The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-05-12
WHITE RIVER.

inc Inny udrber WITH bne BlllterlnB scdleS,
Who dwells. and revels in thy glossy
deeps;
While chance some scattered water-lily
sails
Down where the shallower wave still tells
its babbling tales"
Any one who consults the map Of
Arkansas will find that White river is
made up from numerous small streams
that rise in the hilly country, in the
northwest part of the state, and in
southwest Missouri. The general
course Of the river from the Missouri
line to Jacksonport, Arkansas, Is
southeast; here Black river joins it,
and from thence it runs almost south
until it mingles its waters with those
of the mighty Mississippi. 1t is a re-
markably long. stream, and steamboats,
ascend it as far as Forsyth, Missouri.
To me it an interest beyond the pur-
poses of navigation. l have taken its
6nny inhabitants with the hook, bright
and fresh from its sparkling waters;
shot the mallard and teal as they rose
from its CLASSY surface; hunted the
shaggy bear in its tangled cane brakes;
the bounding deer in its undulating
woodlands, and have bagged Bob
White in the rich fields along its fer.
tile bottoms.
Before its junction with Black river
the water is cold and clear and its
abounds in a variety Of fish, firm and
finely favored. Opposite the town of
Jaeksonport long sandy bar extends
some distance into the river, and off
this bar some splendid fish may be ia.
ken. They are the black bass and
striped bass; each kind readily takes
a minnow or crawfsh. The way IN
which we usually fished for them was
with long line, reel, sinker on end
Of line, and two hooks attached to the
main line by leaders or snoods; a cane
or bamboo pole completed the outfit.
The fish weighed from one to four
pounds, and could be taken very fast.
l.took there one morning before break
fast twenty-five, averaging about q
pound and half each. There is also
a fish called by the natives "jack
salmon;" he belongs to the pickerel
family. and is game fellow, and
would fight hard if he had a chance
but he never gets it. He loves deep
still water, and is taken fall and win
ter. We usually fshed for him of
some lumber RATS, moored near shore,
and he was KILLED by "main strength
and awkwardness." Fishing with a
short stout pole and strong line, after
a few desperate rushes, provided some
thing did not give way, be was Topped
upon the raft. That is the way they
do it out there. And going according
to the rule that when you are in Rome
you must do as the Romans do, fish
ed, hunted, and took the bottle, as did
the Arkansans.
This is the manner in which a ma.
tive takes drink OF. the road. Riding
one day with friend in the buggy we
met gentleman in another. Beth
pulled up, ] was introduced, then my
friend said laconically, "smiie ?" "You
bet," from the other. A bottle was
produced, and passed over. He seized
it, cleared his throat, said "here's
luck" closed his eyes, a smile of inef
| fable sweetness overspread his features
he protruded his head from his coat,
collar like a turtle from his she'll
stuck the neck of the bottle into his
mouth, threw back his head; there
was gurgling sould, convulsive
working of the throat. / thought oul
chance for drink from that bottle
was gone forever, but finally he stop.
ped swallowing and hssded it back.
"That man." said my friend, after
he had passed, sis a native"
"How do you knowP" asked.
"l can always tell them," he said
"by the way they hold on to bottle.
Sperits is a sine qua non in Arkansas
You take it in the morning 70 keep
out the malaria, at noon to get up an
appetite, and at night to get you over
the fatigues of the day. 1t is also ia,
ken between times for divers and sun,
dry reasons. 1t is reckoned a sover,
J eign remedy in measles, "to bring 'enl
out" and to cure the ague, when taken
as "bitters," and is said to be an ad.
mirable corrective after too free an
indulgence in "bar meat" Or buffalo
fish, and is sometimes taken on the
principle that the chair of the dog is
| good for the bite"
A native had the measles in his fam.
| lily; the spirits had departed forever
from his barrel. He went to neigh.
Dor to borrow a jugful Of the needful
Il havn't drop" said the neigh
Dor.
| "What," said he of the jug, "nc
speritsl Why it was only the week
before last that you got barrel"
4 = II Al