The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-09

climate, soil productions, the disadvat'
ages to be undergone on that account, the
existence of Agricultural Unions, to
which negroes are not admitted, and
above all sufferings that any emigrant
must undergo who finds himself in a
strange country without money, food OF
clothing. On the other hand it argues
the advantages Of the negro, in having a
warm climate and in being acquainted
with the soil and the best manner of pro-
ducing, in knowing how to take advant-
age of the seasons, how to use the differ
ent implements Of agriculture, and in a
word, the advantages of being at home.
| But to resume. at last reached my
destination, Watson. The place consists
of two saloons and one store-house, and
is in the bosom Of vast swamp. 1t was
once a railway station, but the company
having removed the track some twenty
miles to the south, Watson is in state
of decline. The reason for its existence
is no longer extant, and it will soon be
no more. The reason l have dilated
upon this classical village at such length
is because it possesses enc quality in
greater bulk than any other place in the
world. That is solitude.
When 1 am old and wrinkled and
gray, when my head is bowed down with
age, and my brain wearied with the
strife and turmoil Of the busy outside
world, will fly to Watson, that home
Of the hermit, that monument of soil
tude. Only two men in the place
seemed to possess half the life of ordi-
nary mortals. They were cotton buyers,
representing rival Memphis firms. One
of them did summon resolution enough
to whisper in my ear that 'it did seem
like some cotton men wanted to let peo-
pie know they were damphools," but he
"did not see any use in making the thing
so public"
After supper I felt in need Of repose,
and ordered one room and three beds. /
slept soundly until morning, when / pre-
pared to draw up deed of trust on all
my real estate for the benefit of my
landlady, but was pleasantly disap-
pointed when ] found that she only de-
sired all my ready cash. ... ...,
The return to Terrene was accom-
plished without more incident than start
ing few deer and one huge black bear,
not to speak Of myriads Of squirrels and
wild fowl. ...l
As luck would have 1t, was in time
for the return trip of the Ouachita
Belle, and made happy by the smiling
faces of several of my companions on the
down trip.
Our recruit was the "moneyed travel
er," another the Commercial tourist"
another the gentleman from Catfish
Point" and the fourth a grandson of
Col. Wick, the first man that "ever drove
a nail' in Vicksbure Miss, and for
whom the place is named. This grand
son was on his way to Memphis where he
hoped to obtain a situation as clerk.
What sermon there is in that sentence!
The"moneyed traveller" considered that
his money would back him in any re-
mark he made. He discovered his mis-
take when he shook his gray head at the
commercial tourist, who had mildly re-
marked that he''would be d. if he did not
sell some plows before he went home;"
and thinking to get off a capital hit of
repartee remarked that he "would be d.
anyway"
A game of euchre was formed, the
drummer, the Vicksburg man, and two
farmers making the party.
"Cut for DEAL" said the drummer.
"Mr. johnson, what kind of plows do you
use?-order you up, Mr.. Jones-can't l
sell you your plows this season? Pass
again-you need four-inch with coul-
ter, gentlemen, for your land, and can
put 'em to you cheaper than any man in
the trade" and SO on, until I finally
dropped off to sleep, and dreamed that
that my head had been fenced and plowed
over with an OK team and four-inch plow
with coulter attached.
The gentleman from Catfish Point
received that name from an exploit at
the supper table. The waiter served his
supper in little Dishes as usual, one of
them containing piece of mackerel.
Our friend no sooner saw it than his face.
lit up with an angelic smile, and posing
his fork gracefully in the air he swooped
down upon it with the agility of cat,
accompanied by the feline exclamation,
"What kind of fish is this, anyhow,
cat" The drummer and the Wick man
concluded very suddenly that they did
not want any more supper, and went out
to howl.
The first morning after landing in
Memphis I met the gentleman from Cat
fish Point searching for a marble yard.
Knowing his fear of yellow fever, and
having heard him express wish to be
inferred with honors when he died, /
naturally concluded that he was going to
give orders for monument, to be deliv-
cred next summer, but he said no, he
had heard there were some beautiful
works Of art there, and wanted to see if
they looked like the things he had read
about in the "Vaticum."
NED WILLOUaHBY.