The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-07-19
NATCH[T UNDER THE lHILL.
Mr. George Wilson Visits the
Historic Old City.
COMPARES NATcHEz WITH OUR CITY.
Thought he was in a IiOld.up-Sees
Many Fat, Sleek Negroes.

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EDITOR INTELLIeENcER:- Leaving
Kansas City at 10 p. m. by the Port
Arthur route l walked with daylight
enough to see our thriving zinc city
of Joplin. From there to the Arkan-
sas line and in northwest Arkansas
there is some pretty country with
fine springs. Arkansas is the woman S
rights state--where the women exer-
else their natural right to 'chaw
tobakker" on perfect equality with
the men. The road swings over into
the Choctaw country below Fort
Smith on account OF hills, and there
is much good valley land there
belonging to Indians but titled by
whites. Everything looks well down
to the promising city OF Shreveport.
10 passing through the corner Of
Texas, before getting into Texarkana,
there was some excitement forward,
and drunken passenger holding to a
lever cut the air brake connection as
the car lurched and he swung to it,
Taking it all together the first thing
/ thought Of was hold-up, so I
opened my grip quickly and got
ready that article that is sometimes
so badly needed in Texas, for in early
times on the U. P. we invented a way
Of using them in crowded car with
out endangering the lives of passen-
gers. But it turned out to be the
conductor and brakeman quelling
ight between two negroes. They
bound one, noted aesperado, hand
and foot and cast him-not into the
outer darkness but into the baggage
car and gave him to the officers.
The Red River from Shreveport is
naVigable to the Mississippi. By
rail directly east to Rayyille in Louis.
lana, and from Rayville south to
Eatchez on a Missouri Pacific branch
the country is suffering for rain The
corn is practically ruined and cotton
in danger. 1t was the glorious
Fourth as / came through and it was
generally observed by whites and
blacks. The latter were very numer-
Gus, very black, very sleek and fat
and jolly, laughing and enjoying
themselves, we'll dressed and with
good behavior and little or nc rowdy-
ism. One would not know that they
are groaning under the grievous
oppression Of the whites as the
orators Of the tory formerly repub-
licau) party tell us.
We cross the mighty Father Of
Waters on train transfer boat, and
/ do not see why the Santa Fe can
not do the same at Lexington. 1t
would please Commodore Pix Davis
and Rear Admiral Frank Kriehn to
see the long transfer barges handled
by tug at the stern with her bow
pushing There are some queer look
ing craft ln the Natchez navy, but
should these two told sea-dogs" ever
come down with their flag ship, the
Ariel, (''named for some one Of
Christ's apostles" " as Bob Chesney
siidl the story Of Santiago wonld be
cast ia the shade. Natchrz reminds
me Of Lexington; it is over twice as
large, but the streets '9ust lo.'ole"
cleao, the plenty Of negroes the old
style houses Intern xed with new.
Ny ancestor Stokes, Of Moth Caroanl
was one OF the last agents for the
Nalchez indians, who we're a Iart Of
the Aztecs, 1t is said
The thermometer rnns about 80 to
%, the heat is not oppressive, and |
do not think It would hurt strong
young white mau to work in the fields
if'atemperate liver any mere than to
loaiin townand drink whlskyand geta
schiuous liver. Except the temporary
drought the outlook in the south is
not bad. Matches was smart enough
70 hold a part Of the blum Cor a park,
not large and no expenae 70 keepup,
but very nice for the people to sit Ia
and look far and ylde across the
bottom and up and down the noble