New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-03
FROM MISSISSIPPI.
CORES pondence of the Republican,
IUKA, Miss. August %, 1871.


IUKA, Miss, August %, 1871.
In this hiily portion of Mississippi the
summer is fast passing away, and the trees
are changing their green livery for the
''sere and yellow leaf" The cotton fields
around are beginning to look as if small
snow storm had passed their way, literally
depositing its wilderness to deck the green
it found. This being the country of small
farms and few bales, however, we do not
find the farmers aaxiously seeking every
where for picters. In the bottom lands of
the State they are kept in an unenviable fix
all the year round-frst to get hands, next
they are dreadiRg that destroyer so fatal TO
King Cottons glory, the worm, and no
sooner are al fears OF that over than it is
discovered that more hands are needed to
pick the crop.
During the first few years of freedom the
negroes, unaccustomed to providing for
their own subsistence, imagined when plant
ing zen shares" that they commanded the
same resources their masters had prior to
the-war, unlimited credit and entire benefit
of the crop when sold. Laboring under
this delusion, so natural to ignorance and
inexp6fience, when the season for picking
cotton arrived they usually, with very few
exceptions, found themselves in debt for
more than the amount Of their shares, leav-
ing them penniless and with no means of
support until a new year should usherin
new contract and fresh supplies. Many
losing all interest inthe crop they had made.
left and sought employment on adjacent
farms as pickers, in order to get little
ready money, but guiltless of any inten-
ton to defraud their former employers, as
they had never been taught the weight of
moral obligations. The farmers, finding
themselves losers by such state of affairs,
sought to remedy the evil, and by patience
have succeeded in putting other plans in
operation, aecruing to their own advantage
as well as to that Of the negro. BY making
him tenant of small piece of land, Civ
ing him years rent, perhaps, for the cabin
he builds On it, they place him in position
of responsibility, and his pride and natural
ambition make him faithful to his trust.
He feels all planters glory in his little
cotton field, and discusses, with their
wonted pride, the bushels of corn he will
make, the number Of chickens his wife has
raised, and exhibits with delight his fat
hogs, and sleek, well fed COW and horse.
1uka boasts OF quite variety of mineral
springs, chalybeate, sulphur and alum being
the favorites. These springs are situated in
low place, termed, in town parlance, "the
springs lot, and are surrounded by many
hills, each crowned by the cottage home of
some worthy citizen. Truly, it is a town
built upon hills, for they outnumber the
famous seven of Rome in the days of yore
When the heat and dust of city life be-
come insupportable, the Memphians flock
hither in crowds, and every house is filed
with boarders. Heretofore there has been
a large hotel for the accommod alton of the
gay and lively ones who delighted in hustle
and dancing; but it will be remem-
bered that it was burnt last win
ter, thus depriving the little town
Of a great convenience, as well as its chief
ornament. Every evening the springs lot
is visited by nearly every one in the town.
II is place of universal resort, and there
you are sure of meeting many acquaint-
ances and friends. Cups in hand, they stand
chatting beside some favorite spring, we'll
ing up as cold as ice in its stone basin; or
strolling beneath the beautiful trees, under
which are many rustic seats. Afar off, in
one corner, we see large crowd, and under
the trees a white pavilion covers the attrac-
ton, yclept the flying ponies. Old and
young, men. women and children. every
bo1y m iuka rides or the tiny, swift little
ponies. They furnish cheap and universal
source OF amusement, and Iulza would
scarce be itself bereft of its ponies,
just here let me say that Iuka is indebt-
ed to New Orleans for another source of
amusement, the dancing platform An
enterprising Frenchman, Monsieur Terro.
came here from your town and established
confectionery in the springs lot. building
in front of it, under huge trees, a platforra
forty feet square, where all were free ii
bring their music and dance. One NAV well
imagine that the fun-loying villagers an
preciate this evidence of Frenchman's
knack of pleasing, and patronize his candy |
shop literally. sss.
We hear but little of politics in this quiet
country town. Were it not for tie REPUB- |