The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-12-21

LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.

JACKSON, Miss,
Nov. 27th, 1872.
DEAR WHIG:-Having travelled dis
lance of 81 miles, from MERIDIAN, through
a country, which at one time, no doubt, was
fertile, but at present, the larger part of it
is barren, being appropriately called "worn
out cotton lands passing the usual num-
Der of dilapidated planters houses, and
negro huts along the road; finding most of
these houses are now inhabited by what is
termed the first families" which is the
result of the late onpleasantness," that
has impoverished the white residents, in
this section, to such an extent that they
are willing to accept almost any shelter for
their defenseless head, with thankful
hearts. We arrived at the hotel, which is
at the Depot, and some distance from the
town, or as my IIibernian travelling COM
panion remarked, The only hotel IN the
town is a mile and a half outside of it,
Communication is had from the hotel to
the town every half hour by means of a
s'stage," !. c. an old wagon to which is at
| tached an ancient mule, which looks as
though he had just recovered from the ep-
| izootic, and it seemed to be a matter of
! extreme indifference to him, whether he
- trudged his weary load - or whether he
! should "lay him down and die unfortu-
nately for this poor mule there is no society
! for the prevention of cruelty to dumb ami
!
I be occupying the drivers place inside the
wagon, with John pulling the load.
The simple fact of Jackson being the
Capital of Mississippi is the only reason it
has any importance. 1t contains about s.
900 Inhabitants. The Capitol with its
square, a few more public buildings, few
unpretending private dwellings, all built
on very wide, and at present very muddy
street, which in Summer will allow the
! fierce rays of a broiling sun to descend up
! on pedestrians without any shade trees
! intervening, and in Winter give free scope
to the wind, to blow dust into the eyes of
the indolent inhabitants, compelling them
to be smart, and dig it out only to be filled
again, by thu same process, by rude
! BoIeas.
jackson is not by any means a lively
place, or a place that would favorably i'm
press travellers; on the contrary it is lust
such place that should any stranger wish
to commit suicide, and could not summon
sufficient courage to "shaff1e off this mortal
COLL let him come here, and remain two
rainy days, and the verdict OF coroner's
jury (if the inhabitants have sufficient en-
ergy to summon Il jury would be, died
by mental alteration induced by too much
drcariness.' A Quaker meeting house by
moonlight encompassed by grave yard is
lively in comparison with this place, as the
the first will suggest life immortal, whilst
the latter could only suggest the "auintes-
sence of quiescent."
Calling upon an acquaintance l found
him wrapped in several blankets by the
side of a red hot stove shaking as if he was
determined to make fortune by this oper-
atigN. After exchanging salutations he
informed me he was "going through" one
of his annual chils, and that but few Of the
citizens escaped their yearly shaking, but
rs preventative advised my going equip
ped, as IS customary in this section, with a