Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-29

The Equinoctfal i'm the South-FJ,~h
 Water and Slow Traveling-At Mont
 gomery-One View of the Nerth--Ths
 Catholics and the colorel People.
 MONTGOMERY, Alabama March 26.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Your severe winter at the North and East has been duly chronicled in all the southern papers. The constant changes have all been felt in this latitude one after another, being the result of your severities Vegetation is
 backward in the extreme If YOU wish to
 know what an equinoctial storm is remain in Atlanta seven days and see it rain four of them. Then take the cars for Alabama sun- posing the storm over; cross the bridge at
 west Polnt over the Chattahoochie, the river swollen to the height of the bridge and roar ing like the rapids of Niagara; the track through the town two to four feet under
 water the train proceeding at walking gait, preceded by car loaded with railroad iron to keep the track in place; pass over the lowlands of about two miles, all the town in water: and you have the first experience. Pass tbe night at Columbus witness the display of
 lightning; listen to the thunder and peltino rain such as you never dreamed of. and vo1 have the scene. In the morning take drive about Columbus imagine all the Sarpent,s factorles on the bank of wild stream where the river resembles the whirlpool of Niaoara and where below the dam of D or 40 feet ali is even as above the dam in conseuuence of the rise ln the water: behold the steam boats bound for Apalachicola, which pener ally go under the bridges, requiring 30 or more feet space; see the two thousand work people of the Columbus cotton factory oblig- ed to suspend work; look at the house across the stream tumble into the river with the embankment which is being washed away; at the beautiful turfed entertainments here and there following suit, not forgetting the great number of houses on the same river at West Point; and recollect that such is the experience up and down all the Chatta- hoochie river, which, be assured, is only A representative of southern streams. where banks are all soft alluvial deposits and liable to a wash at every storm. Take a train at nightfall for Montgomery feel the slowly moving ponderous cars as they pass by the Alabama river banks go to the door look at the rushing current within few feet of you; hear It move cautiously; the fire on the bank lighted for the 1T l1 to pass: the soft bank trembles indeed while at snail's pace and you are on terra firma once more: the speed quickens; one hour more and Montgomery is reached you know now what 8 southern equinoctia1 storm is Sunday morning review from the doorstep discloses the height of the river to be nearly even with the street. You usually behold the Alabama river thirty feet below.
 No train northward last night; too risky; the river still rising: but the pleasant morn. Ing will insure no new increase the storm reached all over, and you will read of it all before this reaches you. Would you come South to live? People here would not come North. My informer at the Columbus cot ton mills told me that he had but few north ern operatives; they did not for some reason like to stay. The habits, or something else, peculiar to each section, made them willing to remain North or South. His operatives 1,Io mills are whites, but colored people are em- ployed in the manual outdoor positions in this mornings Montgomery paper is an ed ltorlal, an invitation for northerners to settle South The reasons urged are the extent of northern profigacy, Gas an evidence the fre- quency of divorces at the North is alluded to); the working of children in factories, from six years old and upwards for twelve or fourteen hours each day; the corrupt po- itical leaders of the North. How can it be different with such men at the head, it is asked, naming many of the most honored men upon whose heads the North delight to place the wreath. The severity of the win ters also is urged as 8 reason why northern CTS should take up their abode in the South. Many really believe too that the North is in wretchedly low estate as regards morals. Those who only read certain class of papers remind me of one who said he got his infor- nation from the New York Sun and Brick Pomeroy. But the mass of people do see better things in the North. If Ireland's grievances are no more truly told than some hot political sheets of the South represent the North, then we know not what is true
 Montgomery has not changed much since fifteen years ago when the steamer up from Mobile landed me under the bluff near the present depot at low water mark, the smoke pipes just showing themselves where the wa ter level is to-day. In all my travels from further south have been obliged to come to this place, 800 miles, to get around, but the present Legislature of Florida has granted a new charter for road across to meet the Mobile road. which will be an immense bene- it to the whole of Florida and to every tray aler desiring to go via the coast lines, or to and from Florida to New Orleans or Mobile understand it will be built at once.
 I am told here and there that the Catholics are drawing very many colored people into their churches all through the South The ceremonies captivate them. think it is true from what I can observe. little incident in the depot ''Whats the matt CT with baby?' 'sOh, she's just broken out with measlesl' Mumps and measles are prevalent all over. From present appearances your friend of three score and ten has symptoms of the first, if it be possible. M