McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-02-04
Our New York Letter.
EDITOR INDEPENDENT:

not hurt, especially as all American
ought to know something about tn
largest city in the world. When
say that there were $4,000 death
here last year; that 100000 children
are without full school privileges
that four hundred millions of dollar
are invested in subways alone, anc
that the assessed valuation of New
York City property is four THOUSAND
millions of dollars, you Can begin t,
conceiye Of what the city is. But
there are few people who can think
in billions. Counting as fast as coul(
be done, it would take $50 years tC
count one billion.
Instead Of saying so much about
the huge metropolis, let US turn for
awhile to country which is much
like Tennessee, as there are many ma
tive Tennesseeans there. That is
Arkansas. You hear good deal of
fun poked at the State, but | am here
to say that | found as much culture
there as anywhere in the South, and
and more than in some places farther
north. But up in the mountains you
find some curious specimens of human
ity. A wave of religious frenzy swept
over that section some years ago,
while was there. You could see
thin. long-haired men walking along
the roads, their eyes fixed upon a
Bible carried in the hand, whispering
their prayers as they walked, and
women with strange lights iu their
eyes talking about THE second bless
ing" and the language Of the Holy
Ghost Most of these were plain,
everyday harmless Holiness people,
honest and friendly as anybody, even
If little eccentric; others we're
Holy Rollers" or 'Holy Jumpers
and but little removed from the mad
house. | intend some day to describe
Holy Roller meeting | saw at Eureka
Springs, but it is my purpose today
to tell of a funny character ! met in
tie mountains Of northwestern Ark
ansas seven years ago while on gov
ernment business.
1t became Necessary to learn the
reputation for chastity and good NOR
ais of a certain woman whose husband,
pensioner, had deserted her.
Through the testimony of the leading
citizens of the little town where she
lived, / found that she was upright
and moral, and infinitely better than
her husband who had tried to biacken
her character in order to keep her
from sharing his pension. The evil
Gence seemed unanimous that she
was above reproach in every way, till
! met an old mountaineer, brother
Of the soldier. asked him what the
woman's reputation was.
well, now, mister you want the
truth, and you'll get it from me. Her
reputation is mighty bad, mighty
bad
When pressed for particulars, the
old fellow continued, swapping out his
words that must be heard to be ap-
preciated.
well, mister, TIL tell you one thing.
Some time ago ! was a-goin' along the
road, and ! seen her a-comin'! Thinks
| to myself, we've had a fallin' out.
but Pm goin' to be Christ-like and
speak to the pore critter. So | says
when she comes up: 'Howdy, Sally,
howdyp jist as polite and nice as |
knowed how. Don't you know, that
critter turned up her nose and passed
by jist like | was nothin' to her. Now,
you know no perfect Arkansas lady
would do anything like that"
rs that all you have to say against
herr"
Mister, that wasn't all she done.
Std of answerin' me like a lady, she
goes to knockin' the backstep on me"
What was that? Explain YOURSELF"
Mister. that's sort of hateful
ltance people takes when they haint
got no use for We; they sorter dance
backerds and kick up the dust. Now,
you know no perfect Arkansas lady,
rs that all you have to say against
that woman"
Indeed hit haiut, mister! Me and
my wife Sarepta passed her house
awhile after that, and seen her on the
porch; we both spoke to her jist as
nice and friendly as we knowed how.
And do you think that critter opened
her mouth? Std Of that. she COM