The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-09-05
A Trip 40 Alfalfa.

Responding to- the peremptory summons
AAll Aboard" the writer betook himself to
one of the superb cars of the Mississippi
Central at the Jackson depot pnnetually at
O'Clock Saturday morning, ard was rapid
~ borne past Tugaloo, Madison Station.
Calhoun, and into the gates of the Celestial
City. When daylight had fairly broken
upon the surrounding objects, the first mat
ter of special interest aud observation along
the route was
THE CROPS
OF Corn. it is needless to speak. All ad-
nit that the yield of this necessary article
will be larger the present year. in all this
region, than in any season since the war.
The
COTTON FIELDS
Presented very desolate and unpromising
appearance. On every hand were to be
seen the disastrous signs of the caterpillar,
and of the protracted drouth.
Leaving Canton, the fine farming region
which skirts the Big Black from Vaughan
Station to
was soon penetrated, and here the blighting
effects of the worm and drouth were but
too painfully evident. Seven weeks ago
when the writer hereof passed over the
same region he had occasion to write in
terms of delight of the smiling prospect of
the cotton crop. The plant was well grown,
its fruit was developing rapidly and wear
ing that darkly, deeply, beautifully green
appearance which denoted health and gave
promise OF large yield. Now, all was
changed. Under the combined causes above
mentioned it had gone prematurely into the
sERE AND YELLOW LEAF
and its promises of profit to the toiling
producer had all vanished.
Arriving at Durant, distance Of sixty
miles, about half-past seven o'clock, the
writer was made to feel sat home' at the
West House, and to enjoy the pleasure of a
warm welcome by sundry citizens of that
flourishing town, among them he will espe-
cially mention Capt. Foster "a federal ex-ar-
my man, good citizen and Republican of
conservative and liberal views Mr.. Lock-
hart, Mr.. Brown the lOcuDl teHenS of Col.
Hamilton, the mire host of the "West,'
temporarily absent; and in company with,
CAPT. c. j. HANKS
a prosperous young merchant of Durant,
an Albanian by birth, where he resided
until 1865 and soldier of the Lost Cause
in the "bloody Alabama 5th"-we were soon
enjoying the delights of a buggy ride,
through fine rolling country on the road
leading to
SPRINGDALE CAMP GROUND
in the good county of Attala-our destina-
ton, which was reached at III O'Clock, and
where goodly number of citizens had
already assembled beneath the capacious
shelter which the week before had been
used tor purposes even more sacred than
the patriotic objects OF the present meeting.
After a discussion of the issues ofthe Pres
idential election by the guest of the occa-
sion, who for all the intents of this sketch
might well be nameless here-brief but
most opportune and excellent speeches were
made in the order named by Judge Mabrv
(Repu5lican,) Mr.. Guyton Democrat
Capt. c. G. Sanders, (Liberal Republican,
and Mr. Segur, young gentleman native |
and to the manor born, and a talented and
promising representative of the generation
which Is just coming into action to bear the |
responsibilities of the country and which |
has shown so ready an appreciation of the |
necessities OF the times in the present can
vass. The speeches were all for Greeley |
and Brown. The liveliest interest was |
displayed by the company in the election, |
and Greeley Club was organized and put |
in readiness for effective work.
At o'clock the meeting closed, and
part of the company. including the writer,
adjourned to the hospitable board of that /
PRINCE OF GENTLEMEN
AID truest of patriots and foremost of en-
terprising citizens, Capt. Saunders, mem
Der Of the Liberal Republican State EXecu-
tive Committee-where an hour was most
delightfully."- spent. Returning to Durant
in time for the down-train at o'clock, of
the same night Saturday we were back
again-having travelled 120 miles by rail
20 miles by private conveyance-participa-
ted in a fine mass meeting-renewed old
and formed new ones-and at II
were back again in a condition to appreci-
ate The thanksgiving of Sancho Panza to the
inventor of sleep. Not the least gratifying
feature of the days adventure, were the
from Conservatives, Democrats and Repub-
licans that
FOUR HUNDRED MAJORITY
for Greeley and Brown may be set down
as a safe estimate for Alfalfa in the Novem-
Der election