The South of to-day is not the South of the yesterdays. It has slept and dreamed through so many generations of beautiful repose beneath sunny skies and soft sweet airs, enjoying an eternal _dolce far niente_ and giving no thought to anything beyond itself. Now it is awake, it has unsealed its eyes, shaken off the luxurious flowery chain that has held it like links of iron, stretched its limbs, and, as a sleeping army springs to life at the sound of the trumpet, it is up and doing; developing its marvellous resources on the earth and under the earth, building factories, opening mines, and utilising its wonderful water power--forcing the quiet river out of its accustomed way, lashing it till, after much foaming, flashing, and groaning, it grinds the corn, crushes the rough ore, and labours at the world’s work like a sentient being. In the old days there was not much travel through the Southern States. The wealthy planter lived literally under his own vine and fig tree--a life of luxurious ease and sweet contentment. There, on his own domain, he kept a kind of feudal state, surrounded by his dusky subjects. There was no stimulant, because no need for exertion; the refinements and elegances were in a state of high cultivation, and his requirements were gratified by his immediate surroundings; he rarely looked beyond them. Everything bloomed in his own garden, except, perhaps, heartsease, for he always listened for the storm which he knew must arise on some future though indefinite day. Perhaps in due course his sons went the tour of Europe, and then returned to the old homestead to tread in their father’s footsteps, and live through life in the old primitive, luxurious fashion. On the rare occasions when they decided to travel through their own states to and from points out of the beaten path made by the main railway lines, or the steamboats ploughing their watery highways, they had to journey across the country where roads were rough or existed not at all; the arrangement needing much consideration and being attended by considerable expense. The journey they could take in twelve hours by rail would occupy four or five days, when they must carry their own servants and provisions with them, and also be provided with a supply of tents, and generally camp out from the beginning to the end of the journey. They required to travel very carefully too, not only from the generally swampy state of the country, but from the risk they ran of making acquaintance with slimy reptiles and other odious creations. These considerations rendered the expedition one that could hardly be taken for pleasure; but now, in these later days, it is a delight to travel in this sunny land; travelling is made easy even to the most remote portion of the Southern States, and every day things are everywhere improving and making a royal progress as near perfection as we can ever hope to arrive.