The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-05
perfect, his physical powers in full. vigor.

perfect his physical powers In full. vigor.
He carried cane for no other
apparent purpose than to indicate objects in
nature. He had como to the coast for his
health. He had certainly obtained 1t, to-
gcther with new lease OF life. II the fount-
ain Of perpetual youth Is anywhere the
writer Is Of the opinion that this old gentle
man has found II In the salt marshes around
Gulf View. While dcscanting upon the WV
flying qualities OF the atmosphere, he led the
writer into garden and pulled from the re-
luctant earth radish that was bigger than
any turnip you ever saw---ncarly foot in
circumference. He held this up, as though
by way Of justifying his own statements as
to his age, and forced the admission that
climate and soil which could produce veg
etable like that had certainly potentlality
sufficient to quicken mummy. After con-
templating the radish one was compelled to
accept Us true all stories OF the natives-even
the fishing romances. Once on the shores of
Lake Superior, in furthermost Wisconsin,
the writer had family intimated that the
lumber trade might not afford sufficient
justification for grand slump Of immigra-
ton to that region. whercupon the presiding
genius OF the place turned upon him, and,
in tone eloquent Of clinching conviction,
exclaimed: "But yer ort 10 see our cab
bages" Hcrcsy was instantly crushed.
An atmosphere OF somnolence seems 70
peryade all fishing villages. 1t is thus
al Biloxi The sea air Is supposed
TO lcngthen life, and those who
have been reared on the sea coast never
breathe with real comfort when far inland.
Mountain air or prairie air or river air, they
will tell you, may do SO far as the mere sus-
tentation OF life. is concerned, but II you
desire 10 know what absolute lung-felicity
Is you must inhale the air Of the salt sea.
But II Is curious that, despite the proclaimed
virtues Of the atmosphere, the inhabitants
OF the average sca-coast town should always
appear TO bo engaged In the business Of liv-
ing and nothing else. Somehow sea air and
progress do not go hand in hand. Paris,
London, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Richmond, st. Petersburg, Edin-
burgh, Dublin, New orleans-all have
been set back from the sea, rs though their
founders were inclined to shrink from IT, So
uniformly Is this the case that we must con-
clude close contact with the sea Is fatal 10
metropolitan development. Indeed summer
wanderers have always found that the sea-
side has no equal as place Of delicious rest,
and Il Is therefore not strange that the per-
manent residents should surrender them
selves 30 completely TO a life OF rest. The
| call If lA al
yadcs Biloxi percnnially. The chief indus
tries of the place are bookkeeping and oys-
ter opening. The latter Is a particularly
useful trade. There Is nothing that contrib
utes more directly 10 the peace Of mankind.
II every man had TO open his own oysters
this would not be nearly so peasants world In
which 10 live. Profanity and MANNED fin
gers would stalk through the land disturb
ing the serenity Of every home And the
oysters OF Biloxi are worth opening az con.
nolsseurs are bound to admit, provided they
are Intercepted before delivery TO the cooks
Of The local hotels and are devourcd IN q
state OF nature. SO many are caught that
the shells, dumped in the harbor are grad.
ually pressing tho Gulf back upon Cuba.
The hotels are built upon the architectural
| principle that II IL be cool weather today II
ever known TO have been frozen TO death al
Biloxi, but there Is sometimes n chill IN tho
atmosphere which causes the grateful man
TO bless Ben Franklin for inventing a stove.
II was the morning Of perfect day when
we left Biloxi In the best vehicle attainable
| 10 proceed 10 Beauvoir There were four OF
MS. The sun tempered the air delightfully."-.
| The she'll road lay along the coast for two
miles OF the way under pines, magnolias
and live oaks. On the left the Gulf out.
spread, dotted with the sails OF fishing
smacks. Not n cloud necked the sky. On
the right, picturesque homes were ranged In
charming succession. The buildings them
selves were without special ornamentation,
but were set In attractive grounds. A Sab
bath quiet broodcd over all. The summer
season had passed and the winter season
had not begun, and there was scarcely a sign
OF life. Presently We turned from the sea
and struck into the heart Of the
nocdle.carpeted forest II the groves were
Gods fst temples, fancy suggests that the
cathedral was the pinery--so stately are the
high.reaching columns, and 20 suggestive Of
arch dome aud nave are the interlacinf
tops solemnity pcrvades pine forest OF
animal life there Is none. All Is sill, save
when the wind chants 4 mass In the harp
like foliage. We wound our way through
it, shadows sensible to the appeal To all that
Is rcycrntial In the human heart The air
was laden with rcsinous fragrance. There
was vitslization OF the physical man and
elevation Of soul. Here might the preacher
stand with listening congregation spiritu-
ally attuned by the sacredness OF the en-.
yironmcnt, and preach 10 good purpose
They told us that camp-mectings were held
here during the summer. No more fitting
| place could be found for such religious diver.
sions. There Is something Of the Druid In
the most Of us, and the tendency "a
seek the woods for prayer and praise shows
that men find In natures solitudes solacc
that architectural art fails 10 afford and that
| 10 look through naiure up 10 natures God I,
TO have q clearer spiritual vision. Through
the long aisles OF this first temple, 10 near
the busy world, yet 10 far out Of H. We went,
careless OF time and unmlndful Of distance.
Presently aud suddenly VIC found ourselves
In clearing. upon one side a railroad sta
ton, aud upon the other vineyard. Herr
We were told that We had arrived al Beau
| .,l. r.. slalfnn sfanaa alona No olt.,