The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-08-01
MISSOURI THE GARDEN SPOT.
A Georgia Journalist EXpatiates on
the Beauties OF Her Soil
and Climate.

Last Saturday an INTEILIGENCER re-
porter had the pleasure OF meeting Col. A.
&. Baldwin, late of the Macon (Ga.) News,
and, until April of this year, the publisher
of the Scdaiia Gazette. Mr.. Baldwin is a
man of intelligence, large perception and
astute learning. He is n keen observer,
and has travelled much in the west and
south, and seen II great deal of the char
actrristics OF the people among whom he
has lived. A residence, no matter for how
short II time, puts him in fellowship, and
he speaks OF Gus Gcorgians" now rs glibly
and as honestly as he did of Gus Missou-
rians'' II few months ago.
"You must KNOW" said he, after n few
rambling remarks about the appearance
of the crops along the line OF the Lexing-
ton branch, that Georgians are somewhat
given To sc%Ifishness, in fact, that organ
begin developed to Il remarkable degree.
We believe that Georgia is the center OF
the universe, and that Macon is the CEN
ter of the state, SO hat around Macon re-
wolves the whole earth including the state.
We are II forward people, to be sure, but 1
doubt if any of us who have never been
D'N'bNi ~ D. vi NV 'h"'N N"' '''S
any idea of this the garden spot. We toll
and spin, but our labors are often in vain;
not so much that we lack nerve or muscle,
as that we have to contend against Dame
Nature herself. Here you plant, and the
rich soil forces growth; there we plant,
but the soil does not force the growth and
has to be coaXed. Just look at that field
oi corn. Such Il sight would fill the
Gcorgian's mind with wonder, and he
would ask what manner of corn it is.
"Are we helped by northern capital?
No, not much. Northern capitalists come
to Georgia, build big factories, buy up our
raw material, manufacture it into mar
ketable goods and ush it up to the north
crn markets.. Georgia help is employed
where Georgia help is capable, but there
is little benefit to our markets. We as Il
people are too selfish to invite northern
capital to help us develop our states re-
sources, and content ourselves with sell
ing the northern man the product OF our
soil, sometimes at II price but little above
the absolute cost of production.
'The southern people Us n class are hos
pitable to II fault, and pride themselves
upon this trait. They will divide their
last cent and their last crumb with any
body, not knowing and seemingly not
caring where the next penny or loaf are
coming FROM. They are q kind, sociable
people, but are not willing to believe that
beyond the boundary lines OF the state is
anything but a barren wilderness. You
Missourians may justly lay claim to the
garden spot of the universe, for | am per-
sonally cOgnizant of the fact that your
fruits, and berries, and vegetables, and
roasting ears are better and sweeter han
those from any other spot l ave ever Wis
tied. Your business methods are broader,
and your hospitality no less striking, al
though you seldom lave to divide the
last biscuit with the stranger within your
gates, as new biscuits are coming before
the old ones are gone"
Mr.. Baldwin is not at present in BUSH
ness, and has not fully determined upon a
location, but wherever he may cast his
lot, the lNTELLIaENCER wishes him abun-
dant success. He ma spend the next
summer season travelling with his family
in Europe.