Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-03-27
For the oxford Democrat.
NOTES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI
SHORE.


These hills are mostly low, as zee count
hills, being the beginning of the bluffs.
which, with ever increasing height, stretch
northward for hundreds OF miles along the
Mississippi.
The little town of Albany, where 1t was
my good fortune TO spend nearly six
mouths. is chsrmingly located upon
group OF these bluffs which rise from the
waters edge one above another, quite like
terraces. The view OF the river, with its
well wooded islands and rolling Iowa
shore, is unsurpassed. The site is at
once picturesque and healthfal; groves of
oak line the hillsides and give rich col
orlng 20 the landscape in autumn, and one
involUntarily wonders that with SO fine q
location the town is not prettier; like
many WeSterx villages, and some Eastern
ones as well, II has 4 struggling, disor-
dered air
/ The c., NJ 4 So. F. Railroad passing
through the place, and the numerous
steamboats, on the river, make markets
easily accessible.
The principal products OF the surround
/ ing country sre hogs, and corn. Speaking
OF hsgS-it was with feeling akin to ter
ror that We az first encountered these AMI
mails in our daily walks they run at large
through thai section, and il takes New
I England woman some time to learn there
+ = no necessity for crossing the street II
she happen TO meet a few OF the dirty
I black creatures. They are as plentiful as
hens, and since " Familiarity breeds con-
tempt, we came at last 10 notice them
as little As We would their feathered
neighbors.
10 spite OF the drawbacks We have mer-
toned. and what town but has It's dra w.
backS:-Albany is fraught with plea SAINT
memories; the people are kind and cor
dial and the river and country intere sting.
drive in almost any direction reveals
tue farms, whose beauty Is enha need by
the deep green OF the Usage orang hedges
which line the rosdsldes and divide the
tSldS. Hedges are certainly more pleas
Ing to the eye than are stoue walls or rail
fences. We remember a meadow, around
which willows had been planted thlckly
enough 20 form hedge, and now they
were become tall trees, and the effect OF
the graceful limbs and fnely-cut foliage,
OF delicate tint, was beautiful. The rapid
growth OF trees in this rich soil is sur
priSins; and the variety and abundance OF
the wild flowers is equally wonder aud
delight We gathered great handfuls OF
some kinds that are only to be found in
gardens at home, and OF many others that
were we'll worth cultivation.
| While this is indeed a land OF flowers,
We sadly missed the graceful ferns which
nestle in every nook and corner of New
England, but are quite rare here.
We also missed many familiar trees
notably our evergreens. We noticed but
one native evergreen, and that, though
very pretty, was a stranger TO US. There
are no beeches, and not as many elms as
with Us, and we do not remem Der TO have
/ seen birches. Oak and hickory abound,
and the black walnut is cultivated 20 some
extent. Small fruits are probably grown
/ FOR market; and since Clinton, Iowa, q
pretty city or ten thousand lnhabi Lants, is
1ut five miles distant, and Chicago may
DE reached ia a day, while the three cities
/ ~ Moline Doh leland nd 20
scarcely more than thirty miles away
there is an eYer-resdy market for anything
that may be raised. We tasted peaches OF
fine flavor grown here, and home grown
sweet potatoes were TO be had at the gro
ceries. one enthusiastic caltivator showed
Us fig trees in bearing. banana tree and =
cotton plant. The tropical plants are taken
up in the fall, with bsll of earth upon the
roots, aud kept in the cellar until spring.
George Eliot tells US that 1t never
rains roses"-but George Eliot was never
in Albany, where every door-yard was a
wilderness OF roses, and every neighbor
" Remembered the stranger within her
gates, and sent her each morning, roses
red and roses yellow, roses white and
roses pink, until she wished that June
might last forever.
The soil of the country being very fine,
aud lacking in gravel. the roads are seldom
good; when wet they are badly cup mp,
them until every unevenness seems pesri-
fec if they become dusty they are little
better, for the dust is as fine as -four, and
often several inches in depth.
Despite bad roa1s, however, the drives
up and down the river bank are charming.
A mile or two below town is the mouth Of
the Meredocia river, and here is the
" Happy hunting ground" where wild
ducks ars plenty, and fish may be had for
the snghng-provided always that enc offel
tempting salt. This '''Docia," as ii is IA
military called, may yet prove OF value to
the town; for Of all the routes surveyed
by Government for q ship canal from the
Mississippi to Chicago, the one entering
the mouth of this river is pronounced most
feasible.
Running parallel with the Mississippi,
mile below town, is aAigh ridge OF land
slrmounted by line OF Indian mounds,
from which many relics have been taken.
No account of Albany would be COM
plete without mention of her prolonged
twilights. and OF her beautiful sunsets,
which travellers tell US rival those OF
Italy; be that as it may, certain it is that