The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-31
DRY BUT HAPPY TOWN
A Day With PoIIocksv,IIe' S
Genial People.
A Reading Community Who Maks the News
paper Mans Heart Glad, His First
YclI For Democracy.
TcII For Democracy,
Especial to News and observer.J

Poilocksville, N. c., May "a visit
here is not without interest and on the
occasion of this one, l alighted from the
cars, umbrellaless, into a driving rain,
but fortunately accompanied by that
prince of clever German Americans, MIR.
Marks, of the o. Marks e Son, Wholesale
dry goods and shoe establishment of New
bern. Marks was supplied with q rain
protector and meath its wings I was
sheltered to the first store IL the Irinc-
pal street in the willie" and there left 10
paddle my own canoe. AS one enters this
street he is impressed with the fact that
the tolk of Pollocksville propose to get
rid OF any surplus water, for right in the
centre OF the thoroughfare that extends
from town limit to town limit, there is a
wooden trough about three feet wide and
one foot deep-there being natural drain
age from either side-no fall of rain re-
mains to drown aged man or barcfooted
child, but down the trough it rushes to
the bosom of the river Trent
| was not long in finding a friend of the
News and Observer in the person of e. L.
Houghton, Jones countys leading farmer
and trucker. The rain over, l was soon
speech making and booking subscribers.
| kept this up, on down the street, estab-
lishment after establishment, till /
reached the river bridge and entering
this stood and counted, as they floated
down stream, the longest raft of pine
legs ever saw, some 1000 being chained
together. While yet overlooking the wa
ters of the Trent, gentleman
came driving across and looked at me
with a pleasant smile. l ventured to
offer him North Cardinals Leading
Daily with the result that two souls
were soon made happy. ! did not know
it, (but was afterwards told this was the
sheriff of Jones, who is besides, large
farmer and owner of Pollocksvilles most
eXcellently equipped grist mill plant and
cotton gin.
With some ten new ones added to the
already good list, l left the bridge and
crossing the trough" l walked back up
the thoroughfare, on 'tother side, meet
ing with the same good success, both
adding new ones and renewing old ones.
One robust "old bachelor" declared if he
was not roaming about he would sub
scribe, and when / told him to send it
to his best girl-she, the News and OBJ
server, was winner-he kinder" witted
ike ana the lraQe was on.
Feeding time having arrived l gave way
to the cravings of the inner-man and was
soon seated in Hudson's Hotel, where a
splendid meal was dispatched. This over,
] could not resist a moments talk with
that Simon pure, Jones county Democratic
war horse the only and original Samuel
Hudson. A talk with Mr., Hudson on the
issues of the day, or, of other days is
81.
way back. Some are bold enough to de-
clare his first yell was one for Democ-
racy. Some twenty-eight years ago meath
the shady branches of a huge tree "a the
corner of his place of business, he erect
ed a speakers stand where, these years,
in campaign times, Democratic orators
have stood and shouted forth the doe
trnes. Sitting near Mr.. Hudson pointed
to the aged stand, and said with pride,
Last year Charlie tAycock spoke the Cos
pei of White Supremacy from that plat
form while the people listened and were
thrilled by his matchless eloquence." Mr..
Hudson has represented Jones in the Leg
islative Halls at Raleigh and is brim full
of pleasant "reminiscences.
Pollocksville is delightfully."- situated in
a most excellent agricultural county, the
soil of which is rich, and yields abundant
crops of corn, peas, potatoes, cotton, to-
bacco and the entire vegetable kingdom.
The town is only thirteen miles by rail
from Newbern, the Wilmington and New
bern railroads affording splendid shipping
facilities. Besides, the river Trent is
but stones throw to the north of the
heart of the willie" and there is steamer
traffic with Newborn and Trenton Her
population is 800 Her people are a most
hospitable one. Indeed, no people in this
respect excel those of Jones county
There is here good school, Baptist
a Presbyterian, a Disciples church and a
dozen we'll kept stores. The oldest citi-
zens boast of Pollicksville being prohi7
bition town where a fine of SIS is imposed
for the sale even of a glass of cider
A protracted meeting of some interest
is under way at the Baptist church COM
Quoted by the Rev. Smith and il is no I'M
comomn thing for the busy men OF lie town
when the hour of services approaches
to be seen leave their places OF bust
ness and making a buy line for the house
of worship. Though his first visit your cor
respondent was not unknown to this peo-
pie several of whom he had met before
in his religious gatherings journeyings,
and as they passed in and out The Gem
City of the Plains. Nor, are they una
quainted with his writings for when he
published "Our Little Sunbeam, a num-
Der of Polocksville people ere on its
list Come again stay longer, are the
last words in parting, with this people and
| am inclined to promise both.
RIVENBARK.