, 1874-12-26
Am Alubnnsa Elitlrtactcr-t* tsilc Of tho
Mast Distlnxuisiaod, lien i'll the

uuntsriite tAta.1 Let'eT 10 the Nt1c York 7f,aes.
Many characters peculiar to tho South appear
in tho streets OF Huntsville OIL "niggor tny."
Wltto WIZ closely watcling tho operations OF d
at cxhorbitant prices to q crowd OF lalf-ilotic
nagrocH, noticed that was botng al c1ogely
ohHervod by white man who stood noar by.
llo wns q very lair specimen Of d claAs too often
mot with III this pnrt Of tho country. Tall aud
commanding In figure, ho waB dressed in shabby
clothea OF docidel military cut short blue
coat lung carolaaHly OH hiH shoulders, and over
tniB mud under o broad-brimmcd, low-crowncd
hnt hun,'a 1Ishss OF greasy and uilc0mbca hair.
Ho had pair Of r,,sty black ktd gloves upon Ills
bands, and OIL his foot toI-boots, through whc1.
could be seen pair OF tern stockings. To the
heel Of hfn right booe silver spur Wna attached,
Tho man had not been shaved for wocI, hls
cyo fn1d TINT peculiar, wnte1y brightness wA,cl,
only atrong drink can give. aud tho unnatural
fotlnosH Of his noso proved boyont1 doubt that
whisliy-drinl,lng Was lB fayurito occupation.
Aftor staring at me for fully iiyu milutos% thia
gentleman walkctl over to whs,o I was standing,
aud, looking ME straight In tho eye, tocl,od Ills
Lat aud said very loudly: "Gaod morning sir,
You nra stranger in Huntsville?
"Yca. elr, atn stranger" Was my reply.
''Trayel|tlg for Northern houAo, no doubt ?"
raid l!o, nodpg bis head, and looking at ,ne In
detcctiye-lll;o way That was quito amusing.
paper correspondents"
At this time my now acquaintance became OK
ceodingy futnillar, aud, slappiug mo on tho
shoulder, exclaimed: "1'hcro, I could hayc
aworn it, sirl Yo'1 laTo juAs tho look OF it.
Glad to meet you, sir-cxcecdingiy glad. / will
10 most hhppy to giyo YOU every possible i'll
formation about our poop]o. I know thona well
born aud rafacd ntnong them, air. aed aa for
uiggers-owt,od 200 bstoro tho surreudcr." 1
wAa abort to express my gratitude for ttl,a kind
- Aud cut give tho dots in good gape. too.
H1r. arn writor myself Hfr md of 1lo u,en,i
ability rs hayo boen assured in this worry p}nco,
Air-in Ibis worry p'ace-by my 1ancnted friond
'Haso you written much for tho American
newspapers askod.
., VOL; a.! no' ar," said he, lleHita!ing md
tlla French press, Bis, tI1o French pross."
"9 o,dasn, thS; yG a0!btlGss ts apeak rson9" ead
moment he looked at me in tlliMlbfouhded sort
Of way TINT wns exceedingly laug1abte, aud
theN taHiig my arm. said, "Oh! by tho way,
bad forgotten, 8nppoHe NO 60 and haro tlrau4."
ut1der tho circumstances it wa9 impossible to
rofnse tho invitation, and l sscut with him.
We entered ono Of tho humorous groggeries
with which oVcry Eoutllorn town iB supplied.
aud, after lsiski"g, al he n.ntse 10 move 10 pay
tho bar-kcepor, was nbout to 10 no. whon lie
Of manner. said. "stop sir, / beg YOU; South
ern gentleman mover allows IL stranger to pay
for anything" Then, turning to tho l,arlcepor,
no continued, "Charge these drinks to me-"
inter which lie walked ont OF tho Btoro with tic
mir Of All Austrian GratId Duka. Arriving on tl,o
streot, ,,e bowed and left mo. subsequently,
whilo walking with ono OF tho muat extensive
bnHilIesB men liere, L met the min again. and
aakcd my trlc,d who l,o wns. waa exceedingly
nBtonisl,utl ut tho reply. s'That." said the mer-
cllant, "is Col. Tom -, n litLlouueor perhaps,
b't nevertheless. o,,s Of Ne most distinguished
men in orr Stale" | 1iild t1,at tho number of
.'nlobt diatlnguishod men who 1.-Two in tho conn-
try districts Of Alabama is amazingly large,