The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-02
Notes by the Wayslde.


 Farming returns in many portions of the Black Belt have not been satisfac- tory, owing in part to the seasons and 10 the demoralized condition of the ne- groes, said a gentleman to me on an incoming Western train few evenings ago. met gentleman from Fitxpat- rick's Station today" he continued, and he told me that one of the leading firms or that place had run one hundred mules during the past year and had gotten 133 bales or cotton. That is only one n- stance of many and am sorry to know that the cotton crop is not only short, but corn is scarce also and do not know farmer scarcely who has made corn enough to begin the next crop opera tions with" All bread stuff is going to De high during the present year and those who have corn and small grain enough to go through with are fortu- nate indeed, I heard an old and wealthy advancing merchant say recently to his son, who has been in business with him Tor many years, that, as he had wanted to retire from business for number of years he thought now was a good time to do 1t, for with cotton at present prices and all small grain high and scarce he did not see much prospect ahead for their business and ke thought that he would never see a more propit- ious time for quitting And I find the feeling of that sort very general. Corn and flour and oats are all going to be
 
 higher figure farming this year is not likely to be very profitable.
 It is not generally known that most all or the fall oats were killed during the recent cold spell. but it is a fact never theless. I visited q gentleman on re- cent trip and he took me out into his oat and wheat fields and showed me how the oats had been frozen to the very roots like fire had scorched, and had to be planted over again. His wheat was killed above the ground but the roots were not frozen and is coming, out again. killed and that crop will bring nothing at all. A field of neighbor near by, where the oats were over a hand high, was also barren. and the grain was killed in the same way. This will be a great loss and spring oats will command high price.
 1T saw the statement in your wayside notes few days ago that negroes were not making contracts for another year in Lowndes and other counties" said a gentleman from West Alabama yester- day. That was true in our County" he sad, but it has all changed since Christmas and they arc now eager to The negroes were uneasy about the op eration of the new Constitution, not knowing what was to be done with them. on account of the many wild and foolish stories tou m me canvas TOT rdlIhca- tion, but they have waited and have found out that they were all bugaboos and that they are very foolish to pay any attention to them at all. Every sem sible negro in Alabama knows that his race will be better off in every way un- der the new Constitution and that it will be better for the ignorant class that they cannot exercise the right of suffrage,
 Seeing in the papers yesterday morp- fug the abatement that Greenyille was disappointed in the arrangements made there to hear Madame Calve sing, calls to mind a story I saw in newspaper a fews days ago of the great actor, Joe Jefferson. which will be appropriate Tn this connection and much enjoyed by all play-goers. It was as follows:
 Nearly every summer Joseph Jeffer- son the actor comes to Greenacre-on the Piscataqua, in the town of Eliot, Me, and attends the summer school of phil osophy there During his stay he fur nishes many a laugh by his witty sallies But the biggest laugh of the last season he provoked by something that was en- tirely unintentional Emma Thursby was under the large tent. Mir. Jefferson sat on the platform listening intently. The veteran actor is rather deaf, and he held his hand at his ear, his gaze directed to the roof of the tent. By strange coin cidence, just as Miss Thursby finished her song the little steamer that plies between Greenaores and Portsmouth whistled for the landing. Miss Thurs by's last note was prolonged and nisn: and the steamboat whistle grafted itself on it in exactly the same key, ana con tinued long after Miss Thursby had be- gun to bow her way from the stage. Jet- ferson listened until the mellow note died away, and then, turning to the person next him, almost shouted In the lntensl- ty of his admiration. My God. what ,,otcap