The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-01

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
| The influx of visitors here is now about to its
maximum, and tests the capacity of the numer-
GUS places of entertainment to provide for the
multitude who seek the health renewing waters
of what may be called natures great drug store
The name Is not Inappropriate because flowing
from these mountains may be found waters
which are capable of curing or alternating every
disease known to the catalogue, if we are to be-
heve the stories which we hear from the physi-
clans who practice their art here. The weather
after being foggy, rainy and chilly. though not
cold, has finally cleared up, and to-day the sun
shines with all his splendor and the mount
aims reflect from their rugged sides the
beauty and grandeur of the solar heat for spring
blossoms abound everywhere. The peach tree
which seems to be at home here and never fails
TO give us fruit is now Respondent with bios
SONS and in June we may look for the luscious
fruit, which will continue until September TO
grace the tables and fruit-stands. This is a lux
ury usually denied to people who dwell In the
latitude of Indiana, and every succeeding year
the prospect of growing there this queen of the
summer fruits seems less encouraging. The peo
pie are all out doors and make grand dress pa
rade on Central and Park avenues either on foot
or horseback, as inclination may prompt them.
The ladies', as a rule, do not appear here in the
role of lnvads, If one may judge from the style
IN which they dress, or the activity they display
either on foot or on horseback, and it may be
supposed that they are here as attendants on
their invalid husbands or fathers. and some may
have merely called to see the sights on their way
| to the great worlds fair at New Orleans 1t is
quite certain that they are not unmindful of the
effect produced by good clothes The season
even here has been rather backward for the
inauguration of the spring bonnet, but the win
ter costumes are no less attractive.
The prohibitory liquor law still reigns supreme
here, much to the disgust of the thirsty visitor,
who finds it very difficult to procure a drink of
his favorite beverage. If he only wants drink
he is compelled to buy quart and take it to his
room. and probably drinks much more than he
would do if he could buy by the small | have
before said that this State has local option
prohlbltory liquor law, and that at the last
September State election three votes were cast
mo license" The courts here held the vote to
be prohibtory, and since the 1st day of January
the saloons have all been closed. The Legisla-
ture which has Just adjourned came to the relief
OF the saloon men by enacting law which pro-
vides that vote shall be taken at the city cleo
ton IN April and there is, scarcely a doubt that
at this election license will carry and the saloons
once more resume business at the old stand.
The rigid Sunday law which carried the people
back two hundred years, and provided that news
stands, barber shops, fruit stands, etc. should
close business on Sunday, and which was rgidly
enforced for some time, has already fallen. and
Is no longer enforced, as l. predicted would
be the case 1t was for a time so strictly en-
forced that one could not buy Sunday news
paper, though he might have it delivered if
ordered and paid for the day previous There
is public opinion on the propriety of every
law, and, unless laws are backed up and sus-
tanned by it they will not and cannot be en-
forced. 1t seems that lawmakers overlook or
disregard this sentiment, and hence their laws
fail. There was no demand for 1.-The Blue Laws
OF Connecticut in the latitude of Arkansas, for
the people are not the descendants of the "Puri-
tans of New England but rather of the "Cava.
llers1 OF Virginia, whose early settlers had not
fled from persecution in the old country, or from
religious sentiment of any kind.
Arkansas is not State of rich SOIL adapted to
great variety of productions, though it is rich
IN minerals, entirely undeveloped. and abounds
IN pine TIMBER which is a source of some wealth.
The staple production is cotton, and upon that
the people mainly rely, and not on wheat, cattle,
corn and hogs, az in Indiana. The soil is not
sufficiently fertile to produce these in great
quantities for export. The people generally are
poor. There are no bluegrass lands or cattle
kings in this State among the agriculturists.
but the wealth OF the Stale is quite equally dis
trlbuted. There is a lack of enterprise, but
the people are honest and industrious, and are
satisfied to make a living. They do not seem to
be struggling to accumulate wealth, either for
themselves or children They are well satisfied
to live as their ancestors have for generations.
They do not rush along the road to wealth like
mad men, or fret il success does rot attend their
efforts, as is the case in the Northern States
NJ L. BUNDY
Hot SPRINGS, Ark, March 80