Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-20

ever, These. costly structures are
really worth about $4,000 apiece, but
they were Built when the financial
affairs of Crittenden we're run "sorter
loose" There is also a gorgeous bar
room with marble counters and beau
tiful mirrors and tempting fixtures.
Another spectacle, curious if not
handsome, is a gallows on which they
hang folks. The last one swung into
eternity there was the darby who
murdered the brave and c~hivalrous
Sheriff Beatty and drove a frightened
deputy through the woods like a
spaniel for several miles.
Another object of interest is a d.
vided house near the suburbs Of
Marion. Two children ola prominent
resident inherited a fine residence and
a nice, rich, well titled cotton planta-
ton from their deceased parent. Both
married, couldn't agree we'll together,
and agreed TO split the quartette and
the property, the first into couples,
the last in the middle, so built a tall
fence from the margin Of Marion lake,
directly through the center Of the
front yard shrubbery and the mansion,
thence on to the tall timber Of the
swamp half a mile to the rear. The
occupants have been placid and happy
since that high fence Of cypress pick
cts was erected.
The site Of Marion is on the border
of Marion lake, a very pretty though
tawny colored sheet Of water, a quar-
ter Of a mile or less in width aud sew
eral miles long. The streets are as
fiat as a floor and the main thorough.
fare has an air of business even on
Sunday. Just now the water of
the lake runs rather we'll
up into some of the streets, and it is
around the Jail on two or three sides.
The water level is now as high as has
been known during the forty odd
years that Marion has been built. The
memory of the oldest swamper in
Crittenden can recall no water higher
than now, and yet it has been six
inches higher this season. This re.
markable freak of the overflow is at
tr buted to local causes, such as the
construction Of railway embankments,
and the effects Of extra water
thrown down by the strengthening
of the river ADORE F~ogleman's outlets
by Centennial cutoff, thirty miles up
the river, which event occurred FIVE or
six years ago. The unusual high water
has been of advantage to timber men,
in getting logs out Of the swamps, but
has resulted to the injury Of all others.
Marion town, while sleepy in its
general appearance, has one exceed
ingly lively feature, especially on
Sunday, and that is its darky
population. Dressed in all their
Sunday go to meeting" clothes-and
some garbs would have made a Mardi
Gras procession pioturesque-they
focked aboard of,the 0verton. nearly
a hundred strong, of all ages, sizes and
sexes. They we're a jolly, happy set,
laughed and joked in their good hu-
mored way, and ate candy, peanuts
and the like with a relish.
The boat took the colored folks up to
the head Of the lake, a mile or SO above
town, on an excursion. 1t afforded a
nice panoramic view to the lovers Of
nature, including the darkies. The
sun was shining, and the atmosphere
mild and mellow, a lovely afternoon,
really, and the breeze was breezy
enough to make it pleasant to every
body without the use of fans.
On the trip back to the
city, cattle and mules were
seen in hocks, huddled together
on little spots Of dry land, and all
looked hungry. The poor animals have
plenty of water, but little to eat. They
wade out and gnaw all the shrubbery
within reach, then wade back to lay
down and rest. Large numbers have
been drowned, and the high water has
been even more destructive to wild
game. The deer have been drowned
by thousands, while small animals
are all more or less thin
ned out. One man came
to the city yesterday with upwards
Of sixty RABBITS, nearly all of which he
had knocked in the head with a stick.
Game in consequence is very cheap
now, and it isn't everybody that cares
to eati t as the most Of it is poor.
A trip to Marion on the 0vertou
costs but a triAe and it is very enjoy.
able as we'll as instructive.