Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-09-13

soon as possible abandoned altopetbe
ana. when not abandoned as In tne cas-
given, there is no doubt, if reports r,
ceived from all over the South are tru,
out that the wholesale entertainment
OF the olden time in the richer section
nave been modified and curtailed to
degree such as stamps them as widel
ainerent from the so-called "hospitai
ity" OF the past. And this, too, while
as it can hardly be doubted, the scan
although hearty hospitality of the hil
country lie largely what it was of old
excepting SO far as it may have bee,
changed a trifle by the events of, tn,
war.
None can doubt but that with th,
Southern people, as a whole, there wal
always less of cold calculation. less O
anxious looking out for the future. sucl
as stamps lines of care in the face in ,
modern business community, than wa,
apparent elsewhere. With life present
ing but few chances for varying greatly
the business pursuits of a country, the
determination in amajority of cases was
to make The most of what was immedi.
ately before them, and, generally with
10 more difficult problem to solve than
to get to Texas or Missouri when the
producing power of the land might fail
them where they were, they perplexed
themselves very little about what might
possibly happen in the far-off future.
And for the rest, they took it out in
fishing or hunting, or in the entertain
ments at one another's houses, as occa-
sion might serve; varied with pursuits
which came of much leisure, and espe
cially a study'of political matters such
as made it at all times pervading SUBJ
ject with that section of the nationality.
But whether profitable to themselves in
the end, that is another question.
Again, from their eminently-social
instincts and characteristics, growing
out of the favorable conditions for en-
tertaining one another whether in the
highlands or lowlands, it resulted thus
from their'camp meetings and many po.
litical gatherings, Whole counties and
even much larger communities came to
be known one TO another with minute
ness of detail hardly to be imagined
elsewhere So it was, then, that from
thispeculihr' condition of affairs indi-
viduals and families came to have a
warm and abiding interest in each other
shown whenever any of the ordinary
affections or vicissitudes of life called
for sympathy; and thus when the war
was adroitly initiated by the politicians,
largely as a fierce and dominating senti-
nent, it was next to impossible but
that, if one State or section enlisted in
the conflict, the rest must do SO. too.
In all this, it was-we repeat at-perhaps
more feeling of devoted fellowship, OF
strong brotherhood, than of recognized
and true expediency or wisdom.
The institution adverted to above,
the camp-meeting, which brought so
many together periodically in many
sections, was one great auxiliary to
fellowship, I repeat. 1t was with vast
numbers the one great event of the
year; and, although the institution Pc
culiarly of one denomination, it was
SO generally participated in that there
we're few people of any community who
did not make it the occasion of visit
and renewal of kindly expressions and
feelings, such as in merely commercial
or trading communities there has been
hitherto much less chance for ex-
preston.
Then, again, with q considerable de-
nomination down there, there was an
other institution or custom, which, al
though not of extended usage, could
only mean closeness of religious fel-
lowship, hardly known in other sections
of the Union. / refer to the "feet-
washing" ceremonial or usage among the
Baptists, in literal and presumed-need-
full obedience of the divine command,
eye ought also to wash one another's
feetp
Not, as intimated already, very ex-
tensively entered into, it is yet the
sign and exponent of an earnest re-
ligious fellowship, and sincere deter
mination to obey the written inJunc-
ton, such as must command, respect
even from those who question on other
grounds the necessity and propriety of
It as church or religious ordinance.
"Wife, tomorrow is foot-washing
Sundayl" used to be the announcement
and intimation made on Saturday night,
by devout old gentleman OF that de-
nomination, as a signal for requiring
the warm water and other appnr-
tenances for putting his feet in good
condition to be second time washed
in the church and congregation; and
when is added that, without doubt,
others were in the same manner careful
to have the ceremony performed so as
to be excepted to as little as possible, the
women publicly washing each others
feet, the men performing the same office
for one another, so as to provoke no
caviling, it may be easily understood
that those who might attend on the oc-
casion to secretly mock or to smile
would see but little cause for either,
These, then, were some OF the sym
pathetic causes which, beginning with
"hospitable " usages and customs, nave
resulted in giving the people OF the
South q very fierceness OF fellowship
not always appreciated or understood
by the world at large, and made them
sensitive, especially when their warmth
Of feeling, their generosity or hospital
ity are thoughtlessly impugneu'
And out Of all this, let me further
say, has grown readiness to stand stan nsy by
3 friend in whatever trouble, that has
had many tragic manifestation and
illustration in the desperate family
tends and fights in many places, only
naraIleled by the savage vendettas OF
he italian communities. This, on one
occcasion-although c I might indicate
ruroarors other cases-was rather
s1.la,,c,h fortunatelv only lu-