This is, to say the least, a very anomalous condition of affairs. I account for it in two ways, chiefly from the fact that in general the liquor interests of the South are poorly organized and consolidated for any purposes of opposition or defense; and secondly, in communities where the formative process is largely going on—(and be assured the new South will not be the old)—especially in all questions of public import, the _heroic_ is oftener resorted to than is just common or fashionable in a more settled state of society. There is less allowing of quibbles and more coming straight to the end in view. So stringently have the courts applied these laws that there are several counties in East Tennessee where no liquor is now sold. In this county many country liquor stores have been run out, a fine of $150 being not unusual for a first offense in violation of law; this was the fine inflicted in the instance at the head of this letter. In general the newspapers cast their influence on the right side; usually edited by men of position and at least of local importance, their influence is not small. In Memphis the W. C. T. U. is the strong moral force for temperance work and influence. Concerning our own work, Colman’s Temperance text book, is regularly used and taught in the school, and almost invariably our students go out earnest believers in, and workers for, temperance, accomplishing no small amount of good among their people, who almost universally suppose liquor necessary to laborers and indispensable to _free men_, and therefore drink as much of it as can be obtained. * * * * * TEMPERANCE IN TEXAS. BY PRES. WM. E. BROOKS, TILLOTSON INSTITUTE. It may be said with truth, I think, that the strongest temperance element in the State of Texas to-day is among the colored people. I am informed that where they are in the majority, and they have an opportunity to express themselves, they vote for prohibition. There are exceptions. They are very apt to be North or South. If we can believe Milton, there was one in heaven once. The _excepting_ member, however, found it to his advantage to leave, if I remember correctly. They say he came to earth. We must not wonder, therefore, if he has some slight following among the colored people on the whiskey question; but if they had the say, they would largely be for prohibition.