The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-06-04
Letter from William,
EAsr M1ss1ssrpPI. Man 2e, Is74.

ments in reference 10 crops. knowing
that your readers are more interested on
that subject than on any other, l have
taken some pains to ascertain the real
state of affairs, agrieulturaliy, in this
section. What wrote you in former
letter was objected to by the Homestead,
and YOU felt called upon to suggest that
your correspondents statement be can
vassed. The readers Of the CLARION
must know by this time that my knowl-
edge is confined to my own nelghoor-
hood pretty much, and that l am not AS
extensively informed as the Homestead.
The editor of that paper, being very ag-
ricultural by nature and training has the
advantage of me. / hope that my preVi-
GUS statement was incorrect. Another
'.innocent," however writing to the Nindt
Gator from BrooksvilIe makes state
ment similar to mine. BE the acreage
of cotton what it may, the prospect for a
crop is to day worse than l ever saw De-
fore. Since the rains ceased, four
weeks have passed and the earth Is
| baked Cotton is small and the
ground is so thoroughly baked, that
| i is not possible for the plant TO Hour
ish until relieved by a shower OF ram.
| After that no matter how seasonable the
summer may be, the cotton VIII De late
! in acquiring size of weeds suflcIent !"
bear ain average crop. a frost as carry
/ As the first that occurred last season VIII
be more damaging than at any time pre-
| vious for many years. These facts are
| certainly not favorable to large crop,
added to these is the further fact, that all
the little rivers, branches, and creeks OF
| the country constantly overlooked their
banks and the valleys adjacent tor weeks,
at the very time cotton should have been
planted. and large per cent. OF the most
productive lands of this country had 10
| be prepared after the rains. Owing to the
succeeding drouth, this preparation Is
of the most imperfect character. Much
cotton is now coming up very sparse
| ly for the want of rain
Worse, if possible, than other causes
unfavorabIe to the outlook, i the scar
city of money and supplies. The merchants
are drawn upon beyond their ability, and
the farmers have no money. Every IN
terest is languishing. A little money at
a low rate of interest seems to be lmpera-
lively demanded If it is true, as stated,
that there is a much larger per cent OF
grain planted this year than heretofore,
very short crop Of cotton, the shortest per
haps since the war, will be gathered next
Fall.
The people of the East are warmly in
favor of immigration, and are organizing
societies throughout the country 10 pro-
mote theintroduction ofwhite labOr-notas
dav lab1rers. but as landowners and pro
nrietors. Ii j. to be hoped that these
societies may succeed Mr.. Jones says
that a society for the promotion OF love
Of work among our own people Is now IN
order.
The new liquor law is not generally APP
proved; not that our people are III favor OF
intemperance, but they regard the law as
unwise, and as an innovation upon an
established order of things, that seems TO
them uncalled for There is, however,
quite a respectable minority in favor Of
the law.
The educational interests of our section
are by no means such as to afford us graf
ifcation The public schools are carried
Oh for a short time, and during that time
it is not possible to maintain an ndepen-
dent school. The Chancellor Of the Uni.
versity, in his article No. 2, says; ''With
few honorable exceptions, the schools OF
the State rarely ever send on pupils fitted
for the Freshman class" No hope Of es
tablishing schools for higher classes Is in
dulged in in the faceo so much untriend- /
ly legislation 1t is suggested that the
payment of tuition for instruction in the /
University be required, and fellowship |
and good neighborhood be established be-
tween the starving professional teachers |
and the salaried faculty at Oxford.
Political subjects are not discussed /
among the masses. Grievances are men /
toned and regarded as inevitable, bur /
dens are borne with little murmuring, /
and every man seems to live with no spec /
ial object in view, except to provide for
the present. Marrying seems to be the /
only institution that fourishes. The |
boys and girls will fall in love and will /
marry. Old widowers are as simple as
ever, and as many thoughtless filings at
mothers-in-law are made now as were
previously. Some of the colored friends
put on and put off the wedding garments
with equal facility and there is no sub
franchised need more instruction than
upon the subject Of matrlmony.
The religious status is only tOlerable
We hope to see some good old camp
meetings next Fall. They are the insti-
tutions for country folks. One encoura-
ging sign in this behalf is the general in
terest manifested in Sunday Schools
Ground children in a sound moral and
faith, and they will grow up in
to the same character of men and women
Almost every country church now has a
Sunday School There should be no ex-
ception.
We need more singing masters. The
music in our country churches is not so
good as when the singing master was
more esteemed. The singing in some
of our churches, however, that keep up
musical practice, will thrill you with that
sweet melody, peculiar to the country,
and fill you with a spirit Of devotion.
To sum up the news from this section, we
may by condensing obtain the following
results:
1st The prospect for cotton crop is
very poor.
End. The scarcity of money is unprece-
dented.
3rd. There are no supplies to be had
except through the merchants, and they
cannot meet the demand.
4th. Politics are not discussed.
9th. The people continue to marry.
9th. Education is at low ebb, and
getting worse
18th. Religion is at stand, and the liq-
uOr law is unpopular
Sth. Societies are forming to induce
IMMIGRATION whilst nearly every small 4