Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-01-21
SUNNY SOUTHERN LETTER.


ConrespOnuence OF the Ledger.
INDrANoLA, Miss, Jan. This
is the city In the South which has
been made memorable by the post
Office trouble which come from the
citizens Of the town protesting against
a negro woman postmistress The
result Is they have no U. s. mali post
Office here. / asked In forgetfulness
and ignorance where the postofiice
was. The hotel man told me 1t was
at the Court House, and as there was
where all my business was In Indiana
lo-Sunaower county-I went to the
ths Circuit Clerk, WHO keeps the "Con-
federate" postofIicc, the only one In
the United States. got my mail and
some o. 5. postage stamps. 1t is a
pretty southern town and the land
around 1t In the large cotton planta-
tion is selling at $50 to SIS per acre
aud the town has large schools, good
churches aud intelligent county Off
Gers, who, after they found | was a
former county officer Of Missouri, treat
ed lns very kindly and politely. Moth
ing is too good for Missourian (of the
right kind) in the South, anywhere
The mail for Indlanola is carried by
private contract made by wealthy
planters and merchants in and around
Indianola fr.m Ileathman, a way
station six miles across the country to
lndianola. could write many items
of interest to the readers OF your paper
regarding this town and the postoiiice
trouble, but space forbids. Suffice it
to say that this will remain the only
Confederate postoflice until a Presi-
dent is elected who does not think
that a negro is as good as white man
or woman, for tnis is the wealthiest
and most Intelligent part OF Missis-
sippi. My trade has been splendid for
l am Missourian and l don't care
who knows 1T. At Rosendale and
Greenyllle l met many county officers
who are personally acquainted with
our good citizen, Col Green Clay, who
owns large plantation interests in
these two counties, who all know him
and speak In highest terms Of him as
a citizen and taxpayer. Here | must
stop this prosy recital to tell Of
feast Of body and soul I've just en-
joyed Bobby Burns, the laureate poet
Of Scotland, wrote of having "Dinner-
ed We Lord,n but Bobby never had
a better time than had at the little
village OF Elizabethtown, Miss. By
accident l had a lay-oyer there for
two hours l had for dinner oysters,
raw, stewed, stuffed, fried, picked
and preserved, with all that go with
them in the varied conditions, but the
real feast came after the dinner in
that humble home, which reminded
me SO much Of my own, fer there was
little to eat (but oysters) and no good
place to sleep, but Of all the sweet,
happy homes and faces l have seen
since left my own this was nearest
perfection since l sat with my seven
children around my hearthstone
Christmas day. -Four girls and three
boys Dust my own number) all broth,
ers and sisters, came In and asked me
II l loved music land you know what
my answer would be.) One took the
piano, two the violin, two the guitar,
one the mandolin and on the clarinet.
| sighed, laughed, cried and wanted
to dance; for the two hours l was
taken into the realms Of perfect bliss,
for and angel choir from the Heavenly
courts coming down into this sweet
southland of sunshine and flowers
could not have waited my soul into
higher state of happiness than did
these sweet seven children, who did
not seem to know they were turning
earth into Heaven for the lonely
drummer from Missouri. l will never
forget it for 1t all just happened; and
when into Heaven go iii that be my
happy lotl l ask no greater JOY than
such music be my greeting. Well,
I'm now just 40 miles from Vicks-
burg. l may close my letter there or
lower down the river at "Natchez
under the hill.n The greatest kick l
have against the South is her hotels.
A hotel man in the South has no
more conscience than a lawyer. If /
was Missouri hotel man I'de have a
branch Hotel In every city south of
Mississippi. ]. V. WILLIAMS.