Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-06-29
To THE ED. OF THE NEWS; {;

i o TIE Ed. OF TIE y ENS
1t is just one week to-day since I
LETT my home on the line in company
with Sam Brewer and John &. Thom-
as, of Abingdon, for a trip to the
West. On our train were about go
young ladies from Mr.. Baldwin's
School at Staunton and Sullins Col
lege. who were returning 70 their
several homes. y meTrier crowd sell
dom gets together. We enjoyed their
mirth, ard in their society whiled the
hours pleasantly away, nOtwithstand
ing the heat and dust of travel. We
parted firm the last of our fair cOmpam-
ions at C0rinth, Miss, and there a
sense of loneliness, together with the
oppression of travel, took hold upon
and drove Us TO the platform of the
car for fresh air. While standing up
"n the platform we passed little sta
ti0n ia West Tennessee, where was as
sembled a large crowd of dusky SOY
Creigns who were marching back and
forth under tho inspiration of music.
Scarcely a white man was to bI seen
upon the grounds. l thought it was
muster day, bat was Informed that
they were there 10 exercise the exalted
privilege Of voting for the location of
the size of The new county which had
been formed hy The Legislature OF tie
State. 1t WAS not long after we look
ed upon this swarthy crowd until we
were ushercd into the City Of Roses
we stopped at the Worsham House,
au excellent Hotel. easy of access from
tie principal streets and business
places of the city. Ihe heat was too
oppressive for extended rambles, and
t. have taken passage on the street
ears would have defeated the objects
suuGht for. At $50 p. NJ, we started
fer the Capitol OF Arkansas. The first
forty miles Of our route was through
sWamps and marshes. The rOaG-bed
for his entire distance is supported by
uprights of different altitude. Moth
ing meets the eye on either side of the
road but q wild waste of wood and
stagnant waters, except now and then
a cabin or two relieves the monotOny,
but they are, like the railroad, mount
ed on stills.
You can immagine what must have
been our impression of the West where
such a prospect welcomed our en-
trance. 4 fairer country lay just
ahead of us. The golden sunset hight
ed up q section as cheerful and lovely
as the swamp regions were, dreary
and repulsive.
1t is only 135 miles from Memphis
to Little Rock, and yet we did not
reach the latter until o'clock Sunday
morning. 1t was not long after we
left the cars before we were snugly
quartered at the MetrOpOlitans We
were perfectly delighted with Little
Rock. a prettier city we have never
seen. Markham Street lies along the
bank Of the beautiful Arkansas, and
runs parallel with the river for mile
or two. The State House, large, an
tiquated, unsightly building, is not re-
moved from the Metropolitan but one
square. Here we fingered for some
time, looking at the fruits of Brooks
and BaXter's mad ambition, The
large folding doors are partly torn
from their hinges and the lower pam,
els chopped off with axes and battered
to pieces. The massive pillars IN the
vestibule are riddled with shot, win
dow glass broken out and the trees and
shrubbery Of the yard defaced and
SCARED wonderfully. 1t presents the
appearance of some deserted fort. Inc
people of Arkansas have not yet re-
covered from the bad effects and lnnu-
ences of this disgraceful broil.
Maj Triplet, an old Nirginian, res
ident at this place, says that Little
Rock was on the road to prosperity
before the sad occurrence to which we
have alluded. The population of the
CITY at the time Brooks and Baxter
were fighting over the governorship
of the State was estimated at 10000,
now from Is, 900 to II, 600 is all that is
claimed for it. We had the exalted
honor of seeing his Honor, Mr.
Brooks. who is now the Postmaster
for the city.
We attended services to-day at the
lst PRESBYTERIAN Church. Heard a
good sermon from the pastor, DR..
Welsh. He has a large beTshlp,
and vet but a handful was out. TOOK
occasion to step into the NortheIh
Methodist Church, one among the
largest in the place, and there was not
more than q dozen persons IN aC1ehu-
ance.
Little Rock is certainly a very wick
ed place. The ministry have adopted
the plan Of getting up on the street
corners in the evening TO proclaim the
message of the Son OF God. Drug
Stores, Liuuor Saloons, GamDllhg
Hells, and in fact all kinds oil business
are kept open and carried on here Oh
the Sabbath day.
lust up the Arkansas river 3 miles,
at what is called the big Rock, Is
the resort of the German population oI
the city. Their they spend thelr Iouh'
ts-r L FsfH