Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-11-16
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MISSISSIPPI MATTERS
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By KATE MARKHAM POWER
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NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By KATE MARKHAM POWER.

than ninety years, has clear recollec-
tion of the time in Mississippi when
the larger part of the cotton picking
was done by lndians-the women and
children only be 1t understood.
In those early pioneer days even
negroes were not nearly so numerous
as the red men," because the former
were bought and brought to the State
as slaves and the Indians were al
ready here in great numbers. The
writer's great-grandfathe was wont TO
supplement his force of slaves with a
large number Of Indian women and
children. This was in Jefferson coun-
ty, on the Copiah line In those days,
as in these, the men were more orna-
mental than useful, so the amount Of
their work can be estimated with ease.
Their time was spent in hunting but
the women and children made good
I plckers. The Indian of our genera.
tion Is far removed from the sturdy
stock Of pioneer times, however, and
we fear for the peace Of mind of the
planters who employ them.
There Is another matter (explolted
as "new") up for discussion by the
papers for the benefit Of our farmers.
An extract from recent correspond
enCe on this subject is as follows:
"The farmers In Claiborne county
are making a test of ground artichokes
as a fattening food for hogs, and it is
stated that they have achieved emf
nenJly satisfactory results. One farm.
er reports a remarkable yield of arti-
chokes, having grown $50 bushels on
one acre Of ground, and for fattening
purposes two bushels are equal to one
of corn"
The same old lady who remembers
the Indian hirelings so well finds such
experiments" as the above highly en-.
tertaining, inasmuch as the ground
artichoke was one Of the commonest
| products Of the farm and generally
accepted food for fattening hogs during
the first half of this century. AS far
back as her girlhood days the fence
corners were utilized by planting arti-
cnokes. These were not taken up, as
was the product of the regular plant
| ings, but were left there after the
| fields were cleared, and the razor
backs were turned in to root them
up. And while in those times of plenty
it was not root hog or die" the pork
ers exercised themselves considerably
in the spot now considered sacred to
weeds, stolen watermelons and lazy
negroes.
The West Point Leader honors itself
in nominating for director of Missls-
sippi's exhibit at the st. Louis Expo
sition that able official, cultured gem
tleman and typical Southerner, Maj.
S. A. Jonas of the Aberdeen Examiner.
| The Pascagoula DemocratSta Sec
onds the motion, and is pleased to be
allowed to do it, and if we had voice
in the matter we would like to call
for the vote on the question, being
very sure that every man who is inter-
ested in the States welfare and de-
sires a worthy exhibit, we'll placed
and displayed to the utmost advantage,
would cast his vote for this loyal Mis-
sissippian, who made such a marked
success Of his work at the New Or
leans Exposition. From his desk in
the sanctum of the Aberdeen Exam
iner and through the somewhat re.
stricted medium of a weekly paper
(though it is one of the best), this
man of wide information and broad
culture does more perhaps, to encour-
age the growth of the State along pro-
gressive lines than any other Of the
many able and efficient editors He
deserves a wide field for his useful
ness, and Mississippi will be vastly tho
gamer should she be represented at
this great fair by such a director.
A remarkable story Of the "preser-
vation of preserves" comes to us from
Pontotoc county, where the family OF
! Mr.. Charles Owen rejoice in the pos
session of jar of peach preserves that
we're made in Wales and brought to
this country, and in the year 1775
buried. 1t is claimed by our corre-
spondent that the pedigree" and the
age of this wonderful jar can be traced
land proven) as far back as the year
preceding the famous revolutionary
76. When the jar was resurrected in
disputable evidence of its "age and
birthplace" were found with it. The
preserves We're made in Wales from
peaches, and the jar, which seems to
have been an heirloom, was handed
down from father to son until the
bottom is worn as smooth (from con-
stant usage) as polished STEEL Ono
Of Mr.. Owens ancestors brought this
unusual heirloom to this country with
him. Evidently the little Owens of
those days were not as fond Of peach
preserves as are the youngsters Of
today.
Good news comes to his native State
of another of her sons who has at
tanned honor In a distant State-Mr.
Eugene Lanier Sykes of Aberdeen was
recently unanimously nominated
against his will and over his pro-
test) by the Democracy of the Nine
teenth Assembly District of New
York for Alderman. This choice is a
special distinction because of the
partys desire to add strength to the
general municipal ticket. Inasmuch
as this is an overwhelmingly Repub-
lican district, Mr.. Sykes stands small
chance of election, but the nomination
shows how well his friends esteem
him abroad as well as at home
Mississippi enjoys distinction in
the conduct of her insane hospitals.
Their biennial reports show that the
East Mississippi Hospital will turn
1000 back into the treasury this
year, and that $4,000 was turned back
49, 49, Ioo,,,rn. e1T nm 80 4ho