Year: 1864




From the Correspondence N. Y Evening Post.I


We made the circuit Of the coruer al d
found the Major, handsome, polite gentle
man, by the way, who was seated near
some ladies, In tie midst of collection OF
baskets and household goods. We were
presented to the ladies, when the two officers
atepped aside for the discussion of the busi
ness which brought them together, leaving
your correspondent to attempt the some-
what difficult ask of entertaining persons
who had evidently been just elected from
their homes in Atlanta.


OF course the conversation turned upon
the war and upon the order of eXpatriation
of Gen. Sherman. The youngest lady of re-
finement, remarked


1T is very hard to be obliged to leave our
home. We have not felt the war before,
except in the costof luXuries of lite. We
did not believe that your army would ever
penetrate so far South, but | suppose our
removal is one of the necessities of the
situation, and we would much rather give
up our homes than live near the Yankees.
We will get far enough away this lllur.'


A sentiment of commisseration filled my
heart, aud ventured the remark


May ask where you intend to go?"


"To Augusta, where your army can't
come"


II would not be sure of that" | replied.
"It is long way from Nashville to Atlanta
and we are here"


40, yes"-with Infinite scorn-"you will
flank us, suppose?"


POSSIBLY, Madame"


'Look here. Sir; there are not two nations
on the face of this earth whose language,
customs and histories are different and who
are geographically separated as wideas the
poles, but what are dearer to each other
than The North and South. There are no
two peoples in the world that hate each
other mOre.'


Il hardly think there is the difference
you describe, Miss 1t seems to me Just as
if you and were Americans, with no vital
points Of difference between us which may
not be settled some day. And then, pro-
test against the idea that we nate YOU
understand public feeling at the North
pretty WE'LL and such sentiment does not
exist there generally"


"Well, Sir, we hate you; we will never
live with y, Il again. If you whip us, and
any of these mean politicians in the South
(and there are thousands OF them who will
be only too glad to do it) offer terms of re-
construction, we will throw ourselves into
the arms of France, which only waits the
chance to embrace u.s."


Reconstruction will undoubtedly come
about in time, Miss. But we shall not per-
init France or any other foreign power to
interfere. France would embrace you with
out doubt, if she gets chance, but it will
be the hug of an anaconda, who will swal-
low you whole. without masticatlon."


Anything rather than become subject to
the North. We will not submit to that deg
radiation"


"lfyou are defeated you will; and then you
will have thoroughly learned what your
people have never before the war in the
slightest degree understood-hOw to re-
spect us. assure you friendship follows
very close upon the heel OF mutual re-
spect."


THERE'S much truth in that, Sir, and we
are willing to confess that we never even
believed the North would fight; and while
there is certain feeling Of respect which
has been forced upon us, We hate you all
the more now, because we despised you
before