Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-24
FROM ARKANSAW.

"Down in de cotton fields" far
from the great city or the noisy town,
beyond the whistle of the locomotive
or the sight Of telegraph pole, and
where you can't telephone message
to living soul, quite away from the
roar Of the street, the rude jstoling
Of crowds and the silly stare of the
dashing dude; deep hiddea in the
pinc-woods where letters and papers
are brought twelve long weary miles
by passing horseman or toiling wag-
on. Think Of ii, ye city people, who
cannot do without your Two Or three
"dailics" and sometimes all extra"
Well, confess it is a little slow, but
just now the change is novel and
pleasing; from the window where |
write can be seen the "old military
road" that leads down through this
state into Texas and on to the land
Of Santa Anna. | try to imagine
how it all was then, thick, almost
impenetrable forests, dark swanps
where the bear and panther prowled,
aud those brave stout-hearted SOL
diers marching on to Mexico. How
many went down into that strange
land, never to return TO happy homes
IN Tennessee or Kentucky. But this
is not telling the IS. X" how | came
to be SO far from the Falls City on
the blue Ohio. Yes, l am in the
great state Of Arkansaw, bOasting of
ilourishing cities, numerous rail-
roads and an unlimited amount of
enterprise. When | left Louisville,
two weeks ago, the cars were cover.
ed with snow and the wind cut like
II knife. One days travel brought
me down into the hill country of
tennessee, where spent week
most pleasantly with old friends, and
yet the saddening touch Of change
had been there too, SO it was home
no longer.
March 9th was again on the
way, and over the bridges and across
the rolling land OF West Tennessee
the train swiftly carried me Oh to
Memphis, not the Egyptian city ol
old, with classic temples and hideous
mummies, but its modern mamcsakc
Of commercial advantages and yell
low fever fame, situated on the "mud-
dy Mississippi" When the train
was run Into huge ferry-boat, the
sunset threw CLEANS Of gold over the
broad river, aud lit up the gloomy
shore on the Arkansas side. That
first night ride through the swamps,
shall | ever forget il! Now and
then the light OF the moon would
break through the clouds, giving
glimpse of the sllmy waters, tangled
underground, floating logs ana tall
spectrc-like trees. Home of the al
ligalor and deadly malaria; where
the white man must give way TO his
African brother. forty-iive miles
out we took supper ut Forest City,
End the brightly-lit up little town
was Il decided contrast to the drcary
swanps, and | began To have some
hopes for the future state of the
Union Changed cars at Little
Rock for the Iron Mountain and
came near being run over by the
emigrants thrOngimg the deDot. One
energetic female with large bundle
SCENE | bent on preventing me from
reaching any car, but by the watch
ful care OF polite official on the
road | managed to reach it in safety.
1t is Il wonder | did not 20 into the
emigrant car, myself, amid such con-
fusion. At that early hour when "'tis
neither night nor day" found the
fairy realm Of tlope,' but was LETT
standing alone on the platform, with
only the name of certain hotel 10
guide me In this strange place, had
no trquble in finding said hotel and
was shown the kindest treatment by
everyone. A French provcrb q
believe it is French,) declares that
"llope is the dream of a man awake"
This little town bearing such IT,
tie, may well illustrate such dream,
being q new place with freshly paint
cd houses, neat plank sidewalks and
well kept yards, reminding one Of
u thriving northern town. After Il
few days spent here ! again took UP
the line Of travel, twelve. miles
through the pine woods and cotton
fields. | cannot say as much in
praise of the country dwellings, they
looked as il they were left as relies
OF the "old SOUTH and tine "wheel of
progress had long ago ceased to roll
by them. But oh the pine woods
Who shall chant their praises? tall
and straight the graceful trees stand
with their trowNs forever green, aud
yet the never-ceasing dirge the wind
keeps up among their leaves. Ma
ture seems herein her saddest mood,
and the sight of regret forever surg
ing through her mighty heart. How
delightful to awaken these spring
mornings from a dreamless slumber,
and hear the mocking birds singing
outside, to look out Oh peach, plum
and pear trees in full bloom, and
breathe the soft southern air of this
sunny cline, then at twilight to
watch the sun set behind yon line of
pines, leaving them as sentinels in
| the shadowy gloom. This is an "Qld
fashioned" tarm.hQuse with wide
hall and roomy porches, Grape jessa-
mine and fig trees in the yard, and u
grape harbor in the garden.
A year ago man was shot down
near the front gate and the bullet
holes are plainly 10 be seen in the
plank fence. A tramp walked up to
The gate and asked for something tc
eat A man named Harris was liv
ing here then, and he must bave been
"iiend in human shape" for with.