Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-04
ALETTER FReK THE SOUTH.

j - - ~ ~ WV
A lively river fed by many delightful
little streams, thick pine forest, pictur-
esque little gulleys and ravines, grazing
sheep, goats and cattle, white cottages
scattered here and there among the trees,
the soft, mild air of Southern winter,
good hearts with whom to share the
pleasures of the place-you have tiny
| glimpse OF Magnolia Springs For the
huntsman and the angler, plenty sport
in field, forest and river; for the lover
of Natures beauties, the streams, the
trees the little hills and hollows, the
sunsets, and the stars; for the indolent,
the lazy, sleepy climate of the South; for
the energetic, long tramps through the
woods, and rows on the water-so you
see all are suited, unless, perchance,
some luckless individual who has drifted
in here with the love of all modern
Improvements and inducements to
helplessness so grated in HIM that he
cannot return TO more primitive condi-
tions with any degree of comfort-if
there is any such we have not yet met
him.
Years ago, when the Indians came up
the river they would say they were 60
ing to the Magnolia. At the head of
the river, stood great magnolia tree
an old land mark now fallen, though
young trees have been planted to mark
the spot. From this tree and the many
clear springs of pure water, comes the
name of the little settlement of Magno-
liza Springs.
We are living on the site of an old
turpentine plantation-the inn near us
was the plantation house. Down by
the big gate, stood the factory, burned
during the war, when the melted resin
ran down the little incline to the bridge
and, hardening, covered the ground
with a solid bed of resin. Some dis
tance down the river is the old brick
yard where bricks were made for one of
the Confederate forts The place, once
clear is now grown over with good sized
trees. Farther on, we came to an old
plantation, evidently once fine place
Of the house, only few OF the great
foundation posts remained the road
rambling through the woods to the river
was almost overgrown with grass. 1t
needed only little fancy to build again
tb ra MI al "A hifo hanSo ,fc
siye grounds, abloom with magnolia,
yellow jasemine, and myriad other
Southern flowers, the darkies toiling in
the rice fields near by, the glimpse of
frolicking youngsters, and merry youths
and maidens among thegreat trees; and
the neyer-failing hospitality and court
esy OF the old time master and mistress
of the house. Here, in thicket OF
smaller growth, we saw the most mag
nificient tree it was ever my privilege
to see. 1t was a liye-oak, a liberal
twelve feet in circumference, its huge
limbs as large as an ordinary tree 1t
is said to have a spread of more than
one hundred feet-I cannot say whether
this is justice or more than justice to its
sleeve measured only its circumfer-
ence. Embedded in one of its lower
limbs is great iron CHAIN. Maybe we
didn't feel small and insignificant
standing underneath that tree
Ga Sundays it seems like slip back
into the old pioneer days when men
went armed to church, as we straggle,
single file, along the little paths through
the woods to the Episcopal service held
at the hall until the completion of the
little church near by, erected through
the benifcence and devotion of noble
woman whose dearest wish was to see
the completion of her work. The hall
was built by the people of Magnolia
Springs, and is used for all public gath
erings. Here are held the little weekly
dances, where, to the music of accord
ion, mouth-organ and guitar-old and
young ''tlip the light fantastic toe"
The darkies, peeping in through the
windows. see some wonderful quadrille
figures, such as chasing the squirrel, !"
and ''the river BEND" nor is Old Dan
Tucker neglected here as is wont to be
the case in many places. In keeping
with our rural surroundings, we main
tain truly rural hours for merry making
often the dance is in full swing by half
past seven, and before eleven the
dancers are vending their way home
ward through the woods by the friendly
aid of the silent moon-or lantern.
The usual morning diversion is the
arrival of the mail which is brought, at
almost any time between ten and twelve,
by an old man driving racka-bones
yellow horse that might be direct