The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-29
Notes from Pontotoc.
PoNroroc. Mrss.. july I6tb. Isl


both literary and official honors shaken,
when the mad measure had been trod
at the ball, the last bow made, the last
soft word bfeathed into only half unwil-
ling ears, / thought would come over
TO Pontotoc TO spend quiet vacation
in the land of good water, salubrious
climate, genial hospitality anu chigurs.
/ came over with G. ID. Mitchell, oldest
son o Col. C. b. Mitchell, aud Prof.
Preston, Of Water Valley, a live candi-
date for State Superintendent of Educa-
ton. While am not electioneering for
any one and recognize the worth Of the
other applicants for the same Office, l
must record that he is a whole souled,
clever gentleman, thoroughly up on all
matters pertaining to education. We
reached the little burg at eleven at
night, stopped at the publie-house, and
were shown into an immense baTn-llke
structure. which showed signs of prestige
in ante bellam days, when Pontotoc was
a fourishing town. The tottering old
hotel, with its falling plaster and rat
ling windows, seems only fit habitation for
bats and owls and ghosts, fitting where
once the sound Of revelry woke the mid
night echoes. Mr.. Preston and /,
though, after our long drive, slept the
sleep Of the tired, sailed outnext morning,
be to shake hands with and make himself
generally agreeable to everybody he
met,-I to get acquainted with the
friends of my mother youth. Since then
i have been having a pleasant time
among the good people of Pontotoc.
This place was once the center of
trade in North Mississippi, with three
banks, several large stores, fine hotels,
extensive livery stables, good schools,
and as good society as you could ind.
But railroad on each side, neither in
reach, absorbed its trade, and now it is
slowly but surely dying, and its only
hope is the projected Memphis & Selma
Railroad. With a delightful climate,
medicinal waters, a soil growing as fine
fruits and vegetables as any country,
with almost every natural advantage,
Pontotoc is dying from isolation.
This year the farmers seem very well
satisfied, the frequent rains Of the sum-
mer have helped the corn crops, and
while they have injured cotton some,
the people are boasting of the best corn
for years. They take very little interest
in politics, but from the talk about
town, gather how the county will stand
in the State -Featherston,
Roane, Hemingway, Sloan, Nash and
Preston. The probabilities are that she
will send two of her strongest men to
the Legislature to work for the Rail
road.
The society here is still good, though
rather duh during vacation.
/ went out on "Tubby" with q party
e oIo,,E ,rn,t,s, ,annIo and fau
older ones along to do the proprieties.
Caught plenty of fish and had nice
time, "barin' the red bugs"
I'll venture the assertion, there are
more pretty girls to the square inch in
Pontotoc and vicinity than in any town
in the State. All you young men, old
bachelors, and gay widowers who want
nice, modest, pretty wives, come here
before making your choice. The young
men here don't seem to care. You must
know that they are charming when |
have to hold my case-hardened affections
well in check lest they go out to some
blue-eyed, fair-haired daughter of "Poan-
took"
Here with my aunt, at the home OF
my mothers girlhood among the Mitch
ellis, Fontaines, Herons, Bottoms, Cor
dons and others of my sisters friends, |
feel at home.
found Col. James Gordon in town yes
terday, jumped into his wagon and went
out to Lochinvar, two miles and a half
from Pontotoc We rolled out behind
pair of his blooded ponies, Lightfoot and
Candy, turned out of the road up very
steep hill, bowled along the ridge about
a quarter, came in sight of lawn of
oaks, with large white house set well
back, and the Colonel said, "Weleome
to Lochinvar." This the beau-ideal of
a Southern home. Col. Gordon's father,
a man of cultured taste and almost
boundless wealth, spared neither pains
nor money in making his home the seat
Of luxury and comfort. The present
owner, a keen sportsman and liberal
host, kept it up, but like so many Others
of this land, the war broke him up; he
spent fortune arming regiments and
equipping gun-bosts. He is now a prae-
ticaI farmer and a writer of some note,
utilizing his experience by breeding fine
dogs and writing hunting tales. We
first visited the stables where | saw his
dogs. "Bailey," is large imported Eng
lish setter; Canada Grip is beautiful
young setter with bright eyes and velvet
hair; "Fancy" is black and tan Gordon
setter, well trained and gentle, but the
Colonel evidently don't love his name
sake as we'll as he does her more snowy
English cousins. But by far the lovliest
thing in the lot is Guenn, two month
old. milk white with black muzzle and
ears. She is the daughter of Gladstone,
the Memphis prize dog, and present
from one of the ColonePs New Orleans
friends. We then went into the house
where / met Mrs. Gordon, an elegant
Christian lady got hold of some of
the Colonel's sketches of sport with rod
and gun. They are vivid and thrilling.
You finish one of these ringing pieces,
raise your head, and you fancy you hear
the hunters horn, and the cry of the
pack diving away in the valley. The
Colonel has a book ready for the pub
fishers now, Hunting tales of the sum-
mer land" As he had to deliver a
memorial address at Troy tonight, and
lacked preparation, he went to work
while / came back to town behind
Lightfoot, the namesake and grand
daughter of the ColonePs companion in
the woods and field, and through the
war. Then filed with these old memo
ries thought would benefit the pub
lie and crafty long felt ambition OF
nv own at the same time. If this meets
with deserved success you may hear OF
me from old Tippah, where | go from
this place. NJ. /. :.