Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-18
A Vermonter in Missouri.
A MISSOURI Town AND It's PEoPLE-A BUR-
IINGTONIAN AND HIS WORK.

A MISSOURI Town AND ITS PEOPLE, BUR-
IISGToyIAS AND HIS WORK.
PALMYRA, Mo, July 8, 1879.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times:
| landed in this State something over five
months ago. My headquarters were at Han
nibal for the first three months, since which
time have been here in Palmyra, the ''city
of flowers" 1t is distant from Hannibal -
miles ON the Hannibal and st. Joe railroad.
1t is one of the oldest towns in the State and
numbers about 1000 inhabitants Being the
county seat of Marion county. and surround
ed by rich and fertile Country, il is
the centre of considerable trade. Before
the war it was much more prosperous than at
the present time 1t was an old rebel strong
hold and even now after the lapse OF fifteen
years it needs only a slight breeze to fan the
slumbering embers into living flames Some
time since, having occasion TO write an ar
tiele on the cheese factory here for Han
nibal paper | was taken severely to task by
Col. Ben Davis, the editor of the Palmyra
Spectator Although | stated nothing but
the facts, which were perfectly true, he ac-
cused me of trying to pull down new enter
prises; and even went so far as to say that |
showed my Northern prejudice and the blue
stripe on me.
This Col. Davis is public character He
knows much of public men and affairs; and
is typical Southerner, having been raised
in Maryland and having emigrated to this
State forty years ago. As he walks the
streets with slippers on and his linen brooches
Ill tl.a l..
with his utter lack of pride and decorum.
Unlike many of the other towns in
Northeast Missouri, Palmyra has many
fine residences, surrounded by spacious
Yards, ornamented with massive shade
trees and flowers in profusiOn. 1t is
not a manufacturing town, though the facili-
ties for manufacturing establishments are
good. A tobacco factory and Touring mill
constitute the sum of its enterprise in this
direction. The native Missourian is a pecu-
liar individual and don't reckon that he has
much use for Yankee He is suspicious,
envious, easily provoked, and as a rule don't
take a bit of stock in anything or anybody
that comes from East of the Mississippi He
can not bear competition and thinks that no
outside party has a right to sell anything in
his territory. 81. Louis. though equal to
Chicago in population and ahead OF her in
wealth. takes back seal, - far a.
business is concerned, from the simple fact
that Chicago has more Eastern men, and
double the enterprise AMI push. The same
is true at Hannibal Take away her few
Eastern men and she would he only jump
in-oif place.
We have here five churches. three denem-
national schools, and the public school.
Ingleside COLLEGE everything is a college
Rantist institution anI iS uDIar
the charge of Mrs Parmcia Baird, native
kentuckian. a woman of great energy and
good education. hut rather INSCRIPTIONS.
The High School is taught by J. 3IcMurray.
Palmyra Seminary under the supervision OF
the Presbyterans, is 4 school of some little
note: though its scope is rather limited. In
most of the schools everything seems to be
Ia a chaotic state 81. PaulS College. OF
which Rev. j. \. wainwright is president.
is by far the best school in the town. DR..
Wainright-as they call him here-has had
large experience in teaching, is thoroughly
devoted to his chosen profession, is a fine
scholar, being considered one OF the best
in the State, and well acquainted
with men and things. He is a
native of Montpelier, relative Of eX-
Gov James NJ. Slade, and graduate OF the
University of Vermont in the class of '46.
DN Int WAY, ne HIS lNO NCiN iutCitStlns
daughters, the youngest of whom, Miss
Kittie, he Is talking of sending to the Uni
versity. He has been here for eight years,
is highly respected and has a fiourishing
school. Being stranger in strange land
he has exte nded friendly hand to your cor.
respondent and welcomed him to his home
on more occasions than one. His latch
string is always out for Nermonters and
Eastern people in general.
What this State needs more than anything
else is the enterprise and energy of Eastern
men. Until it takes some measures to attract
them here and keep them when she has got
them she will remain she is for years tC
come There is much outside prejudice
against the State, some of it merited; but
more of it wrong. An Eastern man with
small capital, and fair share of energy and
brains can do well here. There are plenty
of people here who will welcome them. In
"A future letter | will write of other we'll
known NermOnters.
Yours, WASDERER-