Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-16
OLD ENGLAND SPEAKS.
Christmas and aus Festivittes-The
Peoples Paper Abroad-The Same


Everywhere.
From the Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian British)
Jan q, 1871.
To THE EDITOR OF THE GUARDIAN. -
SR,-Christmas, with its usual festivities
has come and gone, but / find many of its
time-honored customs are among the
things of the past, especially on this side
of the Atlantic. l mean the good old
days when young and old from q far-off
distance were wont to gather around the
festive board, and partake of its hospitali-
ties; when hilarity would reign supreme
around the family circle. This to some
extent is prsctised to this day; but it is
quite evident to close observer that time
has worked many changes in this respect
in America during the last twenty years.
The majority of our negroes seemed to
have had good time during the holidays.
Most of them have been in the habit of
having weeks holiday at Christmas;
hence they look forward to the time with
bright anticipations and large expecta-
tons. Like the poor and humble class in
Great Britain they are the recipients of
many small tokens of appreciation at
Christmas and New Year. l have known
many of these Africans receive from f1f y
to sixty dollars at presents; and while I
have witnessed such unstinted generosity
on the part of the Southerners, it has oc-
Cured to me that nine. tenths of the suf-
fering humanity in Great Britain, who
have to support large families on eight or
ten shillings per week, would be glad in
deed to put themselves in their places.
Let them read "Uncle Toms Cabin, " if
they think proper. After seeing which
they could take bird's-eye view of the
"White Slave" and it is my firm convic-
ton your readers would pardon me for
saying there are too many naked truths
in the latter.
Business throughout the South is rather
dull at present Principally on account
of the war in Europe, the cotton crop is
not as good as it might have been, aud
there being very little demand for that
important staple, hence the scarcity of
money. Nashville, as well as every i'm
portant city in the South, must material
ly feel this depression in business circles,
but it will be only of short duration, and
as soon as peace is established in Europe
we shall be blessed with prosperous fu-
ture. Nashville, like most all rising towns,
is considerably indebted to the press for
her wonderful success. In this connection
might mention one of the papers that
seems to have very extensive circuls-
ton, not only in the Southern States, but
in Europe. refer to the Nashville UNION
AND AMERICAN, published by j. o. Grit
fifth s. Co. This paper, is consOlida-
ton of two papers, and thus far has met
with an unprecedented success. The
great prosperity of the UNION AND AMERI-
CAN is due in great measure of its able
Editor, Col. John G. Burch, who, like
every true Southerner, took a prominent
part during the late civil war; and since
the Colonel identified himself with this
paper, it has become what its friends had
long predicted, a complete success. The
columns invariably contain much useful
and valuable information, all of which be-
ing rich, racy and rare.
During the late war your correspondent
had the good fortune to be on board the
steamer 81. R. W. Hill, on the Mississippi,
when Col. Burch was then on the staff of
Gen. Gideon j. Pillow. This was about
the same time that DR.. Russell, and cor
respondent of the London Times, was at
Memphls.-I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
THOMAS W. WHITE.
MAXWELL HOUSE, Nashville.