Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-12-14

was an educated gentleman and knew
how to live in ease and splendor, ant
they did it, too. Most of them ha(
titles of some kind-military or other
wise. There was Col. Brooks and DR..
Baird, and DR.. FAINT and Judge -Au
gustus, and Col. Biilups and Dr.. Deu,
pree, and DR.. Wharton and Col. Spann,
aud DR., Clay and Maj Moore, ant
Maj. Stevens and. Dr. Pendleton, and
so on, from one end Of the county tC
the other. | didn't know but one
Captain in all that country. That was
Captain Duskin, who kept a wagon
shop at Prairie Point until the war be.
gun, and then went to preaching. All
of these titled old residents were
splendid representatives of the citi
zenship of the county and maintained
the honor and dignity of their type of
manhood to its very highest standard.
God bless their memories We ne err
shall see their like again.
Lite in that part of the country dur.
ing the decade specified was very
different from what it is now. It was
upon a scale similar to that of the
English lord of to day. The most
lavish hospitality was dispensed and
the utmost freedom of intercourse be.
tween families of neighbors was OBJ
served. Every man prided himself
upon his honor and every man s
promise was held sacred and had to be
met. The mortgage system was un-
known and the suit for debt was un.
heard of. The man who did not keep
his word or who did not pay his debts
was held in contempt and scorned by
all who knew of his dereliction. The
young man who got drunk had to 90
out OF his neighborhood to marry and
the old man who got drunk was turned
out Of church at the next meeting after
his sin. The preacher was paid prompt
ly and the subscription lists for the
mission cause was in bales of cotton
instead of fifty cent pieces, as it is now.
The Niger was slave then and cult,
waited twenty to twenty five acres to
the hand and made from six to eight
bales of cotton apiece, and corn and
meat enough to feed himself and his
family, He was happier then than
now, if he didn't have time to ride
around in a rickety old buggy drawn
by poor old horse with mortgage on
him stronger than the harness which he
wears.
But, Phil, reckon you are tired and
| will quit for this time. The oil
county is not what it used to be by long
odds. If it could be made again like it
was in the days of which write /
would cheerfully sign a contract to
move back and live there a thousand
years and give you as security on my
bond. Then you would have to stay
there to see that | would perform my
contract. Wouldn't we have a good
time
But old Abe Lincoln, in his wrath
seeking Vengeance upon proud and
brave people, becauss he couldn't whip
them, freed the niger and turned him
into fool, and now, Teddy Roosevelt
is showing that he hasn't got any more
sense than old Abe had. know many
of my old frieuds will not agree with
me. but must say that when the land
owners of Noxubee county get rid of
the free niger with his mortgages and
old buggies and substitute intelligent
white men in their stead, old time con.
dltions may be again enjoyed. The
plaques of Egypt combined were insig
nlhcant compared to the blight which
old Abe pnt upon the Southern people.
Its effects abide with us, The remedy
can come only through our own forces
In applying it we might suffer tempo
rary inconvenience, but this should be
endured for the ultimate good of poster
ty. The people who braved the horrors
of a four years war against fearful odds
and have risen superior to the trials
and troubles imposed by malignant
and unscrupuleus political party for
Whole generation, can settle the free
bigger problem and should do it heroic.
lily and in short order, More anon.
j. X. I