Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-05-22
AN AERIAL FLIGHT.
A Bank Robber Seemingly Lost in
the Clouds.

II is pleasant of mornings, particu-
larly in the spring, to stroll down
there, and, forgctful of the clamor and
noise of the city proper, to loiter in
the shadow of the trees and listen to
the hum of commerce in the distance.
Probably there is no place where one
becomes more retrospective than
where he is surrounded by the stretch
Of field, the soft shadow of the trees,
or near the gurgIe of riyulcts, and at
the same time the ear can catch the
low murmur of a city's ~pulsation. The
contrast between the Immediate sur
roundings and the hurly-burly of the
crowd suggested by the distant sounds
OF trade seldom fail to awaken rcnec-
tions that are not exactly reassuring
to ones sclf-pride. The size of ones
individuality decreases to microscopic
diminutivcncss and Sclfhood seems lost
in the greatness Of the thrOnged CITY.
The street had wandered away back
from where it started at the river. At
first its surface was paved with cobble-
stones, that invention made during
the French domination to increase di-
gcstion by the jolting it caused, and
also TO neccsSitate a vehicles frequent
visit TO the blackSmith's shap. But af-
ter this venerable thoroughiare leaves
the more thickly settled precincts and
lis sidewalks are no more bordcred
with houses huddled together, then it
puts on a somewhat more %aristocratic
appearance and iaSmincs begin to
peer Ovcr the tops of fences and the
soft green of liz leaves gives a rcStful
look to little front yards. Here and
there a pomcgranate blazcs out in an
oriilamme of blossoms, and light
limbcd altheas line garden walks.
Then the houses grow less frequent
and vacant lots more numerous, and
at last nearest the swamp the COM
mons open out, spccklcd with the law
herd OF COWS from some ncighborinp
dairy. 1t is away out there almost be-
You'd the sound of the city factories,
twelve O'Clock dinner whistles, that a
small grove OF liycoakS, incloscd in a
cypress picket fence, rises out of the
long level OF budding grass and seems
to invite the pedestrian to rest under
its cool shade. The streets are here
marked only by the ruts of milk and
vegetable wagons that pass that way to
market, and two shallow bitches take
the place Of the paved cutters up at the
head. The tinkle of COW bells, the
hilarious growing of far off chanti-
cheers or the barking of some trusty
Watchdog are about the only sounds
that break the MONDAY quiet.
When New Orleans was laid out this
was nothing but a swamp, filled with
masses of palmetto and tangles of
vines; but when the metropolis began
10 spread. a few of the more venture
some spectators bought the OUTLYING
squares, and in 1850 here and there
little cottages began to 20 up. As
civilization began to advance the pal
~ '"i'u' icd' u sun Stduu-
my thc small grove OF l%lye-oaks that
hao SO long shaded them Then a house
was built in the midst of this cheniere
anu paptisie Duroy moVed IN. There
weIe no "oishnorS near, SO ms advent
il Una. 'ec'ioh produced nc particular
ru..er Socl'. circles Whereabouts.
ioui i"Se Piai'a,ioh carts hau o N
,',ou one pll@I' morning all ms
nouseiori eltc'N 'lllher' ana through
o'' t'I"' ul} '"clc was more ANIMATION
NV "''ie grove 'n'' 1t ever knew
oel Tn
noros "ou'o was qul'e preteh,
.,o"s ior sucn an outlying portion OF
"n' "s oloa" s'i'elies ahu
'nop'hs iool saNe esiuehcc Oh q
'V H. ,a,s' iot con,iol.' no' iuNury,
y. Wv pau. u lI9 WY IL iookeu inc
Pi"It w II.'tuuo aiiu res'' anu 10 one
ME- '''''o"' 1t 'PP'"'cu " Peiioc'
I ~ ho,uh,
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