The Osceola times., 1875-12-25
Our Trip to Hiokman-The De-
nouement.

| '"NOH " HhShS tlS tiip iioAh OeNeO-
Ia, Ark, to Hickman, Ky, dis
tauce OF some 1870 or 10 miles,, we
landed safely on the old wharf, at
II o'clock, NJ, on Tuesday, the II,
inst; and as the never-to be forgot
ten event which had called US thith-
er, would not take place until the
next evening, We gave ourselfup to
the task of sightseeing and dong
the town: Safely depositing our
wardrobe, Ga paper collar and
pair Of socks), we first visited the
Courier Office, where we were made
to feel at homo by the genial and
sociable editor and proprietor, Mr..
Wilson, and his clever assistants,
who kindly extended us the privi-
lcge ofthc sanctum during our stay.
We next VISITED the Levi Brothers,
whose smiling faces are as familiar
TO the people of Osceola as are
| the intonqtions of the several din
ner bells. In fact, the Osccola par
ty were rather. inclined to make
their place orbusiness headquarters;
whe her because of their familiar
acquaintance with these gentlemen,
or of the quality of their goods, we
are not ab lc to s@y, but certain IT
is, that the party will ever remem-
bcr the Levi boys for the many
acts OF kindness and courtesies ex-
tended during our stay. Hickman
is, par excellence, neat, quiet, and
orderly town, with a population OF
some two thousand inhabitants,
who boasts of six Churches, several
good Schools, a circulating library,
o Furniture Mandatory, a Wagon
Factory, II Printing office, a Tin
Shop, Livery Stable and, three Sa-
looms. The latter, however, are
about being starved out by the
Temperance Societies. The Ma
sons and Odd Fellows, jointly, have
spleadid three story blick build
ing, the upper story OF which is
used by both fraternity as lodge
room. Aside from these, and The
attractiveuess Of ,be air o. refine
ment and elegance which pervades
the place, Hickman is virtually
dead at least, the place looks like
it was finished and ready for pack
ing and shpment-the sound of
the hammer and the whirr Of the
saw is not heard in Hickman true,
the merchants are doing local bu
sinoss, " hioa seems to satisfy them;
I but 1t struck us es though thers
WAS something lacking-there was
not that air of "get up-and get
which should characterize the bust
ness men ofa town the size OF Hicl-
man; but perhaps, we may be mis-
taken, and that 'unbeknownst TO
the Osceola visitors, business was
suspended, the better to afford us
an opportunity to see the town.
Whatever may be smiss, or may
have tended to the decline of her
business prospects, Hickman, and
we say it with pleasure, contains as
clever, sociabls, and bospitable a
class Of citizens as ever it has been
our fortune TO meet, and we would
lake this occasion, and in behalf oil
those who with us enioycd the
pleasures of Hickman society, to
express our warmest thanks, for
the friendly, courteous, and hospl-
table manner in which we were re.
ceiyed and entertained while So
ijourning in their romantic town.
Romantic 1t certainly is; it's lofty
hills, commanding uninterrupted
views OF the surrounding country,
as far as the eye can reach !; its pre-
cipitous bluffs, where the laddles
and lassies of the place are wont to
wander and unburden the pent up
affections OF signing hearts. The
moon, though she smiles so inno-
Gently, could tell OF many twilight
interviews, when the whippoor-
vjlI'ssona came floating on zephir's
wings, the signal of rendezvous,
and Of happy meetings about those
same bluffs. Hickman, besides be
ing romantic, has quite taste for
mythology it would seem from the
names she applies to her hills and
grottoes for instance, she las the
Lovers Leap" the Bridge of
Sigh's," etc. Whether some love
sick maid, under the hallucination
that a fearful leap from this point
INTO he dismal abyss below, was
n snecLfic for lns cnrAlnc distemner