The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-18

FdTLus Int prayer - FtlsA lDf IdtDs loo
dry-then too wet-now too dry again
Yet all are hoping Tor the best; even
the commission merchant in the cities
is hopeful Notwithstanding congresses
are being built all over the country and
cotton buyers have their business cards
out thick a. leaves in valley YazoO."
TwO-and-a half per cent. is dead, dead,
gone to "a gave that knows no resurrec-
ton" Two anda-half per cent. for
buying, twoand-a half per cent. for
selling, two and a half per cent. for ad
vancing two-and a-half per cent for re
batting, two-and hals per cent. for
insurance and secret service fund-alasl !
poor YOrick
Dead-yes, dead beyond doubt The
corpse Is laid in state. The green leaves
and bright blooms Of the cotton plant
are its decoration. The casket rests
upon a leaden reality. The crowd flies
by one by one to look the last time upon
the dead hopes Of him who from time
immemorial has two and half per
cented - two aud.a half pr cented him
self in;O luxury into the wealth OF
cities and into the lands Of the country,
into widows homes and orphans bread.
1t took il all.
But it is dead VIII not some poet
sing its requiem? The farmer pail
bearers move slowly forward, the labOrer
grave digg has done his duty, the
coffin il lowered, the cods fall with
heavy thuds while the priest prays for
the souls of the departed and asks
blessings on those who are left. All
turn away, but there are no mOurnful
eyes or teaT-stained cheeks. But what
is to become of the pickery, that dear
delightful pickery? / see 1t now with
its cotton sLuccoed boards, forlOrn
labOrers, squalid women and boys-poor
things! they form the only sad chapter
IN the death of Jwo-and a haiti per cent
ii is Strange il never occurred to the
planter TO ship direct TO the pickery;
hat a world Of hauling it would have
saved besides it VOuld have curtailed
that httle tton crop made in the
shade, that snug little revenue known
ia commercial CIRCLES AZ samples"
But II Is dead and there Is no great
fnaucier, nu hamilton, rs Mr. Webster
SAID, To touch the dead corpse aud
cause it to spriuE 10 its feet. But the
gladest soul in all these changes aud
coming changes is the country merchant
AAI - ~ 2 az Niidb iii9 JVg fti iii'Ns''e'7
peroulates and iufuriates ,uciety accord
ing to locality. His broad smile haunts
them silt" for he rather likes the stu
alton just at ITS present stage. But his
time Is coming, too He Is nearer home,
aud when be sends out bad Hour,
worthless coffee, sanded sugar, and moth
eaten cloth, he is liable Ia meet his
fUrEer customer at a store in neigh
boring town. which he may chance to
visit uu business, aud returning home,
find his merchandise has also returned
But the country merchant says that Is
all right, that his customer must inform
him II things ARE not such as represent
ed, and he will gladly recuiy. The
commission merchant says two and IA
half per cent. is all right, too, aud does
not need any rectiiying whatever. We
Will await results.
Well, the next nuisance in the chapter
of accidents is little animal that 1t Is
not considered exactly good taste to talk
about; at least it did not used to be. 1t
Is hard TO tell exactly how to go about
IL, out Of late parlOr conversations and
table talk have so savored of the exigen-
cles OF the case that ! believe ny read
ers will pardon a slight allusion to a
selt-asserting commodity which has pc
come "A power irresistible in the land,
and can not be ignored on a single mat
ter OF taste. The fact Is, this dry
weather and the dust has become so
thick that frequently a gentleman has to
leave the room for q drink OF water In
the midst of "A most intel esting conver-
sation, and the ladies are so careless IN
their manners that they will run OF IN
the midst OF half completed sentence,
to attend to household duties, or get
something they may have forgotten. "A
treatise on good manners would do
noble work In this connection II any
body could be induced to read it. The
demoralzal ion at times and III urgent
cases seems to be complete. A minister
OF the gosp. recently talking with quite
a party of ladies and gentlemen, sud
denly grasped his pants near his calves
and r0sred out, II do depise these
blasted, internal feas." Now do not
suppose | ever talk about them. for do
not; only know that oil the tracks
they make are not on the sands o!
time" If there is any swear In the
heart they will develop it.
We had quite fishing frolic few
days since, but we were like the boy the
preacher found fishing ON the bridge On
Sunday, and asked him If he did not
know II was a sin TO each tlsh ON the
Lords Day, Il haint sinned much, then,
fur I've been here all day long, and halnt
kutched nairy one yet" replied the little
culprit. Oh orr whole party, one little
girl caught one, a pretty pearl and gold
perch. But 10 express the universal
sentiment OF the entire party, I'VE had
lots of fun" There vas SO much laugh
ing aud talking that the -tinny tribe lied
to the deeper chambe-s ot tie lake, : nd
lett the dangling worm Ia tue lnuows.
There is too much rain water IN the
lakes for good fishing, this season.
IL WAS, however, beautiful day, Tor
a picuic, or day in The woods. We
rode ,,long the level tree embowered ed
roads for some distance, and then turned
into the densely shaded paths that led
to the lake. The sun was bright and hot
above, but scarcely beam penetrated
to our cool, dark retreat. The birds
were singing their wild songs, and the
leaves futtering a sweet, low accompan
lament as We arranged our fishing tackle
and strolied along the banks from place
TO place, trying our luck. We then got
in dug outs aud rode down the lake Il
some timbers which lay floating, think
ing To have better success. Riding IN
dug-out, if not an accomplishment, i
certainly an art, and an Industrial one
at that You must keep your perpen
dicular or you are apt to upset the craft
1t is SO natural " hen any little roughnes'
causes the boat to careen one way, tt
lump the other, that constant thought
and care must be exercised. Then ths
water-ivy was abundant and lay 10 gres'
floating masses on top the water. Through
the vacancies between we threaded oul
way, in some places crossing it ana suo-
merging it. Sometimes the green leaves
would touch the sides of the boat, ant
We could see no water. Ii would seen
as if we were smoothly gliding through
green pastures, shaded by cypress ant
tupelo gum, with vines lnteriaclng ane
festooning between. A scene OF beauty
rare and fresh-most enjoyable excep
for the redoubtable mosquito. Yes, ~
was there and on duty. He wss yer,
enterprising, and kept up the fray to th
last. 1t is sad to be awakened iron
golden dreams amid scenes OF beauty
and have leaden realities thrust uncer
enormously upon you through such IN
sect agencies. At eventide, as the slant
ing beams.of the sun gieam and glinl
and sparkle on the bright waters, au'
the little canoe moves smoothly on
bright reveries will come unbidden 7
the brain, castles will be built an
dweit in. Then comes common-plac
reality, presaged by the low, cous'nl
wall of the mosquito.
Well so far the health of our count