Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1907-07-18
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.

engine that ever came out of Nashville
to the old platform now known as
Christiana, was Bull of the Woods, "
Then came the telegraph. That was
wonder to us little boys. We couldn't
understand how letter could be sent
on the wire. The negroes curiosity
was excited as much as ours was.
They would undertake to explain to us
white children all about it and their
explanations were ludicrous and laugh
able. Uncle Saul said, "Tomie, write
your letter and give to dat dar man in
de Office and de letter will be dar rite
now"
We children used to watch to see the
letters go over the wire, but Uncle
Saul said, mo use watching chillun.
They trabbles so fast you can't see
em." White children got much of
their information from the aged ne
grOes of the community.
Ny father left Rutherford county
when l was eight years old and moved
to Cannon County. 1t was then almost
wilderness, full of deer and wild tur-
keys. I've seen the whole hillsides on
the head of Horse Spring Fork, covered
with turkeys and squirrels without
number. Many deer, turkeys and
squirrels have l killed In those days
every boy had his rife, shot guns not
being in demand. Barking squirrels
was the method used to kill them and
no hunter would shoot a squirrel in
the body. If he couldn't bark him
t hen he would shoot his head off.
Wonder how many of our boys know
what barking of squirrel means. 1t
means shooting in the bark just under
the squirrel and as near the heart as
possible, not touching the squirrel with
| the bullet.
Well, I've lived long enough to see
the wilderness cleaned up and made a
land of beauty. Still houses and grog
shops were plentiful, thicker than
churches and school houses, but I've
lived to see them pass away under the
great moral wave that set in at the
close of our great Civil War, and now
churches and school houses adorn every
community. Homes that once were
open to the dance by music made by
half drunken fddlers, are now few and
far between, and the young folks have
been provided for in christian leagues
and societies, thing the young peo-
pie of my day never heard of. Our
amusements and recreations were dan
cling and parties, a relic of barbarian
ism, handed down to us through the
ages. Our clothes were hom9spun and
homemade and our Sunday go-to-meet.
ing shirts the same understand
very well what one gallus and copper.
as britches mean, for I've worn bark
galluses and copperas britches. Well,
I've seen this mode of dress pass away
and now our young folks all over the
land have nicer and neater clothing
than their fathers had. They ride il
, carriages, automobiles and palace cars
while our conveyances were carts and
, wagons or go footback. Three or foul
, miles was no distance to go to schoo
or church.
| While our lives were pleasant, made
so by the hospitality that was proven
bal, still our opportunities and privil
/ eges were far beneath what they ar
today. Wages were very low, rarel!
ever exceeding one dollar, even in har
vest time. 1t was 25c per hundred TO
cutting and splitting rails and 25c t
35c per day for common work in tn
0 sos. Corn rose to one dollar per bush
ell while meat sold at 50. 80 per hun
S dred. Everything was cheap, excep
one year drought cut the corn Gro
r short and transportation facilities be
ing inadequate forced the price W
, but I've lived to see all of this ovel
come and transportation facilities S
a splendid that short crop in any SEE
tion has but little influence al
g aware that many pine for ''de good Ol
is times before de war;, but / say W
live in the most splendid times of An
r erican history and still progressing
Evils that were once so prevalent hav
n been banished by a more enlightene
= civilization. Our young folks are be
ter provided for than ever befor
n Their opportunities are enlarged an
higher standard of morality is s.
t. before them than was before us. A
p has been done in very short space
time.
a, am for the modern improvement
q, for / clearly see that these improv
Y, ments have brought us in closer touC
II, with the best of earth than we ev
r were before. There is but little, if al
n isolation. The mountaineer and ii
rural denizens are as closely allied Wi
IN the world as if they lived in the ci
almost. We have one great highw;
rs bureau of information completely a
ranged, and if person is an ignOraI
Is us it is his or her own fault. T.
Z. star of progress beckons all to con
into its light and each year it groN
b. brighter and brighter. I've seen /,
these changes and they are wOnderfU
y Labor finds employment at lucrati
wages. Our Government is layil
hands on thieves and rascals-a thil
she did not do 30 years GO No, not
n the days of the credit mObilier T
! I scales of Justice are being more even
- balanced. All is brought about by
determined enlightened people, W
n. are paying no attention to an ignora
m. set of weeping howlers and pessimis
ed It's onward, onward and upward
he We are living in a grand age and
il the dawn of greater achievement
knowledge is on the increase, guild
and directed by the wisdom Of a gr,
people. A people that will sati.
themselves from themselves, regardl
" of party or partyisms. In essence I
X. people are one. Wall Street has L
ic- her power and influence 10 create ps
at les and depression. The people /
10 doing business on a safe, sane meth
and will continue il there was no w