The Progress., 1893-04-08
NYRNA'S REALM,
WEEKLY CHIT-CHATr

rpe he turned down pages in my
WIZ, ''ry Of happy days. An early
sS'ss.sIsst, Ss pleasant walk IN Ine orao, rae,
bresrn;ne air, an exhilerating spin
ing new electiic car line on the
dospo, thence TO a comfortable coach
Tv TeDsv 8. &. P. road, a pleasant run
y 'a.aueb % budding woods and fields fra
fDiV., r;th the odor Of newly upturned
ps s;bley. a transfer TO a coach. no
90 ~"omfortable than the one | left, an
',ssr short run on the smooth and well
oui'. of the tap" and the beauti-
pn ';,usted little town of Minden was
nus .Shed. En- route 1 met Mr.. t. II. Car
l ,he courteous proprietor of the Gar
House." and arranged to stop with
au,ius my short business visit, but
p ,he train had fairly stopped the hand
u.~.n,,ality was extended me by one of
.',-ae,,. fairest daughters, who had
~ nv coming, and was there with
ssrriage in waiting to escort me to her
-,.sl southern home, where ! was roy
y .ntertained. After brushing off the
I ,-s dtravel, and enjoying a dainty and
.s,re.hing lunch, l started out touring"
..',nraIlv. | first sought headquarters
o. ssueral information, the office of the
- nsper. Through the courtesy of
Iudge R. c. Drew, was Introduced to
p Kent, local editor and business
-..,ager of the Webster Signal. the Of
so,al iournal of the parish. Mr., Kent is
very pleasant courteous gentleman.
.,a a practical, energetic newspaper
nan and deserves stronger local support
his commendable and well directed
Efforts. His kind interest and polite at
,suton were much appreciated.
Ten years had passed since had visi-
,sd Mipden, and as continued my walk
noted many changes and improve
ments.
The town proper was originally built
around quadrangle of grand old oaks
and pines OH plateau hard to excel in
sdaptibility for the building of a healthy
,,d thriving city. The business houses
ali in row Oh one side, and neat and
uretty little cottage homes each embed
"a in lis parture of sweets on the other,
with only the courthouse and parish jail
10 mar the beauty of the exquisite GEN.
tre piece. But the business iconoclast has
has Of late years made an innovation and
destroyed the upper portion of this gift
dNature, by planting there some not
very attractive business shops, and Of
fees. There are perhaps fifteen
business houses whose trade
embraces large territory
extending across country all the way
into Arkansas; new and busy bank; a
compress that sends OUT an average of
1900 bales per year: a foundry that
makes the celebrated Kelly plows, and
does all sorts of job and fancy iron work;
planning mill and general repair shop;
two gTist mills, two hotels. two livery
stables, four schools. two white and two
eolored, five white and two colored
churches and only One one, bar room,
VII eh beais the very superfiuous name
Of "Favorite Saloou."
Socially and intellectually it is abreast
Of this progressive age. The Jefferson
Davis College" for boys and girls, pre-
sided over by that able and popular edu-
Gator, Prof. BIrks. is an institution of
learning any community might be proud
Of, and the town public school, endowed
by the town council and free only to
children residing within the town limits,
Is very thorough and progressive. A
most commendable feature of the local
system is the practice of giving Monday
instead of Saturday as holiday, thus pre-
venting the boys from idling about the
streets on the day when the least moral
element Of the population is predomi-
nantly conspicuous. The "Eu:erpean
Club" which meets every Monday has a
large membership and affords most
charming entertainment for its intellect
ual and literary following. Essays and
oepates, Rotations. ETC., fill the pro-
gramme on each occasion. The cemetery
association presided over by MIR. j. F..
MI Is most worthy and commendable
sn'erprise. Each member pays one dol
nj imitation fee, and one dollar per year
'neFsafter. A sexton is regularly en-
p'oyed and his whole duty is to care for
snd oeautify the graves of loved ones
"no rest beneath the sod. This noble
~ofk Is memorial during life to its
FOUNDER, Miss Lizzie Chaffe, and will al
ways be tribute to her beautiful and
ioyable character.
All these dots learned on the day of
my arrival for l kas everywhere greeted
WIN most affable courtesy and attention.
.ne next day in company with Misses
.aeeoy Chaffe and Alice Goodwill. two of
A'noen's most charming bellies, and seat
rm stylish and very comfortable
pnae'on from Mr.. Christopher Chaffe's
~sn appointed livery stables, / called
upon tue social element. and added many
ehs'mng ladies' to my list of acquaint-
snoes' We also did" the suburbs and
snmy town and warsaw" / was
P'.ueularly impressed with the thrift
suo 8 enterprise, everywhere displayed.
Aso very neat churches, two public
souoo1 and numerous nreftv LITTLE eot-