The Hartford herald., 1885-04-29
Way Down South In Dixie.

Houston, TEXAS, April 10, 1885.
Editor Herald:
To enter into detailed description
of my journey through the Sunny
South, would be an infinite undertaking;
but synopsis of my visits To the diff
ferent cities of this heaven favor, d
land trust may he of general interes.
| TO the readers of he dear old HERALD.
Suffice II To say, the first city Of i'm
portahce struck after starting SOUTH
ward Was the rapidly growing city Of
Birmingham, Alabama, "a place of 20,''
600 inhabitants which ten years ago
claimed only 500 This il all under
stood " hen we lave learned that this
city is the seat of an immense IRON
trade, " hich now defies competition in
the way Uf cheap iron. Her resources
OF the valuable ore are inexhaus,ible,
and she bids fair 10 he one of the most
progressive cities in the South, This
rapid growth and increase OF wealth
verifies the fact that manufactures are
Indispensable To the up-building of any
county. We more clearly realize tins
fact when we run on down Ia the Cap
ital of the State, Montgomery. Here
We find very hosritable people, living
at their ease, but not making any effort
towards the up building of their city.
visited the State Capitol, which is
famous for having been the Capitol OF
the late Confederate States of America.
Here We gazed with profound solemnity
on the hsllowed spot where Alexander
Stephens delivered the oath of Office to
the time-honored patriot of the South,
Jefferson Davis.
We journey on to the Queen of the
South, in our estimation, as regards
true unallOyed happiness This is none
other than the city of Mobile. She is
not loved on account of her enterprise,
but her paradisiacal appearance,
abounding in beautiful magnOlias, or
ange trees, and other kinds too numer-
Gus to mention, which are now in full
bloom and fill the air with perfume,
makes one feel as if he had made his
advent into an eden. We were told
that her average temperature is SO
Fahr., rarely ever reaching above 75'
i'm summer, and never going below 320
in winter. We find this city supported
in the main by her gardening interest.
We were told so by some of her best
citizens, who took "a great interest in
showing us around the city, not con-
filming us to points of general interest,
but even taking us into their homes
and showing us their gardens, etc.,
which are now in full fruit, and which
are indeed treat tn one from the cold
and barren North. We took drive
down ou the shell road along the beach
of the Mobile bay, which is unsurpassed
for grauduess and loveliness of scenery
in the United States.
But we must hasten on to the Cres-
cent City, where We arrived on the I'd.
inst. Let us give you AN understand
ing u our trip to the great Exposition
by saying, that you are obliged to be
here before you can ever know what it
is. 1t is the grandest institution that
was ever organized for the benefit of
the South. The people Of New Orleans
are as clever people as can be found,
not only remarkable for their So
ciability, but for their whole soul gen
erosity. But as to the Southern Expo.
sition and Worlds Fair, which is now
being held within her limits, we can
but say, that within the gates of this
Exposition wholesale robbery is being
committed in the way of unreasonable
charges. saw a man eat for dinner
$3.50 worth. Spring chickens are
served for one dollar each, almost as
large as partridges. But when We
know that the restaurant privileges of
the Exposition sold for S5O.OO0, we are
not surprised at such enormous rates,
proving the fact that money is the sole
end, and that the accumulation Of the
precious stuff IL more to be desired by
the managers than the fair representa-
ton of the States and countries repre-
sented. The most important feature of
the Exposition this week is a series OF
concerts given semi-daily by the re-
nOwned Mexican band in Music Hall.
They completely down Cappa and
Gilmore, according to the sentiment OF
the Southern press. They have the
credit of being the "loudest" band on
the continent.
We visited West End, Spanish Fort,
Buffalo Bill, and numerous other parks
and places of amusement. But the
most ENJOYABLE trip was TO the old but
sacred battle e-ground called Chalmette,
situated six miles below the city, in
st. Bernard parish, and fronting the
Mississippi river. Here is where the
American troops, under Jackson sig.
nally defeated the pride and flower OF
the British army under command OF
Lord Packenham. The field works
and the group Of trees under which
Packenham fell are still visible. We
examined the old Spanish guns used in
the battle and which are now planted
to mark the places of action. The walls
ofthe cemetery enclose fourteen acres OF
the field. In addition to the glorious
historical association Of the spot, it il
one Of the most beautiful places Of rest
in the world. 1t contains the bonored
graves of 1900 soldiers, representing
nearly every State in Union. A book
Of registry is kept in the superintend
ent's office for visitors. These grounds
are attended by one John Anderson,
whom we interviewed to get facts con-
nected with the place. This old colored
divine Is sixtySfive years of age, was a