Those who live along the highways of trade and culture in our State, that are participating in the active work of the world, would scarcely believe that some parts of their own State are half civilized if they did not occasionally see it; but one has only to cross the Cumberland mountain to find his mistake. The Sequatchie Valley is only catching a ray of light now and then from the sunrise. When the sun comes up in the east it is first seen by those who live on the mountain tops and those who live in the highest places; but it keeps rising until it shines on valleys and plains. So with the morning that has dawned upon the people of the South; it is first grasped by those on the highways, and then it begins to shine into the hidden corners until all shall be lighted. What can be expected of the children of the next generation if their parents are not more than half civilized? We need educated parents, so that the children may be properly trained. In order to do this we must go into these by-ways of our State and sow our seed, though it be on untilled soil. I think that the time is fast approaching when the public school system, carried out by earnest teachers, shall reclaim these valleys, and make them an honor to the State instead of haunts of ignorance and vice. * * * * * AFRICA. * * * * * THE MENDI MISSION. Explorations into the Interior, etc. REV. ALBERT P. MILLER, GOOD HOPE STATION. I am traveling more or less to see the interior of this extensive country, going up certain rivers and visiting towns and villages on the way. I visited the Bargroo country last week, and hope to leave in the morning for Kaw-Mendi, to see what are the prospects of useful work for the Mission in that part of the country. Many of the old places formerly held by the Mission I shall try to visit before the rainy season proper sets in. We are getting things somewhat in shape, and hope to push into the interior as soon as practicable. Dodo is open to us; Cunkananny, also, on the very frontier, no mission station having ever been established nearer them than Avery. Bros. Anthony and White are to-night with us; will leave to-morrow for Avery. Bro. Anthony is well, and is getting on very well in his new field of labor. He takes right hold, and seems to be in dead earnest. Bro. White is also well. I find that we shall be obliged to get a large quantity of goods from some source or other with which to purchase logs, as two saws will soon be running in the mill, which will come in to help us. We are all very well save the doctor, who has been ill of late, but is now up. Pray for us. The Industrial Work--General Impressions. ELMORE L. ANTHONY, AVERY STATION. I am well and all right. I had a slight pain in my head yesterday for the first time since I have been in the country, and that came from being in the sun too much. Everything seems to be going forward. I am doing the best that I can.