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GRADYVILLE

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Editor News: Saturday morning finds me in this thrifty little village and at the store of W.M. Wilmore. Mr. Wilmore is the regular contributor from this place to the News, and I found that he had already sent in a letter, leaving but little for me to write.

This is my second visit to this place since the flood of 1907, at which time quite a number of persons were drowned, the mother of your valuable correspondent, Mr. Wilmore, being one of the number.

I discovered that many changes have been made since that memorable event. Quite a number of new buildings have been erected, and the business generally of the place has greatly increased.

There are three or four dry goods stores, a flouring mill, carding machine, all doing well. The cold weather, of course, has retarded business, but the merchants are looking forward to an increase of trade when spring opens.

Mr. C.H. Yates, who is said to be one of the best men who ever lived in this community, has been in declining health for some time, but when weather conditions are good he mingles with his friends, every body ready to give him a glad hand. His home has always been an asylum for friends who visited him, and the best viands the country affords is invariably spread before them. His excellent daughter, Mrs. Ella Robertson, is his housekeeper, and she is never happier than when she is doing everything in her power to make her father's guests feel at home.

As I said in beginning this writing that Mr. Wilmore had sent in all the news, I will have to defer my write up of the town until I make another visit, at which time I hope the weather will be more favorable, affording an opportunity to see more people and more of the surroundings.

/s/ On the Road