The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-06
uIDDLE TENNESSEE.
Crop rrospecss-A Grand Fish Fry
"Snaifks.- Etc.


SMITH Co., Tenn, Aug. /, IA
| The undersigned reached this por-
ton of "the vineyard" the day after
leaving Milan, and found everything
here in Satu quo, that is, about as it
has been for the last ten years. The on
" change-if any at Gll-has been to
the detriment of the country. L find
woful want Of the pluck and "get
up characterizing our Milan country,
everything running in the dnte-bellam
ruts, and but little enterprise in
/ this section. 1t is said that when
old St. Peter returned to the earth
he needed guide all over Europe
| $50 great was the change in the coun-
Try until he came to Spain, where he
discharged his guide, saying that eve
rything in Spain was about as when
he left. The same is the case here.
| The same old landmarks are here
scarcely road changed or new
farm opened. But the same Old peo-
ple-hospitable, generous, noble peo-
ple-that made Smith county hospi-
tality q household word, are here vet.
The war has swept away their prop
cry, ruined their homes, and scatter
ed ashes and ruin over the land, but
neither war nor pestilence has changed
the innate nobility of the people of
Smith county.
| find the crop prospects here
gloomy indeed. Never since "a has
there been such cry of want of rain.
The crops in Harpeth bottoms and /,
thence TO Nashville are very fine;
from Nashville to Lebanon more than
an average, while here the land will |
in many cases fail to make the seed .
back. No tobacco is planted, and
those who raise no corn will have no
money to buy corn. This will he a
hard year with the people here, as it
will be with us. In the midst of the
drouth it looks strange to see the
Cumberland River rise eight feet in
four days, which is the case now, ow-
ing to the heavy rains in Kentucky.
Yesterday gay party of Us, armed
with fishing tackle, a basket of eata-
ulas and a bottle Of ''snake medicine!
sirick out for the "big rock" to catch
fish. This "big rock" is a huge mass
Of stone (wrcnched from the bluff, !
" hich here rises two hundred feet
above the level of the creek about
the SIC Of Jorda'S drug store, fiat
on top, and underneath the fish
abound, being in Il measure protected
fioln the pirates - usually termed
sainerS-who create such sad havoc
anon. them. Here, while the ladies
rested, we caught "craw-fish" for
bait ! found that | had, in the fiji
teen years since | had last tried to
.ltch them, lost the art, and came out ;
second best in the catch. But if |
md been beaten badly in crawfshing
was beaten even worse in fishing
or larger game. Not one but was
ahead Of me when | quit, even my
Dctter-half beating me shameful,y.
But women can always beat lis fish
ng, is my experience. We had a
inc dinner of fried fish, which all
cemed to enjoy finely. | found plcn- i
V Of snakes, and always took little t
# the SNAKE medicine" every one ]
aw: and, | must say, that the more t
| took the more snakes / ]
aw. | attribute it to the weather, I
Though the others persisted in de- 4
laring they could see none of the i
creatures. However,
zone succeeded in getting into nv a
'oots, although there were holes v
nough and large enough to admit a
'ua constructor. The catch was splen- 4,
i'll in number and small in size.
ried the fish and made the coffee,
lille Miss -, my better-half and
i'm sat by making invidious remarks,
OF complimentary at all to the meth
d. After cooking | got but little, !,
he rush Ga Ia barbecue and the de- i
land (the famine prospects account I,
~ FOR it, being too great for my sue o.
eSs in this line. In fact, out of ff- l.
1-five fish cooked | got but one, our IF
etter-halt getting ten, jim ten, and r
liss - thirty-four, and all joined in
| the Oliver Twist chorus for "more." r,
became disguised and had to console II
Iyself with a little "more" of the -,
ledicine. Next week we are to try G
lie fishing again in Round Lick
eek, and after a couple of weeks of
screation return to Milan to put on Ii
he harness again. More anon.
MAX.
T. S.-Have not seen that pig. -.
lave plenty to feed him on. .,
Vote for II. II. Elliott for Regisfer th