The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-13
IN THE CORRIDORS.
Interesting Chat Heard at the
Different Hotels.

ltlng his brother-in-law, Mayor Trout.
of this city. Yesterday in the corridor
of the Ponce de Leon Hotel to questions
as to the political situation in Tennes-
see Mr.. Thompson said: "In my opinion
tits not at all encouraging. buchanan
will, in all probability, be nominated by
the Peoples party for governor at their
convention which meets in the latter
part Of the present month. If so it will
be found that he has wonderful
strength in the rural districts II tho
fight were between the Democratic and
the Peoples parties there would be lit.
tie doubt of the issue, but. unfortu-
nately, there is another factor to be con-
sidered, and from this source the danger
is to be apprehended. If Buchanan
draws as heavily as think he will from
the farming clement, which has here.
tofore voted the Democratic ticket it
will undoubtedly elect the Republican
candidate for governor. A a rule the
towns and cities will cast their votes
for Judge Turney but in the agricul-
tural districts the people seem insen-
sible to everything but effecting their
crazy ideas of reforms through this new
party.
"In the national, as in the State cleo
ton, fear that through the Peoples
Party the State will be handed over to
the Republicans. The farmers, as a
class, arc little posted on the vital issues
of the day, and when the Force bill is
mentioned they seem to evince. little in
terest in or concern for it. Indeed, l
believe that they look up on it as some
thing vague and uncertain, and not
realizing the dangers that Turk behind
1t, ,they'will go on supporting candi-
date whom they cannoS elect merely
because he represents their ideas of re-
form, and thus they will succeed in
handing over their State government to
the party which in former DAYS bank
rupted tho State, rendered life and prop
erty insecure, disfranchized the best
element of the people and generally
wrought folly in Israel do not like
to take this pessi,uis'ic view OF the sit
uation, but the s,nrD and unalterable
facts compel nir t. q 81"
In regard 20 G. .vrnor Buchanan's
committing tue -,n,.ncs of H Clay
King, Mr. Thomp-on said: 81 think that
1T was as unjust a. unfortunate King
should have been banged twice, once
LOT his treatm mt of his fam
n.y. and again for the cold
blooded and deliberate murder of
Poston. Yes, it is very likely that
the govorror or. as he says, received pc
titions signed by thousands. Nothing
is so easy as to get a petition signed.
People will sign petition to pardon
the murderer taken red. handed and
fresh from the work of slaughter when,
If on the jury to try him, they would
hang him as high as Hannah Kings
attorneys and friends were indefatigable
in their efforts and it is not at ali sur
prising that lengthy petitions were sent
into the executive praying for com
mutation of his sentence. a vast ma
lor1ty OF the better classes OF tho State
undoubtedly severely and bitterly con-
denim Buchanan for his action in the
matter, but with those whom be fondly
terms Ibis constituents" it will make
little or no difference. 1 regard Blu
chanan as weak man and it will be a
great blessing ifJudge Turney is elected
the next governor"
Mr.. Thompson leaves with his wife
this morning for a tour of the North be.
fore his return to Tennessee.
AT the Ponce de Leon late Yesterday
evening an old gentleman was talking
of life in the South during ante bellum
days. and drew the following picture
from his memory Of settlement" on
the Savannah river: "Above the city of
Savannah" he said, 1.-The river narrows
and the country becomes moro undulat-
ing, and then began the residences of
wealthy planters. In the midst OF a
dark grove OF ancient oaks, intersperced
with walnut, hickory and maple, arose
the chimneys and gables of the family
residence. This structure was usually
two stories high. painted white with
green blinds, and encircled by broad
spacious galleries supported by large
Ionic columns. From these galleries, as
far as the eye ,uld let see, spread be-
fore you scene of thrift and industry.
10 the right, probably. would be seen
broad acres OF cotton cleaning as white
as snow in the harvest sun, fecked now
and then by the black woliy head of the
pickers, who. as they gathered in the
fieecy staple sang joyous old plantation
melodies. In the rear was the negro
quarter with it's long rows of houses,
each having garden or truck patch, in
which were grown vege tables for the
use of tho family, but it was seldom
that you could ever find any
of tho negro children in the quarter, as
they reserved to themselves the pre-
rogatiye OF appropriating the backyard
OF the family residen as a playground.
where they and the white children
alto. quarrtiiled and played on terms Of
perfect equality. To the Left was the
orchard covering several acres of
ground.
THE early breath of autumn had
painted the leaves in yellow, purple
and gold and underneath this richly
variegated foliage the negro plowman
turned the soil for the autumn crop of
rye. singing some doleful camp meeting
song and stopping at intervals to admin.
lister lecture to his mules for some
misstep. which it seemed to perfectly