The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-01
RAMBLING THROUGHDIXY,
A Description of The Towns Along
The Way-A Great Fruit Country.

Memphis has indeed made q wopd.
erful growth during the last twenty
years, as well as all the rest of our
American cities. When the writer
passed through there in 1870. the city
then numbered 40, 226 souls, and now
they claim population Of $4,000, thus
doubling their population in 20 years.
We remained here but two hours and
of course saw but little of the city and
its doings; however we visited the
city park which is filled with pet squir-
rels so tame that they will eat nuts
from one's.hand, but this is the only
redeeming feature that the park COIL
tains as L saw nothing else inviting
there except a few rustic seats upon
which to loll.
We leave here for Nashville at 9:35
in the evening and of course see MOTH
ing more of the country or towns un.
til within 20 miles of this city, when
daylight appears. We appear now to
be in fine farming and grazing coun-
try. Wheat. wheat, growing wheat
on every side and in all directions.
Some of it large enough to hide rab-
bit, on this Nov. q. This part of Ten
nessee is indeed lovely county; in
fact it reminds the writer very much
of tue land that the poet describes in
the following words: "There are rocks
and hills and brooks and wales where
milk and honey flow." The farms are
beautifully laied out, the buildings are
first class and beautifully located upon
the most elevated positions, with loye-
ly broad driveways from the residences
out to the public highways. These
drives are marvels beauty, grad
ed and thoroughly shaded with choice
evergreens, such as jumpers, magno-
las, cedars and various kinds of ever.
greens, and as we look upon these
things of beauty and think of the inn
mense amount Of money that was ex
pended TO beautify them, we~cannot
help but think how many poor devils
there are that are suffering for bread
and clothing and that these have plen-
ty and to spare; but you know that ga
thing of beauty is joy forever" and
those who possess this great wealth no
doubt enjoy it. Surely the wealth OF
the land is very unevenly divided
Here we are at Nashville. the capital
city of old Tennessee. We stop here
just one hour and of course cannot
take in the city for want of time. We
learn however that it too contains q
population of 5000 or $4,000 people,
and by turning to the old atlas of 1870,
I see that city only numbered $3.50
at that time, so you see we are grow.
ing in the south as well as elsewhere
in this our kingdom. Several other
southern cities 1 notice have made
much greater growth than these. We
are indeed filling up. and becoming a
great nation.
The country south aud east of Nash
vile is not quite so inviting as that al.
ready passed over, being more hilly
and the soil and general appearance:
do not make so favorable an impress
sion though We notice great many
fine farms here also. The next towr
Of any Importance we notice is Muir
freesboro. Here is where the boys In
gray aud the boys in blue, again con
tested their strength and more than
1,S00 of the preseryers of the union
now lie buried here on the old battl,
field. 1t is located on lovely spot o
ground and is the prettiest nationa
cemetery that the writer has yet seen
Here the sentry PAGES his beat to ant
fro as these did % or 30 years ago
while that dear old emblem, the Ameri
can flag folds and unfolds itself in tn
breeze far above their sleeping bones
These national cemeteries are indeed
sad spot for an old soldier to visit, 70
no one knows how to sympathize TO
them like those who fought, marche,
and bled with them. But they slee]
the sleep of death, and We wonde
where, when and how they live again
is there surely hereafter for man
And if so, does he go straight ther
when this body is no more, or does h.
lie dormant in the grave until tn
great judgment day for man? Thes
are indeed great big questions and VIII
can satisfactorily answer them.
This Murfreesboro is verv prett
.own of some 10000 or 1900 people
but the country around is poor and tn
crops seem to have been light. Tn
water through this country is of til
finest quality; great, gushing spring
are abundant, and the creeks and riv
ers are as clear as crystal and affor,
plenty of speckled trout. After leav
ing this town the soil gets perceptibl
thianer, presenting pale yellow ap
pearance, upon which scarcely am
thing grows except wheat. With th
aid of small quantity of fertilizer
that plant does well and yields, I ar
told, from Is to % bushels per acr'
Here we are at Tellahoma. This
another nice town, in fact the towr
down here all appear to be ahead {
the country so far as appearances te
the story. Tellahoma has q popul,