Year: 1875

Permit stranger little space in the
interesting columns ofyour paper. Hunt
ing a permanent home, choose to take
up my abode for time in the little city
of Van Buren.


Arriving on Monday, fatigucd and
" worn out" by the hardships of a jour
ncy by land, exposed to every kind Of
weather, l only halfway mingled with
the people Of the city. My business first
brought me in contact with the merchants
of the place, and after transacting no
great amount of business, | must say with
one exception that find them high-toned
gentlemen SO far as the professional
class Of men are concerned l know but
little save physicians. Doctors Brown
Dibrell and White are men up with the
times and have won for their history
characters hard to supercede. The law
yers appear to be men OF rip culture, and
suppose find plenty of business in that
direction.


Sabbath camc-thc church bell rang
and soon found the Old School Presby.
terian Church. Sabbath School was the
order Of the morning and from the rosy
checked boys and girls, l was confirmed
in the belief that Van Buren was a
healthy little city. Rev. Mr.. Kennedy
and Others made us feel at home in
strange land. Too much praise cannot
be given the pastor and worthy christian
gentleman. The Sabbath School was
ably conducted My soul felt feasted,
and my mind pleasantly attracted by the
vocal and instrumental music. Misses
Pinkie Dibrel and Rosie Williams did
themselves credit, The behavior was
characteristic Of refined people


Evening came, and another church.
bell rang. went in search and found
the people gathering at the Methodist
Church. The Sabbath School was the
order of the evening. 1t was conducted
upon the Old Methodist style, which by
no means is bad one found several
there who were at the Presbyterian
School in the morning, denoting some
unity of feeling between different church
es. A devotional thrill man,ed my soul,
by both the vocal and instrumental music,
and he performers deserve much credit


If had been round finding objections,
| should have objected to the supcrin
tendent requiring better d sciplne of the
visitors of the school than hls own pu.
| pills Also so many vacant seats that
should have been filed by the business
and professional class of men of Van
Buren,, As returned to my place Of
abode, by chance met an acquaintance.
asked him if he knew Of any Baptists
| in Van Burcn. "But few sir il any II
any, they are, expect, in some secluded
place, holding close communion This
fell heavily upon my ears, as ! am q
Baptist, myself thanked him for the
information, so frankly given, and told
him there was plenty Of water close, so
much needed in building up a Baptist
church,


Van Buren, holds out many inducements
to migration, and is destined, at no
great distance in the future, to be a large
city While we find many things that
meet our admiration, think there are
a few hindering causes to prevent the
prosperity Of this little western city. One
is the need of the railroad that is slowly
moving on toward it Another is the
liquor trafc This causes the gathering
OF those of immoral habits from the
country. find here and there saloon
(or doggery) inviting discontinued ell.
ement among US, where they permit the
thief to enter their mouths to steal away
their brain--robbing fathers, mothers,
wives and sisters of all the enjoyments
Of this life Mr. Editor: 81 will not
ask more space in your valuable paper.
More soon, STRANGER"