Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-25
ROBERTSON COUNTY.
NeOphOgen InstiSute-CrOSs Plains
CrOps-MIlIs and Manufactures.

CrOps-MIlIs and Manufactures.
Correspondence of the Union and American
Cross PLANS, ROBERTSON Co, June
14.-We had the pleasure of attending the
exhibition ofthis institute, Prof. Walter,
Principal, on the afternoon and evening of
the 18th inst. The whole exercises passed
off well, much to the credit of teacher and
pupils-really an entertainment long to be
remembered by the community. The eff
forts Of the smallest evinced that much la
Dor had been bestowed in their training,
and the elocution of the largest was excel
lent. The original essays were, many of
them, superior, worthy of more mature
minds, awakening the hopes and gratifying
the ambition of many fond parents. It is
difficult to make choice where all were so
uniformly good; but the Nobility of Labor,
by Miss Ozella Roney; Forgive and Forget.
by Miss Ora Lee Walton; Who are the great
est BenefactOrs of Mankind, Grafton by Ney
Walton; Commencement Day, original
poem, by W. Shaw; and Mother, Home
and Heaven, by Miss A. Blackman, are par
ticularly worthy of mention. And the old
faVorite, "COme, Birdie, Come" was sweet
ly sung by two little girls.
But, perhaps, the most attractive part of
the entertainment was the night perform
ance, consisting of tableaux, charades.
farces, distribution of medals, etc. The
Village Lawyer, Fortune Hunter, Dancing
Dutchman, and last of all, Virginia Mum.
my, will long be remembered by performers
and auditors, in which the actors showed
such compOsure and full appreciation of
their parts. If their roles through life are
as well filed, honor and success will ever
attend them.
The music of the band was very enter
tanning and that Of the scholars very COM
mendable, although reformed at dissd-
vantage from being in the open air. A very
noticeable feature was the ease and grace of
many OF the pupils, both in delivery of
essays and in their acting, showing the wise
assistance of nature by watchful training,
Many exclamations of delighted approval
were heard from the audience on the exit of
one little girl, whose name, unfortunately,
is forgotten. We naturally expect to hear
from some OF these young people in the fu-
ture, both in public and private life, having
so well laid the foundation for usefulness.
The concluding song by all the students of
"HOme, Sweet Home" was in good taste,
and, as ever, awakened a responsive thrill
in each heart.
Long may this Institute flourish. doing
honor to its well known Principal and to the
patrOniZing community.
The face of the country around Cross
Plains is generally level, inst undulating
enough for good drainage. 1t is one of the
most beautiful sections of Tennessee, and
its soil certainly fertile enough to answer
the requirements of any good farmer. We
note that the crops of small grain are ex-
cellent. The yield of wheat must be large,
as the acreage soWn is said to be an aver
age notwithstanding the scarcity of good
seed the last season. The farmers are now
busy with their harvests. We notice that
the Reaper is becoming an institution in
this section of country. Apropos of wheat
-asubject of interest to the visitor at Cross
Plains, Is the Touring mills of Capt. w.
Villines, on Red River, one mile from the
town. Capt. V. enjoys the advantage
OF applying steam or water power
at will in driving his machinery, which is
extensive and complete, 0Omprehending all
that is necessary for running the several
sets OF stones for grinding the different
grains and saw mill. He is entertaining
the idea of an addition Of more machinery
for manufacturing purposes.
We expect soon to see the farming inter
ests looking up, under the stimulating
prices Ofwheat and tobacco. The wheat IS
nearly all cut, the Oat crop safe and an av-
erage one, large crop of tobacco already
set, and the young corn from the impulse
given by the late fine seasons is thus far
promising. Altogether the spirits of the
farmer are improved, and few glimpses of
the "silyer lining" seem already to have
been recognized. S.