The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1899-12-16
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. WORD ron GRENADA COUNTY.
VOL. XIV.

Mr.. W. Y. Williamson, Of Milan,
Tenn. recently visited Mrs. Georgia
ra,berl, MIR. Tom Williamson and
othes relatives. While here be wrote
the MILAN Exchang" the following let
tor ia reference 10 Grenada and county:
"As.ay back in the latter part Of the
sD's We left our home in Tennessee and
came 70 this state to try the realities
Of lie among strangers. About eight
miles east Of Grenada, through dense
forest Of tall pines, over rugged hills
that seemed TO US almost mountains,
we reached the head of u beautiful
and fertile valley which stretches
several miles southwark till 1t reaches
the sparkling waters Of the Abaitaupau
Bogue. Here we found one of the
most romantic aad attractive homes in
the state Of Mississippi.
This rich valley was settled b" sorAe
Of the early pioneers OF the state by
whose enterprise and thrift many hun
dred thousand bales Of cotton were fur
nished to the markets Of the world.
A happier or more prosperous COM
munity could hardly have been found
in the South We lived here aud serv-
ed in the capacity of all unpretentlous
pedagogue according to the primitive
system until the election Of Abraham
Lincoln as president of the United
States. when war talk was soon heard
on every hand. Secession flags were
floating in the breeze, in every home
was heard the patriotic songs OF Dixie
land and the Bonnie Blue fag-the
civil war was up on Us aud every man
able to bear armsi entered the Con-
federate army. No Drawer or more
chiyalrous people have ever lived in
the world.
Aflor many years, We return to re-
visit the scenes Of our early manhood
but a sad change Ia the lapse Of about
10 wears. The old people are all dead,
and most OF their children. Nothing
is left Of the old log school-house
''over the ridge save lit 10 pile OF
rocks and a few pine knots; thc patrons
have all passed away and the children
are growing old and Que way and an
other are gone. and only one o. our
pupils did we find 70 greet our return.
Many palalial homes are going to
dilapidation Many thousand acres OF
the old plantations that once echoed
with the glad saugs of the old-time
negroes have been turned out end be.
come 'piney old fields" We find only
one or two OF the Old rebel soldiers,
who still love TO recount the days when
they followed Lee or Jackson, or
Johnston or Wa|thall or Forrest. The
sad wall of the pines makes us feel like
we are living in another age OF The
world. or like Rip Van Winkle must
have felt upon waking from his loug
But do not conclude, Mr.. Editor,
that this section Of country is one vast
scene Of desolation. Though many
large farms have in measure been
abandoned for the richer swamp lands
in the Delta, the better portions are
still occupied by planters OF smaller
means and are worked protitably. The
state legislature has wisely provided q
po-feuca law which applies to many OF
the older counties, and 1t gives general
satisfac ion. The old fields and woods
are growing up In Bermuda, Lespeaeza
and other wild grasses and the ora1cn
bottoms In cane, which makes me
pasturage the year round. Thousanas
Of acres OF these lands could be fenced
with a few wires at 4 mall expenditure
and the finest pasture utilized for stock
raising, and especially cattle and sheep
We think there Is no better country
in the South for men OF small capital
The round bale cotton press Is being
used here to some extent and the ln'
dications are that In q. few years the
old 50 uare bale OF our fathers will be
thing Of the past
From the best Information We ca!
gather the farmers genetally are 10
fairly good condition, They are oe
coming more self.sustaining ana ex
empt from mortgaging their crops !.
the merchants for their yearly suppiies
Corn ia ali housed and but little cotto'
ia in the fields. The negro Is virtual
out 81 politics and seems contente'
with his lot, We reached Grenada o
the day Of the election for governor an
members Of the legislature and tner
was not half the stir that usually, q!
tends the election Of city marshal !