The Tupelo journal., 1906-02-02

those who have lived all the way
through and seen and realized
all the changes, look backward
and view the times then and now,
they almost always incline to the
good old times Of the long ago.
TO a man who lived in Fulton
from 1859 to 1861, the difference
in the then and now is very
marked. Then almost all the
residents owned slaves, and the
women consequently had cooks
about whom they suffered no un-
easiness that they would not put
in an appearance in time to get
breakfast, and not be ready all
through the days and weeks to
do whatever might be desired.
The people were not then so anx
ious about fine houses and fine
furnishings, as they were to in
vest their means so they and
their women might live without
so much drudgery. So, the first
thing thought Of after getting ali
humble home, was to invest in
negro property until they had
enough to give comfort. In this
respect the people of Fulton were
then we'll supplied. There was
more social intercourse.th then than
now, because Of the fact that
the women had but little to do,
and time that now has to be util-
lied for cooking and housekeep-
ing, was at the disposal of all
alike, and each could dispose Of
it for the mutual benefit of all;
and thus they met at each 9th
er's homes, or rode or drove in
to the country surrounding the
town, and mutually enjoyed each
others society. And the men,
being supplied with the kind of
property that could produce a
living without SO much personal
supervision, had more time to
devote to each other. If a man
now owns ten thousand dollars
worth of property, he is harder
worked, and a greater slave, than
the poor man wao simply owns a
little home and supports himself
and family by his own labor.
But then a man could take ten
thousand dollars and invest two
thousand in a plantation and the
balance in negroes, and other
property necessary for farming,
hire him an overseer, and him
self be a man Of leisure and
pleasure, and live like a prince.
Or, if he had that amount inves-
ted in negro property, and did
not wish to embark in farming,
he could put two thousand dol
lars in a home and it's furnish
ing, and hire out his negroes for
good prices and live on the in
come, and still have his time on
his hands to enjoy whatever
good things might come up. In
a general way it seemed to me
the people then took special pains
to know and sympathize with
the wants Of their neighbors, and
to use whatever means were
necessary to add to each others
happiness. And so when / look
back to those people now after
the lapse of these many years, |
think Of the picture given of the
once happy village Of Auburn as
given by Oliver Goldsmith in his
Deserted Village. Plenty fill
their homes fnd barns, content
ment was the center of every
home; and joy and happiness
re gned supreme. Men owning
such property often came to the
hotel at Fulton and remained for
days, and sometimes weeks and
months, mingling with their
! friends, and having a good time
generally. There was no want
either Of literary taste or literary
talent. As / have shown here
tofore in these "Pen Pictures, I"
Buck Owen, an orator, poet and
! literary writer lived there, and
there were other men and women
of literary taste who lived either
there or in the county.
John Messenger was e1itor and
publisher of the Fulton Messen-
ger for many years, and a strong
man, welding q trenchant pen.
Not only was he a political edi-
tor, but a writer of literary mer-
it on general subjects, and full
Of fun and frolic. remember
now q little incident that occur
red in connection with his candi-
! dacy for Office in old Itawamba
in the early fifties. If my mem
ory serves me correctly he offer
ed at that time for Probate Clerk.
He made a strenuous canvass
with the boys, and had high
hopes Of success. At the voting
precinct called "Old Carolina, "
Messenger said there were six
teen voters who promised faith
fully and solemnly that they
would cast their vote for him,
but. behold! when the votes were
counted he did not receive q vote.