Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-09
DRIFT FROM DARIEN.
The Topics of the Town Condensed in
Paragraphs.

DARIEN, GA, July 7.-SOme few years
back there was plan proposed for build
ing a plank walk from the Methodist
Chapel on the Ridge to where the way
from Union Island intersects the high
road at Mr.. Bailey's store, and it seemed,
from the spirit animating the discussion
on ways and means, that this great COM
fort and convenience for church-goers-
people generally-wOuld be built imme-
diately. But time has moved on, as moth
ing else ever does, and the poor pedes-
trians continue to wade ankle-deep
in the hot sand to reach either
Of the churches, the distance varying
from three-qUarters Of a mile to a few
hundred yards for either congregation.
OF course eight summer fabrics,' in
such a case, are, as Jennie June saws.
'suited to the rich" yet, with the ther-
mOmeter trying to T4val the ''R. E. Les
ter now throwing $50 feet through a
single nozzle, the poor cast very longing
eyes to a future when delicate colors and
cool, soft goods may be INDUCED in at the
cost of a few clean. broad boards.
You see. interest in ourselves died away
and for a time here there threatened to be
one grand hegira. People were so convinced
that Just beyond US lay something so much
better. where the gO-ahead activity would
bear them onward in its rush ANYWAY
To reach this melee there they We're will
ing to sacrifice their property here.
The constant cry Of things going down
daily, timber trade our only standpoint,
and that is falling away from US, a few
years and we will be a dead letter, etc. :"
alternately eXasperated and disheartened
the few staunch adherents to the place.
Why. one man actually set to work to
figure up for us ''that in ninety years our
present nearest timber supply would be
exhausted" 1t was a mOmentarV scare
until we added the 'stepS already trOd'
on life's journey to that ninety and took
courage.
Now the mirage is dissOlving and the
illusions fading away, and home influ-
ence was never more powerful than when
eXerted over some tired wanderer return
ing from his truitless search for a place
where want never comes and WEAKNESS is
unknown.
one of our neighbOrs was so carried
away by the newspaper accounts of
FlOrida's present and future, that he gave
notice that his place was for sale. ''As
for him and his household they We're
quitting so circumscrIbed a domain to
live '''mid orange groves and bowers"
travelling that put windows in his eXpe-
rience, and says: "POOr land can be
bought cheap anywhere, and good land
always does sell high. Mcintosh county
soil is rich enough for him, he only wishes
he had more of it." Suffice it, he will not
remove to a wider sphere shortly.
All the crops look well, but rain is needed
again. This is the thirstiest soil in the
wOrld-why, although incredible, still it
is a fact, that two inches below the sur
face was dry as pulveriZed dust but a
day or two after those prolonged rains.
Neither dust nor heat stop the young
people, and in the way of amusementS
there is to be a foot race at the tourna-
ment grounds, next Monday afternoon,
between two Of Darien's young men,
Messrs. AXsOn Way and Isaac III. Aiken.
Friendly bets run high on these favorites,
and since the trial race. much enthusias-
tic interest Is taken IN the match.
Next in order comes the Agricultural
''rOusement," and the association will
meet on the 18th inst.
Following this, on the 10th, comes the
second game of the championship series
between the Athletics and Atlantics. 10
be played on the town grounds, directly
after which, on the 18th, the ''McCui-
lOughs," of Brunswick, are expected
over 10 try the AltamahaS at home. All
these, with the splendid projected parade
of the Light Dragons at the Ridge on
the 18th, and the Fire COmpany's"
Thursday, well put in, in town, saves
the middle of the month from ennui. The
roar of the Lester at work is heard
almost as distinctly at the Ridge as in
town.
For the latter part of the term the
DiXies. BartOws and OglethOrpes, of Sa-
vannah, Will move in and out among us,
sharing our sea breeze and our mosquito
as one native to the cline.
The Board of Commissioners having
decided to furnish help towards building
the engine house, to the amount of 5000,
and the hall above being part of the
affair, our visiting societies will in future
enter a fine reception room, we hope.
The resting season has cOme-tOO much
chill and fever in the rafting business
80 there Is very little timber coming
down. There are seven vessels yet in
port.
Prohibition and the needed railroad are
making themselves heard, and though
some still fight the air against both, the
rumble of progress increases in volume,
and we shall yet d. V. ride on those
essF