The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-08-30
A DESERTED VILLAGE
IN WEST TENNESSEE.

Jackson, Tenn, Special to the
Nashville Daily News of Aug. "a
When Goldsmith dedicated his ia
nous poem, "The Deserted Village"
10 his friend, Reynolds, he express
ed the fear that a deserted village
could only be possible in the imagi-
nation of the poet, but nevertheless
depopulated village to perfection
in his effort. Could DR.. Goldsmith
have lived until to-day he could have
looked with his real eyes upon a
deserted village -one to make real
"Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of
the plain
Old Purdy was established in
McNairy county, Tenn, upon the
main stage line leading from the
eastern portion of the state to the
Mississippi river, crossing into the
then limitless west. The county
was settled sparsely, but sturdy
class of people from Virginia and
the Old North State, who had cross
ed the mountains to hew their for
tunes from the wilderness, and WOO
from the virgin bosom of those
broad acres the treasures that the
ages had implanted there. These
people were largely of Scotch Irish
descent and by their characteristic
persistence soon transformed the
wild region into prosperous agricul-
tural districts, and Purdy, the
county seat, grew to be one of the
most important commercial points
in the western division of the state,
outstripping Memphis and Jackson,
now the most populous and prospe-
rous points In western Tennessee.
Besides the then unrivaled CONNER
cial standing of Purdy social sta
tus had been established that made
of it the center of wealth, luxury
that fiourished in splendor for many
of those primitive years. The school
and the college came in the wake of
the churches of almost every demon
ination, and palatial residences were
erected upon the broad streets that
checkered the crest of the eminence
upon which was builded the city. A
county fair fourished, as did other
evidences of the enterprises and
thrift of the people, aud for that
time, like the ancient city, all roads
led to Purdy. But a blight came
and was portrayed the truth that
''ill fares the land to Fastening ills
a prey, where wealth accumulates
and men decay" The railroad in
passing missed the pioneer city but
few miles, and then began wal
away back midway the last century
that finally resulted in the real de-
serted village. The fight was for
the removal of the courthouse to a
point on the Mobile and Ohio rail
road, and during all those years in
tervening up to about dozen years
ago the conflict never ceased. 1t
was battle of ballots, in the halls
of legislation, upon the streets OF
the town and the roadsides leading
thereto, but the results was predes-
tined, and one by one the inhabi'
tants Of the doomed village began
to lose confidence and seek other To-
calities until when the victory came
to the "removal party" there were
but few indeed to move, and the new
town of Selmer, which became the
county site, was built by compare
tive strangers, and not by those who
made and maintained old Purdy.
Among those of prominence and
who have made many of them ma
tional regulations, who claim this
as the home of their childhood, are:
Marcus j. Wright, John V. Wright,
Col. D. NJ. Wisdom (of the Indian
service), the Skulls, the Dukes, and
the Johnsons, and not one of whom
nor a descendant of one of whom
now resides in the so.itudes of the
deserted town. Indeed, only one
or two dilapidated buildings are &C.
cupied, while standing in undis-
turbed quiet are decaying mansions
of those who have gone TO seek
more active fields in lite.
Truly this is Goldsmith's "deser-
ted village" stripped of its romance
because only sadness can come to
him who looks upon the cruel de-
VISITATION time has here wrought
and hear the silence of desolation.