Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-26
THE COUNTRY HOME
TO

in the village known as the town OF Stone
Mountain, about 1847, il my memory is cor
rect. 1t was just beginning, but it be-
gan with a pull and a push and became at
tractive to Georgia politicians of that era in
stantly. Hon. Mark A. Cooper was one Of
the prominent originators. 1 do not recall
many names.
In 1848 my parents planned to go to the
fair, and we did so, all the family. 1t was
a great sight to Georgia Crackers. Accom-
modations were limited. Big rooms in the
hotels were partitiOned off into smaller ones
by swinging quilts and oounterpanes. We
only stayed one night and two days. and
were glad to get back to beds and torsake
pallets. But l had a good time, anyhow.
sample squash ticketed at something
over eighty pounds. - When I took a turn
at the scales | weighed as much and no
more than the squash. The figures remained
in nay mind because of the coincidence in
weight figures.
Somebody's big circus was in evidence,
My father and l took in the circus. 1t was
a swell affair. My mother and little sister
didn't care to go, but | did, and my atten-
ton was largely given to the bareback riders
and the clown. They were good enough for
me. The greatest attractions of those primi-
tive days were circus shows and horse races,
camp meetings after the crops were Laid
by" and cuttings, also corn stockings, log
rollngs and militia musters. The sharp little
ffe-blowing and the "tat tat" Of the drum
beating | can still hear if l am very much
inclined to "Reminiscences of the past.
I have ridden horseback up the mountain
side, where no vehicles ever tried to go,
many times in those early. days of my young
life. Girls were early taught to- ride horse
back and were generally good riders. Car
riages were scarce and the riding horse was
easy to saddle and bride and it was COM
mon for two to ride the same horse at the
same time, one in the saddle, the other
perched up behind, and with great enjoy
ment to both.
l realized my Importance when I could
mount and pull up my little sister, and to-
gether go visiting or hunting chestnuts and
chinQuapins. Those were happy, carefree
days for youngsters.
After the Georgia railroad was completed
to MarthasyiIle later Atlanta, it was fash
ionable for big picnic gatherings to make
an annual visit to Stone Mountain by rail.
1t was great progress.
We, as a rule, did not make long trips
anywhere, and those Stone Mountain picnics
were looked for with great expectations by
young and old.
Somewhere in the early ffties Rev. DR..
Alexander Means professor Of chemistry at
Emory college, wrote a poem en- Stone
Mountain 1t was forwarded to ME at COLI
geometry (schoOl book to be SUE to care
for it. For years [ kept track of the book,
then Sherman came through Georgia and
scattered things generally.
1t would be a treat to see the poem once
more, because Dr.. Means was a wonderful
man, great student and eloquent preacher in
his day He was a real pioneer in regard
to electricity, all of fifty years ahead of his
co-workers. l. never hear of a new wonder
emenaHng from electricity that I do not
say to myself: IT do wish DR.. Means could
see it," Maybe he does. Who knows?