Abroad or pilgrim sight
seeers were on the alert, to make the
most of the short time we had to stay in
this renowned city of the South. Before
the war 1t was very pleasant little city
of about 5000 inhabitants. 1t was almost
entirely destroyed by General Sherman
when on his grand march to the sea. Ii
cost considerable time to take the city as
can be observed by the large number of
earth works only short distances apart.
and The various forts surrounding the citr.
Cen Hood having promised to defend
the city superseded Gen. johnson and re-
quested Gen. Sherman to spare toe CITY.
The latter replied that Che necessities Of
war were severe, and It beng a strung
suagetic point ard on his line of march
must by destoyed, it was accordingly burr
ed. not over one hundred houses were left
unframed, many of them being occupied
by our officers ard Union men, as it seems
to be fact that there were few men
even here that were true to the National
flag. throughout the entire struggle. Here
and there can be seen the desolate walls
OF fine mansion of former days. The
new city has sprung up from the ashes
like magic and now contains about 25-
600 inhabitants In the city proper, and
to 1000 In the little towns joining, ma
king little over $4,000, being nearly four
times as large as before the war; 1t ap-
pears like live western city, neatly built,
mostly of brick and very beautifully loca-
ted, its streets are clean and very pleasant
at this time of the year. The sell here, as
in oil parts of the South where we have
been, being of red clay, is said to dry up
very quick alter rain, and makes good
roads when dry. never enjoyed ride
through city more than drive through
this. Our negro driver was acquainted
with all the places of interest and very
communicative, knew every body Of note
rebel or union, and glad TO irnpart his
knowledge. We were treated by the cit
liens very kindly and did all they could
to show us the prominent places of inter-
est Atlanta is now the Capital of the
State Of Georgia The state house is q
very fine building formerly built for an
"opera house" by an enterprising Yankee.
S. 4. Crittenden, ESQ.,. and then remodel.
ed and sold to the State OF Georgia at a
small advance of 100000. Four OF our
ladies trayersed it from bottom to top and
report it elegantly finished. Had splen-
did view Of city from the dome, the city
post Office is located in the building. One
of the most prominent and finest buildings
in the city Is a new hotel almost compile
ted at a cost of 500 900. 1t is one Of the
most elegantly finished and furnished no.
tel Lever saw, not excepting the Coutinen-
tai of Philadelphia. II is called The II. |.
Kirlball House and is another monument
of Northern enterprise or capital.
The Southern residents and business
men seem to be catching the spirit of en-
,erprise and Atlanta has prospect of
rapid growth into great city. 1t draws
trade of one hundred miles in some
directions the country Immediately sur
rounding is very poor. There is very
beautiful park and race course about one
mile from the center of the city called
Oglcthorpe Park, In which til State fair
is held, the buildings for fair purposes are
extremely good. Among others we noti-
ced one with this sign "coloied gents" sa
Loon" which reminded us of negro equali-
ty, that is, the niger takes beer in one
saloon and the white man in another.
One prominent gentleman of color says
negro equality will not be consumated
until the negro can sleep with the white
man, tide by bis side in the same car &c.
The beautiful Fair ground or Park re-
ferred to is another instance Of northern
energy lit being built by H. /. Kimball
Esq. of New York. In the western part
of the city are located Uncle Sans ''pri-
vate residences" for soldiers, otherwise
called ''ba tracks" where he accommodates
about two regim ents, here we had the
pleasure for the first time to witness q
dress parade of regulars-and must say it
is quite ''militsirer and very interesting.
II was witnessed by nearly all Of our par
ty as they ali centered for this point, II is
OF daily occurrence. There are four or
Eve daily papers published here, some Of
them quite. The "New Era hoists the
flag Of Gen. Grant for President and
Ames T. Alderman for Vice President
for 1872, and say Gen. Grant is the 'pilot
who can and Will guide the ship Of state
through.every Storm" We were called
upon by one OF the editors OF the "Sun"
who did the agreeable to our entire salts
faction. We had the pleasure Of call
from Mr.. Geddes and wife, formerly Of
Plymouth, lthey expressed themselves
highly delighted to meet so.many of their
old friends. Mr.. G. is on the government
printing business, aud says he is doing
well, but is not flattered with southern So
ciety. In the evening most of the party
accepted an invitation from Manager
Templeton of De Gives Opera House and
were delighted with tie removed Irish
Commedian, Ward. A few of us went to
Wesley Chapel to hear ala address on Ed
ucation by the rebel Gen. Gordon. The
Gen. read several pages from the Nation
| al reader, complimentary to Gen. Sheri
7 dan. and for that reason. Gen. Gordon
| objected to the Introduction of such {