The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-08-28
AnImteresting Letter.

FOUNTAIN GREER, Aug. II, 1874.
DEAR HoRsLEY:-I found the Minis
nows. 1t would have delighted your
heart and generated a real enthusiasm
to see them march up the branch that
flows from Craig's Cave, i'll double col
umn at half distance. 1t seems that all
the minnows in Fountain Creek concen~
trate at the mouth OF this branch. The
water from the cave is cool and refresh-
ing, and hence, no doubt, this is their
favorite watering place. From this
cave flows a stream large enough to
turn machinery of great volume, and it
has bean utilized by that most enter
prising OF the citizens OF this country, j.
l.. Cline, The dam, not six feet square,
is just across the mouth OF the cave, and
confines the water in it until reQuisition
is made upon it tor mechanical purpO-
ses. Unfortunately for sight-seers, this
dam prevents adventures from eXplOr-
atoms, though l am told that party of
gentlemen a few years since went at
least five miles into the cave, but did
not reach the end. Why should our
citizens of Maury not be enterprising
enough to create sensation over this
remarkable cavern, and stop thousands
of visitors to see this one of natures
wonders? Ii half that was told me were
true, and were it located among a peO
pie that were enterpriSlng in humbugs,
it would be worth more money as it is
than ii filled with precious stones. AT
the mouth of the cave, Mr.. Craig has
hydraulic ram that throws the water to
his residence, which is situated on a
Very great eminence not far distant. 1t
is a rare combination OF advantages to
live upon high hill where all the re-
freshing breeZeS can reach one, and at
the same time have cool spring in one
corner of the house. Just north of this
cave is Campbell's Station, thriving
village.
J. L. Cline with his gins and thresh-
ers and steam mills, throws an air of
lie and business about the place that is
truly remarkable; and yet, if You were
to visit hin, bachelor az you are, you
would probably find the other side of
the creek more attractive. Mr.. Cline is |
not only enthusiastic in the application |
of water and steam to mechanical pur- |
poses, but also in live stock. IF you |
were to visit him and it would amply |
pay you to do so,) he would show you |
numerous families Of thriving pigs, his |
bloodedldogs, and, Mr.. Editor, you would |
go into ecstacies over his wonderful kit |
tens. Three years since pair OF Nal
teSe cats were imported from Illinois by |
Mr.. Cline, They are remarkably large !
and OF beautiful dun, Understandable col
or, and instead of the hair of ordinary
cats, they have fine, silky fur, which is
to the touch as soft as that which grows
upon the back of beaver. From these |
two cats forty-seven kittens have been
raised, and all so remarkably like their
parents, that no distinguishing marks
could be detected with the strongest
lens. If Darwinism be true with refer-
ence to his faVOrite theory, "the survi-
val of the fittest," in few years by pro-
cess Of natural selection, all our native
cats, not excepting that handsome edi-
al oat that ga no in |
tum, will be superseded.
Another attractive feature of this vii
lage is the school of Mrs. White. She is
a very superior teacher; possessing just
that tact and skill in governing her pu~
pills and imparting instruction, that is
Indispensable in the schOol-rooIn, and
yet is so rarely found.
From Campbell Station l made my
way down Fountain Creek to Culleokas
The road is a wretched one, and after
it, did not at all wonder that
Mr.. Cline's carriage few Sundays since
spilled him and his wife and three chilN
dren by being entirely upset, Are we
never to have the turnpikes so that our
families can at least go to church in
safety?
Your CulleOka correspondent keeps
you so well informed on all subjects of
interest, that it is entirely unnecessary
for Ine to write more. That singular
however, no made few
weeks ago, as regards 'the autumnal
hues of the beech trees" was singular
inversion of the truth, The trees wara
n23Ver greener nor fresher-particularly
the beech. What is more singular, is,
that if the statement were true, ne in at
tempting to account tor this phenome-
non, has i1Uerted the scientific princi-
pies that would bring about such re-
suit. Your correspondent must have
seen those beech trees through Mr.. But
ler's camera.
Capt. j. j. Jones carried me through
his apiary, one of the largest in the
He is a close observer of the
habits of bees, and by extensive obser-
watson and reading, has become well &C
1uainted with these insects, and has re-
duced their management to science.
He opens an account with every colony,
them with f st cost, house.
rent, board, when it is necessary to feed
them, and crediting them with the hon~
BY. He finds himself, though the seas
several hundred dollars, and has no
fears that they will ever bring suit
against him to repleYin the honey of
which they have been robbed. He has
made money this year by successfully
overseeing his bees. He has devoted
his time SO exclusively to this work that
he looks like queen bee'-but of the
humble bee genus. He has another
large apiary at Gen. Bowen's. This is
under the control of Bascom Jones, his
son, who favors his father, and is a
his father are pioneers in a branch of in
dustry that is destined to bring into
Maury county large revenues. X.