St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1882-05-06
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
PARISH.

Washington parish to write letter
for the FARMER, descriptive of their
section, bet SO far our efforts have
proved III vain. The editor of the
Magnolia Gazette has been more
fortunate, as will be seen by the
following communication from
"Qnietus." dated Osyka, Miss,
March 30, 1882:
Editor Magnolia Gazette:
Perhaps a slight sketch of the !
people and territory of your near
neighbor, Washington parish, may |
not prove urlnterestlng to some OF
your readers.
In the halcyon days of yore, all
the highways tended to that grand
little emporium of Covington; but
no longer do we see the canvass
covered wagon vending its slow
WAY to her bowers, and the dialect
Of the teanster is voiceless on her
streets.
Washington parish was the for
mer home of the Choctaw. He wan
dered over her gently sloping hills,
hathed in her limpid streams. and
rested under the leafy boughs of
her forest trees; and wherever he
, dwells to-day. he must hold the
tradition of the beautiful laid of
his forefathers. and sigh Tor a
breath of its fragrant air, and the
peace of its lovely glens. Its west
; crn boundary is the Tchefuncta
river, and it extends east to Pearl
rivera distance of thirty-tive
miles and has "a population OF
! 5000, and an area CT about 500
: square miles. The northwestern
, portion contains the bulk of the
. population, and is by far the best
, farming section. Osyka is the near
est town, and therefore, tor years
D the farmers have done their ship
/ ping and trading at that place.
: Along the Boyue Chittc, for ten
:. or twelve miles below the State
liue, the farmers are very well-to-do,
and add stock-raising to farming.
I Formerly there was considerable
e ealth ON Pearl river, but on ac-
o count of its frequent overhows II
has become greatly depopulated
Between that river and Bogue
I Chitto there is u wide expanse Of
: country very thinly populated. The
e people who inhablt that region are
! indeed woodsmen, and devote then
time to hunting and stock-raislng
This affords all extensive range fol
e cattle and sheep, and the graceful
e form of the antelope yet glldes ovel
+ its hills and dales, and the stiffness
OF the early morn is broken by thu
song of the golbler. Che scener,
u OF this portion. and indeed of til,
lie whole parish, could hardly be ex
y ceeded by the artist: an undulatln!
pine wood country, perambuiate'
here and there by bright silver
streams, their courses sharply de
N fined by the evergreen foliage tina
S arrays itself along their banks
re Such. indeed, is the softening in
ne tuence of the climate, and the In
y, spiration of the scenery, that all he
n native born sons delight to sing c
es the beauties of earth, and count
TO the greatest of blessings to be a
5. lowed peaceful existence III thl
al hallowed land of the Choctaw'
or Therefore we find not in the breas
b. OF any Of its people that sterre
}, stuff that would wade throug
te. slaughter to throne. Even til
as chief officer of peace is suffuse
i with teals of pity, as he Is force'
no bv IA sense of duty, To manacle til
e. hands of his prisoner.
We The parish is noted for its ccl
n servatism. In all the political brol
- of the State, its citizens never wei
over-wrought with enthusiasm, ,
ro unduly exasperated. Even whe
ng their champion overthrow his opp,
he nent i'll argument, and eloquent
NJ painted the banner of the dow
:. trodden State trailing in the dus
~ and its guardian angel weepir
ut, over its bleeding wounds, they ga
way to no pent-up feelings, NJ
r.. burst forth in noisy demonstr
no tons.
- The Magees. on Bogre Chit
Use are the most prevalent of the pop
ed lation. Such are their number
ge that It gives them controlling
-. aaa =. .,nrnnnial affairs Hn