The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-08-16
An Interesting Letter from Flor
ida by Mrs. L. H.
Pratt.
The SOutherners are Generous
and Hospitable and Respect
Men Of Principle.
Some of the Southern Ladies have
no Particular Affection
for Yankees.
CROMANTON, July 28th. l89

CRoMANToN, July 28th, 1894.
Dear Old 1 Princeton Union: Thinking
perhaps something more from the
sunny south" would be acceptable, I
will try to write you to-day although
it seems to me as if I had about ex-
hausted my limited store of knowledge
on the subject. til true, I have been
a resident here now for nearly four
years, but as has always been the case,
I am very domestic and don't often get
far from home. I have never said
much on the political situation, and
perhaps it is best not to say much. It
seems that the leading men are all
Democrats, but judging from the back
biting and mud-slinging that is going
on by way of the newspapers, it is
pretty hard to tell just who are the
good Democrats. It is certain that the
political pot is boiling, and boiling furi-
ously, and it is truly to be hoped that
the agitation may throw off all that is
bad, and nothing remain but what is
good, just and true. s.r..o
We have all sorts of political faiths
here, from radical Republicans to the
unrepentant rebel, (the latter are US
ually females), all living together in
one community and to all appearance
the best of friends. There is, of course,
occasionally a little good natured spar
ring INDUCED in ''just for fun.'' I don't
know how better to illustrate this than
by relating a few little incidents that
have come under my observation. We
have in our midst a
lady, hly educated, and es-
pecially in regard to the history
of our own country. She is Virgin
ian by birth, her; father having owned
a large plantation and many slaves in
that State. Still they were Unionists,
and as we all know it took courage in
those days to be a Unionist in the
south. She has courage enough for a
whole regiment, and is, I think, the
most thoroughly radical Republican
that [ ever met, and ready to express
her opinion at any time. Said lady
was lecturing a certain man ION the re.
suits of the wary who was also a slave.
holder and has a decided leaning the
other way. She had him pretty well
cornered, in fact it seemed as if there
was not much left that he could say
He hesitated and finally expressed him.
self thusly: 'ssWell, what we didn't kill
of you, we crippled; you are all draw
ing pensions anyway!'' AS almost
every northern man here who is ole
enough is an invalid ex-soldier, here
for his health and living on his pen
sion, there would seem to be some
ground for the assertion.
At the st. Andrews 4th of July cele
bration, a year ago, an old gentleman
was addressing the people for a few
minutes, and he talked like this: s'My
friends 1--WE are nearly all Yankees
here) sit is impossible for me to ex
press the satisfaction [ feel at the con
dition of things here to-day. OF cours,
you all know about the dreadful wa
we had years ago. How the Unio1
troops came down here and how prop
erty and lives were destroyed, and hoy
hard it made it for US. I, with others
was a heavy looser. Well, it was har,
for them, too, but as [ said before, an
truly glad past differences are passing
away so fast. am glad to see SO man,
northern people here to-day, I hop
they will all improve their condition
by coming here, and right here I wan
to say that I think I never saw
brighter, happier, or better looking 10
of ladies in my life than I see here be
fore me to-day, and if I was a youn
man I should surely come here and ge
me a wife, and with a rising in1ectio
to the end) / believe she would max
me happy"
Said an Alabama lady to me, ss'Wh
is that old codger?" I replied, The
an Alabama confederate soldier.
She replied very spitefully, # don
want any thing to do with him. I hav