Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-07-11
From the ",Sat1.ny iSOa6th,v
MONTGOMERY, Ala, July Sd, 18S

MONTGOMERY, Ala, July Sd, 1888.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:-I hardly know
what to make of this southern country.
When the first Of June came on our lady
missionary, fearing she might be caught
in the dreadful summer heat, packed her
trunk and FASTENED away to her home in
the north, expressing great sympathy for
us that we were to remain and suffer.
About the same time came the closing of
the various schools, taught by northern
teachers, and the departure of all inYalids
spring Our friend, Mrs. Conaut, of
Chicago, thought she was wonderfully
brave and so outstaid them all but this
week she started for home not on account
OF the weather but that she might get
home in time to come back here next
winter. From time to time our friends at
the north have warned US to look out for
the summer. We have now had nearly
month of summer weather and [ must
say it is, by far, the most delightful of
any we have yet enjoyed at the south.
Our June at the north can in no wav
compare with June as we have had it,
this year, at the south For few days
the mercury stood at 9S, in the shade,
but there was, most of the time, a splen-
did breeze from the gulf making the heat,
except in the sun, really enjoyable. We
have had beautiful showers every week
and vegetation has attained a most Won
derful growth. We are just passing out
of a succession of the most perfect moon
light nights [ ever witnessed any where,
even outdoing our previous experience in
this remarkable country. During all
these nights the air has been so balmy
and warm that, practically, I may say,
we have slept out of doors. We throw
every door and window wide open and
then draw our beds in between two large
windows and sleep all night long in the
refreshing draft, without any thought of
taking cold. doubt whether such a
thing as cold is known in this southern
country in the summer time. Whenever
we awake duringth the might've are greeted
by the soft, sweet notes of the hooking
bird and the cheerful hum of our bees
who, like ourselves, spend the night as
nearly out doors as possible. As an evi-
dence of the productiveness of everything
here let me'say that from my one swarm
of Italians, bought in the spring, now
have four and in few days shall be able
to take off a nice lot of surplus honey
Our house is perfectly charming these
warm days. We can now understand
the use of high ceilings, large rooms,
wide halls, doors and windows and, above
all, the value of the great porch. For
the last three or four days l do not think
the mercury has gone above 90 and at
night it has been at about rs. To-day it
is unusually cool and this morning during
the rain, we built little fire in the CRATE
for the comfort of the children.
/ have been making some observations,
lately, among the plantations near the
city, find the condition of the crops is
very encouraging, even more so than at
this time last year. / rode this morning,
for a long distance, over Col. SCOTS plan
tation, of several thousand acres. It lies
on the Alabama about three miles from
the city and is a magnificent piece OF
ground. He has fine lot of tenemen.