Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-01

Knoxville Tragedies Square-t0ed
BOOts-The Tennessee MOOnshiners,
&c, &c.
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Oct. 1SS2.-No one de-
string to see things as they are can go through
the south at this time without noticing vast
improvement In two vital respects-business,
and what may be termed public sentiment. One
need not leave arailroad train to evidences Of
the prosperity that isnow in the southern states,
thefirst Of decided and general character since
| the war. Along the lines Of the railroads new
| station buildings, depots, machine shops, and
other improvements pertaining to the roads, are
| to be seen to an extent that is surprising. At
Roanoke, Va, forinstance, many thousands Of
| dollars are being expended in such improvements
of a substantial character, modern in design and
| typical of the prosperity among the people as
well as the railroads. At other points the same
| indications are visible, while the circumambient
air. as you approach some Of the larger cities. is
clouded with the smoke Of mills and factories
| The fact is, good times are prevailing and the
| people are prospecting. At the table at which
am writing there are two drummers CONNER
cial Travellers 1t is better to say who are hilar-
ious over the results Of a trip to Richmond
Charleston, Atlanta, Chattanooga and other
places. One of them has exhausted his samples
and Is on his way to Louisville, where a
new supply will reach him. 1 have met
a dozen of these wide-awade representatives of
business centers, and they are unanimous in
their expressions in reference to the boom.
NEW MATERIAL INTERESTS.
The development Of what may be termed the
new material interests of the south, as repre-
sented by coal and iron, for instance, is won
derful; and it is employing northern capital to
an extent that can hardly be understood until
| one has seen the evidences Of 1t in the cities
| and among the mountain towns where this
| wealth is being brought to light, and until one
has mingled with those engaged in the work.
So far as have been able to see there Is little
| or no prejudice against northern men who have
cone south with the earnest intention to en-
| gage In business. The time when it was danger
Gus for northern man to come south has faded
out; though in SOME benighted portions, per-
haps, 1t is WELL even now, not to hunt for a
| muss or look around for some one to step on
your coat-tail. Even in the clear atmosphere of
the beautiful northland one can secure an assail-
ant If he will put himself into q condition of
offense and push in. The older people in the
south, those who were in 'the wah," or suffered
in consequence and that includes the
most Of them have the scars in
their souls. and occasionally display
them, exhibiting some proud flesh, and tendency
to irritability; but the young men who are now
getting into business, who know Of the war
|
experience Of their lives have not this trouble
to such an extent or even in great measure.
| 1hey are better business men. as young men,
than the south ever had. 1 believe they are
better men, In modern and in the proper
sense, than the south has vet produced. This
is saying good deal. but the facts. the pros
porous condition of the people. will bear me out
in it. One Will hardly see more active. earnest
and shrewd business men than are to be found
here
IN NASHVILLE.
They are managing all kinds Of trade, estab-
fishing mills and factories. adopting inventions
and improvements, building blocks and resi-.
dences, and in all making the city TEEN with the
appliances of their vigor and enterprise. The
commerce and trade Of this city are simply i'm
| mense. The stores are large and we'll filled, and
the proprietOrs and employees are busy Yester-
day we sauntered into one Of half dozen agri.
cultural implement stores we had seen, and were
| surprised to find it reach through one whole
block and to be filed to the roof with nipple
ments eft all kinds for use on the farm. Trade
| was excellent, the dealers told us, and getting
better all the time.
THE AMERICAN WAY
| The fact that there are such tragedies as tina,
| at Knoxville recently should not be interpreted
too severely. These things are condemned by
the better people Of the south as they are every.
where. They are not SO much an indication OF
southern civilization as Of American. Human
life under some circumstances is held pretty
cheap In this country, north as we'll as south
| and the resort to 'weepOns" to settle personal
difficulties is a little too frequent from staid
New England to the chivalrOus south and the
| empire in the west. That will be remedied OF
mitigated ere the millennium, and perhaps before
the comet tumbles into the sun. In the mean
time it is pertinent and true to say that at NO
time In the history of this country has there
been as little prejudice between the two great
sections, or higher degree of unity in senti.
ment feelings, and interests than now.
| CONVERSATIONAL.
Descending from the forum In which have
been speaking let me add a few desultory re-
marks. Nashville is just now passing through
an era ofsquare-toed boots the result. It would
seem, Of job lot, sent down by some enterpris-
| ing but wicked firm, anxious to make room fOr
the equally diabollcal pointed toes. Native
| cOrdwainers have initiated the square toes re-
ferred to. and are building the most exasperat-
ing structures you ever saw, not only square,
! but boxed up high enough to admit pound OF
cotton! Climb up on one of these on the corner
OF street and you can get splendid view OF
! the surrounding country.
Some OF the envied government officials in
this section engrossed in the trials Of Illicit
| distillers, men Of the mountains, who cannot
resist the allurement of unstamped brandy and
other surreptitiOus intoxicants The convic-
feelings of neighbors and friends, and the ex-
element serves mainly to induce greater
secrecy and more intelligent caution. They are
| queer lot. these outlaws. and their fellow
mortals, and will for some time battle the work
OF the servants OF the government under the
| Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Thomas w. Keene has been here this week
doing Shaksperian characters with great sue
cess Anna Warren story, our much-esteemed
Washington girl, Is in the company, and is WIN
nj mo ynld on nr,1n yuh0 che
told us something of her work and ambition, and
showed the same indomitable spirit and cheer
full energy that characterized her efforts before
she went into the wide world for the fame and
fortune which, it is to be hoped, she will make
her own. 1t Ia an arduOus task, and there will
be difficulties that only genius can overcome.
Miss Stor! has this gift divine, and she is look
ing and toiling up. upwards. The company
will be in Washington the week beginning De-
cember 18th, when the lovers Of high tragedy
and the many friends Of Miss Story will have q
rare opportunity to see the characters of Ia
nous plays faithfully rendered.