The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-08-25
WE,r Po1Nr. July 2Ist. 1881.

WEST PoINT, July DIST. 1881.
EDITORS CLARI1S am aware that let
tiers imparting mere individual expert
ence are often oppressive 70 the patience OF
an editor, and no less burdensome to that oi
his readers but a this one has reference
70 some OF the eminent persons in our State,
and is somewhat descriptive Of very in
teresting portion oft, 1 hope you may deem
it worthy Of place in your columns.
| had spent several days durin.; the early
part OF this month in the sultry atmosphere
Of New Orleans when I met there your old
friend, Col. RDderick Seal, who, on learn
ing that / would p thence to see my dis
tinguished kinsman, Hon. J. +. H. CIai-
borne, a. Bay st. Louis, invited me to 90
with him to his home at Mississippi City,
with the promise that when | had passed a
day or two with him he would accompany
me on my visit to Col Claiborne. | ac-
cepted the kind invitation. And now,
Messr4 Elitors, did you ever visit Col.
Roderick seal? IL is needless for me TO say
to you that he is one Of natures nobIemen,
refined and rpenel by the culture Of every
manly excellence, If you have never been
his guest, and have 4 good appetite for fine
fish, fresh oysters and fat crabs if You wish
to inhals the most invgorating breeze, and
enjoy a hearty feast Of soul, 20 1T once to the
Sea-shore AMI become his guest. He has a
beautiful residence situated near the beach
The tides lash the shore but few yards dis
tant from his gate, and when they ebb there
lie his oyster plants scattered upon the bed of
the sea- where he raises oysters of the finest
quality and in great abundance. His hos
pitality reminds me Of that Of the old time
gentry Of Virginia, to which my boyhpod
days were inured and which my memory
cherishes 50 wildly. And his courtly hos
pitality was fully shared and abetted by his
admirable lady, kind, motherIy, and in
teliectuaI, her face beams with an ipteIli-
gence and bepeyolence that inspire admira-
ton and you wish that such influence
could be more widely felt, you almost re-
gret that these kind people are hemmed in
on one side by the sea. After rendering my
visit as pleasant Is every attention and
ministering circumstance could make it this
amiable lady would not suffer me to depart
until she had packed 4 box with rare and
beautiful shells, which she had collected on
the Chandelier ISLANDS, for me to bring as
Il present TO Mrs. Lynch, and if these lines
should meet her eyes [ hope that she will
accept the assurance that the gift was re-
ceived by Mrs. l.. with an appreciation full |
iy 4.mensurate with the kindness which |
prompted the present
Before leaving Col. Seals he carried me
to Haudsboro and showed some of the large ,
saw mills which dot that section-an indus
try which, together with sheep raising, is,
in the opinion of your correspondent,
destined to render the sea board counties
the most prosperous in the State.
When / had remained two days with
him, Col. seal, according TO his promise,
returned with me to Bay St Louis, where /
found Col. Claiborne, cozily and comiorta=
bly, lodged in private boarding house, in
the midst of devoted friends who were eager
70 afford him every comfort. | was rejoiced
10 Gna that his health had greatly improved,
and that he was n.ucL stronger than | had
any hopes of finding him IN sieE e. his
feeble condition when L left him at his home
near t4tchez two months since. Indeed,
50 marked aud eihoeE was this improve
laent that at a public meeting at Lay ST.
Louis assembled on the 4th of July TO ex-
press the sympathy CT tke people for Fresi-
dent Garfield, he offered the resolutions aud
electrified the citizens with a speech which
continued an hour and which was character
lied by much of the vigor and eloquence
with which Ia his younger days he capti-
waited the minds aud the hearts of his
audiences. 1t was the first public speech he
has made since his celebrated contest with
Mr. PreH,ss Col Claiborne is a great
favorte Of the people OF hay - ;ouis. lie
has valuable property near there, and for
many years resided in the vicinity. When
he left his ,!ome he intended, rs soon as he
had transacted some business at Bay st.
Louis, to proceed to New York, Join his
daughter there, and spend the season with
her al Newport where she has cottage;
but fearing that Che fatigue of the journey
would cause a cessation of the rapid recuper-
alton of his strength he has concluded to re-
main at Bay st. Lonis as long as the atmos-
phere and diet there seems so propitious to
his health.
When / left Col. Claiborne, | visited Pass
Christian, i beautiful Plece-the population
of which consists mainly of the families off
New Orleans merchants There / remained
one night with my old friend Col. E. III.
Murfee of the Military Institute. Murfee
is clever kind, and whole souled man, and
a., aVaa,l,rt ,lucator His wife n noble |
hearted little lady, was reared here in West
Point, and while she is a favorite in the
society of Pass Christian 1 found her cher
ishing an uEfading affection for the friends
and scenes of her childhood. | was glad to
find that while Col Murfee's school is seem
ingly neglected by the people of his own
State, it is largely patronized by the wealthy
classes of New Orleans. 1t is shame that
this worthy man and his noble efforts in the
cause of education should have to depend |
upon the appreciative patronage of another |
stste. Legislative action in support of his |
school would surely confer both honor and |
advantage upon Mississippi
From Pass Christian returned by inyi- |
tation to Mississippi City aud became the |
vuest of those excellent gentlemen, the |
Messrs. Mayer, proprietors of Barnes Hotel
which is decidedly the prettiest place and /
most attractiy resort | saw along the coast |
Tbe spacious and airy buildings; their |
beautiful situation, lronting the sea, ana
the cool groves and extensive gTo4nds rem
der it one of tue most delightful spots ever
beheId The fare at this Hotel IS all that |
can he desired. and the Messrs. Mayer are
zealonslv attentive to every comfort and
nlgas,,ra of their guests About one hun