Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-01-21
LETTER FROM ELDERL e KELLIS


DEAR BEAcoN:--It has been long
time since l have written anything
FOR your columns, but my silence has
not been occasioned by ahy lack OF
interest in your welfare or that OF
the country you 20 faithfully repre-
sent. Your weekly visits are locked
tor with much interest by Inc and
my loved ones, and every issue Is
read with characteristic aviaity.
Sauce my location in this city over
TWO years ago, 1 have had but it'll" ;
opportunity for any engagement
other than the duties of the calling
to which l have made the work Of
my life.
1t has been six years since rircum-
stances rendered it necessary for me
to sever My connection with North
Louisiana. but it is still with Inc
fayorite country. l never expect t"
find country TO which will be s"
ardently attached as have 70 yours,
and particularly to your excellent
parish.
have met with many LouisiaEaus
in Texas, and nearly every one looks
back upon her as the Isrealites did
! upon the flesh pots of Egypt. My
j advice to all who wish to love any
! other country is never to live in
. North Louisiana. With the pros
!, pect Of permanent protection from
. inundation, it will soon become the
: Oh. ice country of the South.
e / saw DIR. Ellis, formerly of Oak
). Ridga, a short time ago. He is To-
i Gated IN this city, and is doing fine
T. practice. MIR. II. j. Crook (familiar-
y ly known as Jones Crook, who lived
e several years below Alto. resides at
e Hampstead. fifty miles north of this
IL place. He has two find plantations
z in Waller and washington counties,
z and one Of the most comfortable resi-
e .lences in Hampstead. I have spent
e several nights with him and have
given him a great deal of information
If about his friends and acquaintance
X in Louisiana. 1 gave him the last
ot issue of the BEACON which he read
ID with great pleasure. Mrs. Garrett, {
IA sister of Capt. Vickers, resides neal
q Chapel Hill, in Washington county
She will he remembered at Alto a:
ID Mrs. Hartsog. Her present husband
n is Rev. II. Garrett. He is Bap
ID t,st preacher, and nearly 80 year
ir OH. He came to Texas in its wildes
days, and was one of few preacher
who made handsome fortune
There is hardly man in the Stat
who has done as much for the caus
!; of religion and education as b
|r has.
- - Texas has experienced many vicisi
) tudes during tue three years jus
closed. The rain fall has been yer
:. light, and in many counties the crop
l.. for three years were total failure
80, The grass died, the streams drie
-, uI,, and the destruction of stock W:
NJ. appalling. In other sections, til
seasons were more abundant, an
-. the crops, though comparatlvel
s.. light, were sufficient to support III
=. country without aid from other Il
-. cali.ies, as was the case in Wester
H. Texas.
:. The winter is unusually sever
=, The rainfall is very heavy, and IL
!. northers frequent, and followed |
=. SHOWS and sleets. The farmers r
-, ioice to see it as it is indicative Of
,oa hounteous crop year.
ms During the three years that ha'
II. spent in Texas, l have travelled ov'
considerable portion Of it, al
while my expectations are not full
red realized, 1 attn satisfied that it is
nj good country for people who W
T. work and use proper economy.
is certainly an uninviting locality f
those who are too lazy to work, al
too extravagant to save what th'
by make.
mi" The city OF Houston is still on
:" hoom. Its population is about 4
ga 900. 1t has eleven railroads wi
we, Aatteing prospects for three more
,ur,. no very distant day.
ting I am glad your political war
DRY. about over Knowing Gen. Nicho
over personally and Gov. McEne,y in
, 10y, mately, and being a friend to bot
/ have felt an unusual interest in t
present campaign, and regret that
has been characterized by such Vi