Editorial Correspondence

New Oblkass, March 1, 1884. Upon leaviug Ciiicinnati the ride to Chattanooga & pleasant one over the new road built by the eity of Cincinnati as a commercial investment to bring southern trade. It cott twenty-ono raillions, vet the city lias leased it for more than that, beides lmving the immense benefit of increased commerce. The scheme showed great foresight. It passes through some charming scenery, and along its line are many objects of note, euch as the highest pier bridge In the world, the lovely blue-grass región about Lexington, the numerous tunnels and deep gorges in the mountains of lower Kentueky and Te nnessee. O n r car running through to New Orleans ia by day, a parlor car; by night, a sleeper and at meal-time, a hotel car, where is serred almost everything, even to venisou "jestshot right out hyar in the mountings by a right smart little niggah," as the porter informed us. Thls latter delicacy would have delighted an epicure, however, unfortunately we were not all epicures, and would have liked it better wcre it fresher. Along the road, when we came to the small towns, all the fcmale population would be standing in their iloorways to see us pass and the male portion for miles around would be lounging about the depot "cliawin' 'backer," wbittling and staring. Their horse3 or iniilei would be standing saddlid and tied alons the fences. It was always a curious and numerous collection of qiiadrupeds, as everyone rieles horseback. A light snow-fall was observed as far down as the Tennessee line. In the latter state but little tillable land was seen frotn tlie cars because the land is too rocky along the road. A day was pleasantly passed at Cliattanooga In the ascent of Lookout moiintain and viewing the National cemetery. I hired an intelligent colored boy to take me to the top of the mountain, &ix miles dtatamt from the city. The road winds up the mountain side and is quite steep In places. On the summit are several hotels and a look-out house, from whick the country for many miles can be seen. At the base wlnds the Tennessee rivcr makkie a great bend nearly two thousand feet below u. From tliis lofty altitude one can see into seven states, viz: Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia and Kentucky. In this respect it is more wonderful even than the view from Mt. Washington, in the White Mountains. In connection with this mountain it will be remembered by some of the older people of Washtenaw county hnw Mr. Southwick, then of Dexter, bought all of the top of Lookout for a speculation. Since then events have shown that it would have paid had he not tuken in too niuch In bis purchíiBp. The usual wuy is to come down by a diflerent road from the one ascended. This passes some picturesque little cas cade?, and grottoes, whilw the view down the Tennessee river valley below is quite a little like that down the valley of the Rhone in Switzerland on the road from Chamounlx to Matigny. To heighten the rescmblance we could see snow on the Cumberland mountains just as in the latter case it is seen on the Alp3. A short distance out of Chattanooga is one of the niany National cemeteries which are only too comnion in the South. The gate-way is lofty and constructed of ftone like the archei of tnumph in European cities. Below the frieze is the in8ciiption: - "Here rest In peace 12,956 citizens who died for their country in the years 1861 to 1868." The grounds are epacious and well cared for. About the trim lawn and around the tomb-stones, (which are in line as were their tents at their former camping grounds), neat gravel roads wind and thcy are shaded by northern and oulhcrn trees. The government owns and keeps t.his beautifnl t-pot and thereby 3couis to sny to lier honored dead: - "Your own prond laml's herolc soil Munt le your fltter grave, Hile claims from war hit rlehost spoil ; The iishcx of tbe brave. " 'l'hty are tlie martyrs of' Chiekamauga, Lookottt Mountain and Mission Kidge. It is a night and day riilc from Chattanooa to this city. For the most part the road runs through pine foresta which are io open and clear as to be like groyes in a park. The flres do not run througli thein, bo the trees aregreen and flourishing, thus afl'orditig j strong contrast to the cliarred dead trunks in tbe pine districts of northern Michigan and Wisconsin. The plantations being large, house are widely scattered and towns hardly have a chance to exist. In theso open woods grass grows abundantly, and it would seem to be aduiirably lillnl for stock and sneep raising. At a venture I had rather take the risks in thegroves of Alabama and Mississlppi than on the prairies of lowa or Kansas, where the severe winter kills almost as manyas a late spring can uring forth. Mach of the eoll is red clay and the country isgensrally level, although where the railroad crosses the Tombigbee river there are chalk cüffs tome twenty or thirty feet In height and as white as those of the south England coast. Few fences endose the lands and game roam at pleasure, deer being not at all uncoramon. Fields begin tobe ploughed; birds to sing; flowers to blossom; overcoats to be thrown aside and Windows to be left up to let in the soft, warm and fragrant breeze. "Spring, gisntle Spring !" Turn loose the poet. As the day ends we near tbe close of our journey and as wa are crossing Lake l'oncliartrainthesunsinks into the waters on the farther side. In connection with this setting of the sum I have noticed that on the North Atlantic it w:u often betweeu three and four minutos from the time it seemed to touch the water before it was out of sight, while in this latitude t was gone in two minutes. Thus twilight here is not long and darkness comes quickly. With it we rcached the Crescent city and at once started on the hunt for comfortable quarters. When we 8ay it wasMardi Gras week we do not have to add that the city was full of strangersand the few hotels were crowded. There was no rqpm at the inns so we fortunately found pleasant lodjring in the quaint old French quarter of the city, within a stone's tbrow of Jackson square and in sight of the liouse of "Madame Delpliiue" and "Madame John," of whicli (ieorge V. Cable has so cliarminjrly written and will soon teil }-ou. Tbe Mardi Gras caruival is too much to describe in such hastily written notes as these. I leave It for ray return home. Next week I hope to teil about the city and its sights.