Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-12
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
MoMNNrILlE, TErr.. Anil 5. ls7s.


McMINNTILLE, TENN. April s, 1873.
This usually quiet, unique, New Eng
land looking little metropolis OF the
mountains never seemed so entirely de
void Of animation as now. The railroad
train consisting Of a locomotive and ten.
der, a baggage and q passenger car goes
out in the morning to Tullahoma, thirty
Eve miles distant, and returns with 0
passenger or two, a little freight and the
mail 10 the afternoon. A neat omnibus
on which passengers pay twenty-five
cents, connects the hotel and the rest Ui
town with the train twice a day. A fac.
tory bell, rang gently as il only to arouse
the operatives and not the rest Of the In
habitants, is heard at morning and noon,
The bell of the female college joins in
the chorus to summon bright.eyed aud
dreamy young misses to the duties of the
day. Merchants have few entries to
make, doctors few calls at this or any
other season, and lawyers are undis-
turbed by clients. The very flies and
bumblebees have mufaed wings and a sub.
dued hum. No wagons come in from
the country; no drummers hustle around
with samples and price lists, and the
sight Of o stranger would attract as
much attention as a civic section
OF our Mardi. Gras. This ia seed
time with the farmer and the gard
nsr, The people are not coming to town.
The candidate who seeks their suiIrages
must follow them in the pillow furrow.
They are at work and lave been for
weeks taking the utmost advantage oil
the favorable weather. All kinds Of
farming operations are some weeks ahead
OF average years, and the prospects Of a
splendid grain and fruit crop were never
more encouraging. In this part of the
State the people are selfsustaining and
do not trouble themselves about cotton.
Their surplus products consist Of corn,
wheat, oats, potatoes. etc. Stock Of all
kinds is easily raised and sent to market
at a good price. Money is scarce, but
living is cheap, and the people are better
off and more independent than in the
cotton-growing sections, where every
body is in debt and trying to get more
credit. Everybody about here seems to
be in comfortable circumstances aud
c~ontented. This is one Of the bealthiest
and cheapest places in the State for q
GUNNER resort. The scenery is bold,
broken and romantic, afording a thous'
and aspects from different stsndpointS
Society is good. Schools and churches
abound. The river which winds around
the town, at the foot of cedar crowned
cliffs over gravely beds,invites those fond
Of welding the 6shing-red or the oar,
and the woods a small game
Far removed from the din aud turmoil o.
crowded c%ities, yet enjoying all the ad
vantages of town aud country combined
communicating easily with the outside
world, the people Of McMinnville look
down on Nashville and Memphis with
administration rather than envy or un
grati6ed desire. There is no necessity
for tie Murphy movement here, no com
plants that the chief OF police does moi
clear the town of gamblers or confidence
men, because these classes are unknown
here. They know hat walking is rathe
rough and wisely keep away. But
must not be supposed that this mode
town is devoid of excitement, amuse
ment or gossip, or Of a zcst for the ra
tional enjoyment of social and intellect
nal pleasures.
The best advertised society drama Q
the times was enacted here last month
The following letter dated McMinnville
March 3, 1878, appeared in a Nashvill
paper, and was copied generally by th
press throughout the country;
For the first time in the memory Of GU
Oldest lawyers, the ladies, during th
past Two days, have attended court Ell
masse. Our whole city has been excite
to the highest pitch over the trial of th
case Of Miss Carrie Beaumont, a beauti
ful young lady of our town, against b. {
Scott, a wealthy and fascinating youn
merchant, for breach of promise OF mai
risge. The lawyers in the case wer
Womack and Murray and Frank SpuI
lock, for plaintiff, and Whitson, Lind 40
Armstrong for defendant. They deserv
great credit for the efficient manner Il
which the suit was prepared for trial. +
II. Smith, ESQ special Judge, presideI
with much dignity and ability, winning
for himself much honor and populsrit.
BY hisable and impartial rulings through
out the whole trial, as we'll as by deliver
ing to the jury a charge that would hayI
done credit TO the Oldest lawyer in Ten
nessee.
Much interest was manifested through
out the trial. The plaintiff, by her INC
dest ~demeanor, VOL the sympathy Of a
present.
When the testimony, which made
clear case Of a promise and q breach I
i, was concluded, P-gument Of couns'