McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-10-20

Johnstown, and some one points out
the valley through which on that
fatal day some twenty-eight years
ago, food came down from the
mountain reservoir which washed
thousands of human lives into eterni-
ty; everything nicely built up again
and not a sign left of the disaster.
In smoky Pittsburg, in which we stop
for few minutes, the night is light
ed with a thousand furnaces, and
can see the lurid flames rolling up
from the Bessemer steel works, and
hear the muffled roar of the mills
where puny man is working with
Jovian thunderbolts to subdue and
fashion the refractory elements for
his use. At early morning we roll
into Cincinnati and get fairly good
breakfast for seventy cents, and the
grinning darby hovers around till you
have to give him tip to get rid of
him. Noon finds us in Louisville; we
mount trolley car and offer dime;
the conductor hands us a little en-
velope with two nickels; we break it
open, deposit nickel. and are soon
at hotel which would be a credit
even to New York City; an elegant
structure Of nearly 500 rooms, and
every necessary adjunct to modern
luxurious living. | do not mention
its name, for some one might think
this was puff for it.
Under my window on the sixth floor,
run the cars and walk the crowds Of a
real CITY; the brilliant streets at night
are good to look at; the theaters are
big and good enough for any north
ern city. Fourth street. Louisville,
has its sky-scrapers and its fine
stores, and it certainly is a fine old
town. 1t is on the line between the
North and South, and partakes of
both sides in manners and appearance
es; the fine old Southern courtesy
which prompts man to take off his
hat when ladies are in the elevator. is
here in full force, and the darkey
everywhere (but always in his place,
and quite respectful, too) shows that
we are in Dixie.
A poor old blind fiddler scrapes his
tired instrument on Fourth street
from morning till night; they say he
holds the long-distance record for
continuous playing, but he tells me
eleven hours is as long as he has
ever played. He says he is from
Columbia. Tenn, Gods country
and intends to get back there soon.
It is time that ne, his fiddle land his
hearers) were getting a rest.
Louisville has about quarter of a
million people, and seems to be solid
ly prosperous. Last night ! met a
man from Nashville, who said he had
just been in Memphis, and that town
was in fine financial shape. I'm
fact" he said, West Tennessee is in
better shape than it has been for a
long time. Cotton has helped many
there. having gone to sixteen cents
and better, a pound. | saw an old
darkey 60 into store there, and or
der nearly 500 worth of furniture,
he dug down into his pocket and
brought up handful Of twenty-dcllar
gold pieces and said with Importance,
I wants de best stuff you've got in
de sto'p The darkey said he had
paid out of debt on his cotton. and
that there were lots Of others like
him." Cotton has for once indicated
itself but the trouble is that many
will 60 into it heavily to the neglect
of more salable things, like pork OF
grain, and then be at the mercy Of
the same old low market. But if the
people are wise they will save some
of their cotton money this time and
not put it into the same old croE
again, but spread out on corn and
hogs, which always command a mar.
ket.
There is q big hog market here
and as soon as ! can, will write