Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-02-17
A Letter From Bob Ionas.

Terrell, Texas. Feb 10Th, 1894.
Dear Chas:-I will try and write a few
lines, Tor you might think that since | get
so far from home that distance had obli-
terated past recolections and old friends.
But ms Henry Grady has said "dear to me
is the home of my childhood and the tril'Ii-
tons of my people" I'm not i'm Russia or
among the Sioux Indians, but the people
here are not like they are there. Every
thing is the dollar; every body is after it,
and if yon get in tie way you are liable to
get run over, | don't think that there is the
same kindly feeling here that there is
among the majority of in Miss. There are
some as good people here as anywhere, but
the good people are the exception and the
don't-care sort are the rule. The majority
ofthe farmers here are extremely eXtrava-
giant. To set one OF these people back in
old NoXubcc and spend what he does here,
1t would take him five years to pay what he
would spend in one, Human nature is
about the same the world over. Some are
making and saving money and some are
tight run. Some are are SO constituted it
seems they came into the world with the
determination to spend more than they
make. just think now and ponder well
this: Take 40 acres of land, plant it in oats
and make from 60 to so bushels per acne,
and after cutting with one plow too) and
after cotton was picked off haye just as fine
stand of oats Us you could wish for. 1t does
30, ~ ho axt 10
bic to spend all that one would make on
such land but they jo and good many not
only spend all they make, but are heavily
in debt. This is II fast country aud is filled
with fast people. Gambling III every shape
aud form, and whiskey on every corner,
but must say to the credit of these people
that have not seen buttwo or three drunk
Gu men since have been here,
With the exception Of one blizzard we
have had almost spring weather since Pve
been here. Wnenthe wind blows here it
comes like storm. | am well pleased
with my location here. am on dark sandy
land. 1 dout think tits good corn land but
my neighbors tell me 1t is first class for cot
ton and oats. There Is IL school within 200
yards Of my house. The school house is
also USED as church and there is preaching
twice each month. have been sever nj
times since I've been here, so you can sec
I'm getting better in my old days.
What is old John Guy doing. Tell him
to quit Dragging on his fox hound for there
are rabbits here that could bring them to 4
cold trail in fifteen minutes, and imagine
|if he was here tnt he could enjoy himself
highly wolf hunting. There are some places
on these creeks where il is impossible Tor a
man to goa solid brush pile of bamboo vines
aud bodock.
had nice time as came out here.
believe that II had plenty of money
would spend most of my time on the road
Some OF tho finest country that have ever
seen is In La. l tell youi was quite temp.
tation to stop ut some splaces 1 saw. II
could have had health certainly would
have stopped on some of the bayou's in La
The artists never paint us lovely scenery as
one can see on those streams. There IL
fish in superabundanee, and an alligator, toe
If you wanted to find him, camped one
night on Bear lake, GO or 10 miles west Of
vicksberg, and was sorey tempted to spenc
a week, for naturally wanted to have one
fish tale worth recording, but want Of tins
prevented Write and tell mo all the new
from the old country
Ever Your Friend.
Il. Il. JONES.