The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-12-14
LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.

MERIDIAN, Miss,
Nov. 90, 1872.
DEAR WHIG:-At Montgomery we were
undecided whether to come to Selma by
cars or by boat, if we travel by the former
we are due here in three hours, but travel
ing by the latter conveyance we ara due
here whenever the boat arrives which may
be two days or two weeks, as it depends
entirely upon the amount of freight await
ing shipment on the Alabama river, rs the
boat will stop for freight at every planta-
ton until her load is completed; and as the
river is so very crooked the distance is
more than double that by railroad. Being
in possession of an ancient silver coin of
the denomination of % cents, which was
used in our youthful days as circulating
money medium, but has now become obso
ete, and is retained by us as curiosity,
we leave the decision of the choice of routes
for it's settlement, and with toss of its
head we are compelled to take the cars.
Leaving Montgomery very early in the
being rapidly transported to our destina-
ton. At sunrise we were passing through
one of the innumerable swamps which
border on the river, and a prettier sight
seldom gladdens the eyes of sleepy travel
ers. The suns rays shining dimly through
the variegated foliage which is covered
with dew and frost, making each sparkling
leaf and plant look as though they were
clothed with myriads of diamonds, whilst
high above, suspended by some gigantic
trees, hangs the moss, festooned in fantas
teal shapes by the hand of dame nature
wet with the dews of Heaven, now twink
ling and playing with sunbeams, and emit
ting all the colors of the rainbow, makes a
gorgeous picture which no artist could con-
vey on canvass. The long ride sharpens
our appetite, and after passing over the
new iron bridge we are soon at my friend
Keeps. (who knows how to keep hotel
and partaking heartily of the bountiful re-
past set before us.
Selma like Montgomery has its supply of
water from an artesian well, and as it does
not differ from other Southern towns we
manage to "kill time until eight o'clock
in the evening, when we leave for this
place, the distance being 107 miles, and
the schedule time being twelve hours, or
not quite nine miles per hour on an aver
age some of our companions who were in
a hurry proposed to aoalk, but were finally
overued by others who had purchased
tickets, and who were like the boy at the
circus who went every night, and was al
ways found asleep, but was bound TO 90 be-
cause he had free pass. No sleeping cars
on this train, but we are accustomed to
that by this time, and the longest night
will end sometime, so in the morning we
are slowly dragged into Meridian. 1t is
reported that an old lady once stopped the
ram on this road by vigorously swinging
her sun bonnet, and when approached, and
questioned by the conductor as to the cause,
replied she had some eggs which she wish
ed him to take to town for her, and that
she had eleven in the basket, and the old
black hen was on the nest, and wanted to
know if he wouldn't wait until she could
get that egg to make dozen; of course he
waited 1t must have been on this road
that an old lady bought half ticket for
her boy, and when the conductor came to
collect tickets demanded full fare, as the
boy was too large for a half ticket, and she
reluctantly paying his fare replied, He
was small enough when he started.
This place is about as mean looking, as
one could naturally conceive town to be,
the buildings nearly all of frame, have
forlorn, tumble down. dilapidated ap-
pearance, looking as though a hearty
saceze would have the same effect rs an
earthquake, and it is questionable if after
either shock piece of wood could be found
large enough to make shoe peg.
The hotel on the European plan is pre-
sided over by a fat Pennsylvania Dutch
man whose rotundity is a Recommendation
for good boarding. The sleeping rooms
are partitioned off and resembled horse
stalls as the wooden partition does not
reach half the distance to the ceiling, but
as it permits the circulation of the air
over our heads it is very comfortable in
this hot climate; then it has the advantage
of permitting any one in the adjoining
room to hear your conversation besides al
lowing him the privilege of paying an in
formal call if so disposed, without the ne
cessity of coming through the door, by
jumping the fence. GRAY BEARD.