The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-12-27
Letter from, William.
CENTRAL, TlxAs, Dec 10, 1876

that X was publisae hecaISe 1 nave re-
cefved at least one hon ired letters from
different portions of th- State OF Mi>sissip-
pi beginning: Dear William. read your
letter in the CLARION, and havif z long de-
sired to go to Texas etc. etc The great
majority of these letters are from teachers
and doctors, quite sprinkle from LAWYERS,
and not few from Young men seeking a
SOFT place in Business, with no definite
idea of what they desire. The nature OF my
business here forbids my attempting 10
write to all the parties who are seeking in
formation. l will, therefore, write t. you,
and get you TO print the letter, so every per-
son IN " read.
| will state, in the first place, that | am
working for wages, and have no time to
look after matters in general. ] have never
been half Il mile from where this let
ter is written, except To town, and cOnse-
quently have 10 opinion of the country,
formed from personal observation. Ny
business throws me, however, Ia contact
with the very best people OF the State, and
from ali portions of the State; and l con-
clude as follows:
Two classes of mel can do we'll in Texas,
the river. lst. Gentlemen who have cash
capital can tind investments here without
any trouble, provided they are shrewd
and experienced in such things If they
do not possess these qualities, they can find
investments; but they are almost certain TO
lose their capital
ri. Young men, strong in body and
strong in resolution, who have made up
their minds to 20 to work in the field, and
deny themselves all of the social advantages
of clden settlements, can do well. As
an instance, yesterday | was approached
by youth, say eighteen years Of age. who
IEqoireG if was from Mississippi. | re-
piled in the affirmative, when he said he
was from Lee county. said he had heard OF
Mr. Jones and Barney Trice and had seen
Bro. David johnson, but not his fish trap.
WAS much pleased. A first | was inclined
TO fail upon his neck and to lift up nv
voice and weep; but l reconsid red The
young man said lie came to this neighbour
hood year ago, with his mother and three
brothers, younger than himself and had
just sold n bales of cotton for $1,000, and
had at home 600 bushels of corn. | iuquir-
ed ifthat was an average yield. He said it
was more than an average on uplauds, but
not an average for the Brazos bottom.
think THIS statement must be more satiSfac-
tory than merely giving an opinion.
Now for my correspondents; and first Of
all | answer inquiries of teachers. So far
a | am able to Judge there is 40 opening
here TOR teachers TO make more than Il very
poor living. Indeed | think a teach
er in Mississippi who wishes to move
would do well to 90 east. There are many
good teachers here and "A number Of i'm.
diffe! cnt ones. At all events, the supply
exceeds the demand. These observations
apply to ladies as well as to gentlemen.
First class teachers can do well here, after
they get acquainted; but there i oae pc
culiarity with Texas people, they care very
little for letters of Introduction or recon-
mcndation, pretering to put man or trial.
This is quite an ordeal for good men, who
are advanced in life and have little time TO
spare; consequently, that class had better
stay away. For doctors there is no opening
equal to the inducements i'm Mississippi.
except that there is a great stream of fmmi-
grafton pouring in upon US, all the time.
and new counties are forming and filling
up every year. If a young doctor will 90
out on the borders of civilization, and wait
awhile, he will be called for ard will sue
coed. but il the older districts, 10 more
doctors are needed. The same observations
apply to lawyers.
The class OF correspondents that interest
me most a. e young men without profess
sion or trade, who wish to come to Texas !
RI,
Let ne say to them-beware that you do |
not make a mistake, when you leave your
home and friends and come here without |
some well defined purposes, and means for
carrying them out. | am constantly re-
3eiving letters from young men, whom | |
knew in Mississippi, asking me either to |
get them something to do, or to loan them
a small amount of money. These young |
men left their homes, thinking, when they |
got here, something would turn up."
Things turn here like they do there. The
avs of Inertia obtain here as there. There
) another circumstance for these restless
Toung men to consider, something that Mr..
Jones told me last year If you see Il good
nan here, nine times out of ten he was
broken up and disheartcned in Mississippi:
nd he is trying to get a start, consequently.
lc is unable and indisposed to assist Others.
Every man for himself is the idea here.
n conclusion Of this subject, | have no hes
taton in saying that there are more YOUNG
nen in Texas, out of erl ployment and out
# means, dissatisfied AID respondent, than
an be found elsewhere
l do not wish to be understood as decrv
ng this country. 1t is great State-bas
II the physical clements of prosperity, but
hese elements must be developed by Gatient
nd skilled industry. The time has passed
hen pretendcrs and unskilled persons can
ucceed IN medicine, law, the ministry or
n the mechanical arts. The doctors, law
ers, preachers and mechanics here are
len OF ability, in about the same ratio a / !
\ your state; and severe com petition makes ,
hem studlOuS, watchful and industrious
XIII, integrity and assiduity will succeed I
ere as they do and will in your State. / :
ave written the foregoing. aud hope all nv {
who have not received a / .
liter directly from my hands, will regard
MS as a reply to his or her inquiry. i be- |
ing to the class. who was broken down i'm '
llsslSslppl, in fortune, and am attempting :
} rebuild where memorials of the past NAV
OF dlShearten me for the future Mr.
ones left Georgia and regretted it. So did /
left dear old Mississippi, and frequent j
question the pr0priety of the move. but J.
neither for better or for worse. am here
stay, and to lay my bones in the soil of !,
eXaS. i
One Sunday, however, with my old sing L
z society, in East Mississippi, with Mr.. i
ones and Mrs. Cornelia, and with Brother y
NTH and with Barney Trice of Verona. !
avid johnson of Fulton, and George /
elsh of DeKalb, is worth thousand .
ncng strangers Let the old society sine !,
ext Sunday, and think Of me:
Am | a soldier of the cross - o
Inc ffesldentlal election, with its COM u
lcations, produces here, profound sensa- n
on. All OF u rejoice at your success over :
ere, but fear that there await you in the +
Ear future, trials of courage and fortitude. a
at VIII put to the test all of those virtues 2
at yol may have in reserve a