The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-26
LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.

MACON, Ga, October 18th, 1872.
DEAR WH1G:-Last night upon entering
the cars at Augusta for this place, our first
inquiry was for a sleeping car, and were
informed that none are used on this road
(the Georgia Central but if we wish a
bed, one will be prepared for us, and weare
highly amused to see an old negro woman
turn back one of the seats, and place cou-,
pie of boards across, from seat to seat, and
upon this place a mattress, and over the
mattress, spread couple Of army blankets,
then by hanging calico curtain from the
top of the car, our state room (?) is com
plete. Shades of Pullman's drawing room
and Palace cars, how / wish some of your
fastidious Northern travellers were here to
witness this burlesque sleeping arrange
ment, and it is exceedingly doubtful if ever
a murmur would be uttered whilst travel
ing in one of those handsome compart-
ments. Riding in this manner certainly
was a novelty, and was very good whilst
the novelty lasted, which unfortunately was
for short time, as the army blanket was
warm and uncomfortable, the mattress very
hard, and being placed directly over the
wheels on this rough road gave us good
shaking, squalled to the most approved
style of ague; or had we been dyspeptIc
would have forever cured that malady. this
would have been but slight inconvenience,
but the morality is very bad, for one is
necessarily compelled necessarily to he on
one side, and then lie on the other; besides
it violates the motto of this State, which is
Wisdom, Justice and Moderation, and we
defy any one to find any of these ingre-
dients in our "make up" of bed, espe-
cially the latter.
Before entering the Depot at this place,
little after sunrise, we pass building,
which upon inquiry proves to be place
where ice is made; to, most Northern trav-
elers it would seem singular to hear of ice
being manufactured, except by the hand of
dame nature; but it can be made artifciaHy
for considerably less than the cost of trans
portation from Northern markets, and as
it has now become a necessity as well as a
luxury, the only question is as to cost
The ice made here has Il peculiar taste, as
it tastes of being slightly impregnated with
creosote; yet it is far preferable to none in
this hot climate.
Arriving at the depot we do not find that
hustle, and confusion, which is so annoy
ing to travellers generally; here the Porters
from the different hotels with large plac-
ard on their hats to designate the hotel to
which they belong are drawn up in a line
like soldiers at dress parade; no yelling, no
noise, no drumming for their house, but
they quietly wait until you beckon one or
call the name of the hotel, and touching his
hat receives your baggage check, and then
goes back to his place in line, and as quietly
waits for the next customer. This was in
such marked contrast with our entrance
into other depots, where noise and confu-
sion reign supreme, and where each porter
is yelling at the top of his lungs, and the
loudest believer the "bulliest boy" that
to say we were astonished would indicate
our feelings too mildly.
Macon is not place that would impress
travellers with its architectural beauties,
for if any were there, they were "lost to
sight," as upon our approach, "distance
refused to lend enchantment to the view,"
consequently upon closer inspection we
didn't owe distance anything, and had no
enchantment to return. This place stu
ated on the right bank of the Ocmulgee
river, Ga stream as dirty and muddy as the
name would seem to IMPLY boasts of four
first class hotels, (the fact of charging high
prices constitute frst-class hotels here a
few dilapidated public buildings-a few
churches-some stores and a number of
dwelling houses, principally small; and as
dogs hogs and geese are allowed the free
dom of the town, it has decidedly Demo-
cratic appearance.
At the hotel we met quite number of
persons suffering with consumption who
were en- route for the Gland of flowers, ="
and the chances are that few of their num-
Der will live to return. Why do physicians
recommend the South to their patients suf-
fering with pulmonary disease, when the
West with its raretied atmosphere is much
better, is beyond the comprehension of
GRAY BEARD.