The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1891-08-14
4 Visit . the Home Of Dr.. SIN mons.


EDITORS BULLET1N-Slnce writing
my first letter. I have found that Iuka il
quite a famous little place. The celebra-
ted Indian chief, from whom the town
takes its name, lies in the "Pubiic
Square" his rest undisturbed by
the tramp Of millions" tho probably his
soul would be stirred within him, If he
could see his dear hunting grounds, trans
formed into the busy mart of trade and
commerce that Iuka is to-day. Within a
stones throw of the Institute" il Dr.Sim-
mons underground home. The DIR. SIm-
mons OF s'Liver Regulator fame, you IN
derstand. We boarders were am azed on
learning that such an illustrlous per-
sonage lived SO near US, and a storm par
ty was Immediately made up, to visit him
on the next afternoon. We had to notify
him beforehand, however, as he keeps a
vicious dog, which is in the habit Of taxi
ing all visitors by storm, himself. After
school hours we collected or crowd and
set out With ''great expectations" On
reaching the gate we called loudly Tor
the doctor. Pretty soon a hale old man
of medium height, made his appearance;
his benign counte nance seemed to glow
with pleasure IN seeing so many "Ialr
ones" Some in the crowd seemed to
have a feeling of awe, creep over them on
entering the grounds, which soon disap--
peared under the cordial hospitality OF
the host. He felt, however, that we went
to see the house and not the man, 80 at
once began to carry US over his domicii:
He first showed us his "north garden"
which Is about a foot above the under
ground rooms. Everything in it showed
that neither care nor labor had been
spent in vain, which could readily be
accounted for when we learned that "the
ladies" of the household did all the Gull
t~ivating not only OF the gardens, but
also of the fields, while the venerable
DR.. rests under the shade" We were
next shown through the upper rooms two
in number, which are on a level with the
ground; the first seemed to be a study as
the walls were lined with books of all
kinds; tho shutting out that sight we
could almost imagine ourselves in an In
dian warriors tent, as the fire arms
were suspended from the walls, and rich
fur robes were spread about in endless
confusion. We also saw several large
trunks, into which we were anxious to
peep. The second was a bed ROOM. Our
attention was called to the fact, that
altho' the ceiling was low, still from the
construction of the roof, which / can not
explain here, there was no great heat
p~erceptible. The DIR. says he built his
house according to the text, "avoid ex-
tremes of heat and cold"
There are four lower rooms, the kitch-
en- and dining room in one, the "dark
room" in other words the cellar, In which
nothing ever spoils, the type room and
rwfnf.,-- ~ooro Thoca 1a4%a~ 49,.
structed for the Doctors own pleasure
this floor is about twelve feet below the
surface; the southern Is not so far. The
we'll is under the same roof, and as the
hill was dug down for the foundation of
the house before the well was made, wa |
ter was soon struck. 1t is only a few
feet below the surface. The next place
of interest was the "east garden" which
is in a high state of cultivation. We
were treated to cultivated b~lackberries |
and ground cherries, which we're very |
much enjoyed. The Doctor wanted us to
notice especially the convenient arr
ment of every thing for the comfort OF the
feminine portion Of his house. A gate
opens from the east garden into the field, |
and from that into q more distant one, |
mus O0NAdbADS AAC ACNCco4bJ VI CAAIlOAI4E L
fences-a woman's bugbear. How kind
and thoughtful man is for woman's hap
piness | We could see Nancy very grace
fully welding the hoe in the bottom lot,
but we could not see the blind OK, with
which she makes the crop year by year.
After viewing the landscape o'er," we
went back to the house, where we were
each given a paper printed in 1871 by
the Doctor himself. They are yellow
with age, consequently very much priced
by our collectors of curiosities. Our ge-
NAL host insisted on our taking chairs,
but as the sun was rapidly sinking to
rest, we decided to bid farewell, promis-
ing to return defore we left Iuka. Our
visit to DR.. NJ. A. Simmons will always
be remembered with pleasure. Had L
time and space, / would like to give you
a description of aday's outing in Alaba-
ma N on the Tennessee, likewise OF an
excursion to "Grayel Pit" but the clock
and the diminishing oil warn me it is
time to say farewell. You must
visit Iuka to thoroughly appreciate it.
My pen IL inadequate. NORMAL.