The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-06-19
THREE WEEKS Down SOUTH.


Our cave party divided nearly equally at
the station or "Cave City as it is called
one portion returning North-the other
with us going South. We diEed at the
somewhat celebrated Bowling Green, and
short distance further on came to Mur-
phis junction, leaving us to the left for the
Mississippi.
took occasion to observe in the whole
country through which We passed two
things unusual Ia the North, indicating the
lack OF progress in the South generally.
The country houses (and town houses
TOO. for that matter,) are nearly all ceI-
larless. they stand a little raised from the
earth and supported upon piles.
Another popularity 10 the buildings is
that the chimneys are a u outside the house,
and this is true of the finest buildings re-
Gently erected; and, TO the eye 1t appears
uncertain whether the house or the chimney
was built 6rst.
In passing through Tennessee the Incica-
hSns of Improvement are more striking than
In that portion of Kentucky, which we had
Just left.
After entering Tennessee our route was
over the Grand Plateau, known as The
Ridge" an elevated table land some 1000
feet above the valley of the Cumberland
In the afternoon we reached the Cumber-
land River and had our tea at the Maxwell
House, 10 Nashville, the same afternoon, re-
naming there till morning.
On the Northern bank Of .he Cumber-
land, nearly opposite Nashville, we passed
the most beautiful cemetery / had ever
seen. The tombstones and monuments had
all the symmetry of flower garden. laid
out by the hand OF the most sKIllful land
scape gardener
Nashville = beautiful city, situate on
the south bank Of the CnmberIand-and has
q remarkably clean aud healthy appear
ance. The state and public buildings are
located on a beautiful elevation. The
capitol is ohe Of the finest buildings In the
United States. eNashviIPs population is
sol me so, 900.
Regrettiug tina. want of time prevented
visit to the Herm tage. the home Of JacE. &.
son; and that the day Sunday prevented
call upon Mr.. James K. Polk, we retired
at an early hour.
The surroundings and accommodations of
the Maxwell House are all that could be de-
sired. And l may here say that the hotels
10 the Southern cities, as far as my expert
ence went are fully equal to those in the
North iD the convenience and care of guests
and more than equal in bills.
As we travelled from Nashville the dis
tiDctIve Southern character became more
marked. The GOTTEN took the place OF the
corn region and the soil seemed warmer.
and the face of the country fiatteI. The
half of the field hands we saw in passing
were cOlOred women, who were blowing,
&c. with the most miserable horses and
mules which abound In that country
We passed into Alabama before midday
OF Monday, and dined at queer, fancifuI
looking house kept by Mrs. Thomas Polk,
who seemed to brag on the name. Her
husband had been a general or defaulter or
something unusual Here we got the first
ripe strawberries. and a nice French soup,
SC. This was on the 18th OF April
This was in the town Of Decatur. on the
Tennessee River, which is here q large
stream.
From this point we passed through a low,
uninterestInR country until we passed Gull.
man, the county seat or county OF same
name. The track for all OF this distance
was almost without a curve; and the forest
upon either 5ida consisted or q uniform
growth OF pine. similar in appearance to our
Northern Yellow pine, but OF small size.
And the earth 40 far as the eye could reach
was covered with water TO the depth OF
from to 12 inches. This water appeared
perfectly clear
After passing CuIlwan the country be-
came more rugged and mountainous We
Crossed the MiIbery River, Black Warrior,
and other streams and passed narrow ra-
vines, until we cameto Blount's Springs. a
celebrated watering place. The same after
noon, we passed the growing, manufactur-
iug city of Birmingham. The wonderful
growth of this Iron city Is without parallel,
and it bids fair to rival Pittsburg in the
future.
The same night we reached Montgomery
city, the State capital of Alabama, where
we rested for the night. TRAVELLER
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