The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-28

uary 8-11-have l spoken with the ex,
pectation of preaching each evening, and
on next Sunday. Audiences have been
excellent, in spite of-from the preachs
er's point of view execrable weather.,
and the prospect is good for a profitable
| season.
Leaving Chicago
the snow-drifts were fence high, but run
ming southwark they grew "small by de-
grees and beautifully less," until they en-
tirely disappeared, and at Jackson, not
only we're the fields bare, but the festive
mosquito and other little insects were
making music in the air, and it really
seemed as If spring had come. But, alas
for the vanity of insect plans,-in an
hour or two Tennessee zephyr brou ght
rain, sleet and snow, which frozs as they
fell, until the whole landscape was enam7
meled, and the roads were what an Illinois
ian would call slippery, but what Tenn
esseean prefers to say is "slick." 1t
was all one could do to preserve the.
center Of gravity in the streets, and no
doubt many were deferred by the unusual
and disagreeabIe condition of things
from venturing abroad, so that our meet
ings we're not as they would have been;
but great interest was manifested, and
all are on the qui UiUe, for one Mr.. Hall
a missionary Baptist, hearing Of the ap-
pointments, and having as he thinks, preA
empted the ground, has given out that
the Hercules must be strangled in the
cradle, the serpent nipped in the bud-if
such crooked metaphor can be permit
ted; In other words he proposes to with
stand me to the face, and accordingly
propositions are out for four days de-
bate, afternoon and evening, to follow
my second Sunday, and it now looks as
though it would come off next week; for
mis- doughty challenge was eagerly accept
ed, and the preliminaries are now being
arranged. [ intend to carry his scalp
(the eologicaD at my belt when leave the
land of Dixie, and hang it up with those
of Swearingen, McNair and Lozier, You
shall be duly notified of the affair.
During the Lucid Intervals
OF weather, it has been delightful to go
about in the vicinity. The country
Rbounds in splendid tracts of timber.
Oak, hickory, beech, etc, are scattered
along the upland, and cypress, gum and
other fine growtbs are on the bottoms
Multitudes of birds fill the wholesome
are our own summer birds, and many are
permanent residents. The great turkey
buzz2rd blots the sky or stands motion
less on the trees; the long. tailed titmouse
zrnplacss our ickadaaI aaad anatitaasa.at.
others seen in all directions, make one
feel as if he we're in the later March of
the North.
The Farms are Generally Cotton and Corn
Fields;
the houses, unlike ours, are better fitted
for summer than winter, through huge
wood fres-for the best wood prepared
for the hearth Is but So a cord - and
CRATES and stoves make the housemates
and their guests comfortable; everywhere
are darkies and their shabby cabins, and
shabbier mules and gear; but hospitality
and cheer are general among the people,
whom have found intelligent, sociRble,
and every way agreeable. Indeed, my
first association with Southern people
makes me anxious for further acquaint-
snce, for 1 am sure that If the Henderson
people represent Tennessee, and Tennes-
see represents the South, the closer the
acquaintance of the people of both Sec
tions, the better would it be for all.
am more than ever impressed with
the possibilities of this section of our
great country. It's soil, productions, min
eral and vegetable, the growing energy
of the people, and all the indications
point to a career of progress that has yet
scarcely begun, and that will be vastly
increased when all portions of our land
shall possess that thorough hom0gen-
city that common race, common
religion and common government
are sure some day to give. And I am
enjoying my associations and relations
with the kind people among whom I am
soiourning, as thoroughly as have ever
done with our fraternity in any part of
our great country, where it has been my
pleasure and privilege to be, whether
East, West or Midst. J. W. HANSON.