The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-24
NOTES AND SKETCHES.

NOTES AND SKETCHES.
THROUGH THE soUTH-BUsINEss AND TRAF-
FIC-HINTs ON THE WING.
From an Occasional Correspondent OF the sentinelD
OPELIKA, Ala, March 10, lS74.-After
writing you from Corinth, Mississippi,
took up my line of march for Chattanooga,
tennessee, stopping, however at many
places on the way. Among Others were
luka, CORTLAND, Decatur, Huntsville and
Stephenson. These places are all on the
line of the Memphis and Charleston rail-
road. found the people along this line of
travel happy, prosperous and contented.
Upon arriving at Stephenson found that I
would have TO lay over about
two hours, and, with an eve to
business, / debarked, and accosting
a hiteenth amendment who was leaning
over cotton bale, said, "Boy-is there an
undertaken in this placer" ''Yes SIR" said
the darkey. "Who is he and where will /
find him?" asked, His name is S.
and you will find him in dat store. ober
oar, SAID the darkey, pointing across the
and saluted a crowd who were sitting around
the flre, with "How are you, gentleman
cold day, &C." No enc appearing to nav
any attention to me, / approached a tall,
lean, and cadaverous looking individual,
who was standing behind the counter and
whose complexion suggested diet of tallow
candles. and asked him if Mr. S-w was in.
Yes sir, that is him." said the graveyard
looking clerk, pointing to a man who was
entertaining the crowd with list of the
wrongs perpetrated ny the south upon the
people of the northern states, during
and before our late unpleasantness.
approached the person designated
and said, Excuse me for inter-
ruptine you, but / am told you are
an undertaken and if So wish to see Won
for few moments" The fellow stopped
tall&ing-iolded his arms across his BREAST
looked at me in a way, and with an eve that
seemed to say, young men prepare 70 meet
your Cod and with voice that seemed to
terence. said: mo, sir, | am not an under
tsker, am politician" begged his par
don and started for the train.
THE 18th AMENDMENT RISES TO EXPLAIN,
On my way back, met the darkey who
had given me the information, and in much
anger, said to him, boy, what in the
devil madeyou tell me---was an undertake
err" He is, Boss" said the darkey, II has
knowed dat man for dis long time he would
swear pitch pine board was white oak
shingle; he would make a Niger steal
chickens, and den beat him out of
dose chickens playing "seven up''-staking
counterfeit script against the chickens-dat
iellar. Why, boss, dat fellar would steal
saw mill and go back after de dam-he am a
carpet Dagger, and amt that what YOU call
an undertaker-?" s'No bow" said /: ssftis
not. will tell yOu what an undertaken is;
ne is a man VINO earns his bread by the
sweat OF his face; he is man who deals hon.
estly and honorably with all mankind: he
is man who can lie him down to pie asant
dreams. because he has conscience void of
offence toward all men; in short, an under
taker IS one Of the MOBILES specimens of
the great Jehovah's handiwork-'an honest
man. For few moments this poor, I'M
lettered negro looked at me with wonder
and establishment depicted on his counte-
nance and tears chasing each other down his
cheeks like rain, when, with a voice
tremulous with emotion, he exclaimed
:" Is dat so, boss is dat so? Well, dar was
lots Of dem here before de war. when we
worked for de master; but dey is ali gone
now, dey Is all gone, and dene is muffin here
but scallawags and carpet baggers. Oh,
wish de good ole times would come again."
L gave this poor darkey quarter and took
my departure for Chattanooga. at which
place arrived in due time. Around and
close to this'city are Missionary Ridge, Look
out Mountain, and other places that will be
ever memorable in history. / went
to Knoxville, Tennessee, and from
there to Atlanta, Georgia. This place
was once visited by one Sherman,
whose sir maine was William Tecumseh
During his stay in Atlanta the
city was very brilliantly illuminated. At
lanta is now noted for the enterprise of her
citizens, the beauty of her women and for
the finest hotel in the United States the
Kimball house,. From Atlanta, I came to
Opehka, where am now stopping with my
friend Cooper of the Opelika house. Cooper
is one of the best fellows in the world, and
all travelling men who fail to stop with
Cooper will-miss a treat. But of Cooper
and my future travels. MORE ANON.