The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-08-13

lis trip. and he also 49,. 1u: mess in u"
city at some Of the banks, and with such
shrcwdness ~ to indicate that although y"
may have lost one OF his senses yet hrs
business sense is very acute.
The writer met Mr.. Milburn day or
two before he sailed. and from him learned
some facts about Il book which is soon I"
be published and which the blind preacher
regards as the best literary effort OF IN"
life.
"I have recently finished" said he, ~
hook upon which have spent thirty years.
Ii il 10 DC published in st. Louis. and the
publishers tell me that the sale Is sure L"
bc large 1t is really n history of the Mis-
sissippi valley, not written in the crltic't
and analytical style OF the prOiessiOha'
historian. 1t has been my aim rather So.
to write 1t that il will bc OF Interest exc"
to those persons whose education has been
limited. In it tell the story Of that won
dcrful valley which is now not only the
uranary of the United States, but which
feeds 50 many in Europe, which is capable
of supportiug n population Of hundreds OF
millions and of raising brcadstuns ehouS"
| to feed the world.
| .'Thnt is n marvellous country, i'll many
rcspccts the finest gift Of the Almighty {"
the children of men. l know its story
| we'll | began TO study this valley more
| than thirty years ago, when went tn live
| I'm the heart Of il Mt Alton, His, and even
| then began collecting materials for th''
| hook 20 buck to the time OF DE SOt"
| md tell the story Of his discovery, and u
most fascinating and romantic tale 1t !"
| That was a conquest with the lance or by
military power. Then take up that gle
rious narrative of Father Marquette's con
ouest in the far north, he carrying tho
cross instead Of the sword.
81 think that this part of the narrative
will perhaps appeal more powerfully than
ANYTHING else in the book, although the
story of the conquest of it by the cniSrant
and the first settlers aud the history OF it,
development to it's present condition OF
magnificent prosperity also make thrill
ing tale of modern civilization.
Even in this country the marvellous
; story Of the Mississippi valley Is not ~
= we'll known as it should be- Every possi-
bic romance and tradition is suggested by
this majestic territory. There are tales oi
conquest and narrations of discovery;
9 there are romantic stories of expeditions
D to search for mines Of gold; there is the
= thrilling story of the war and it's many cp
r i,odcs as they occurred when the Union
WAS fighting so that the Mississippi should
flow unvexed to the sea; there is that
splendid evidence Of the genius OF Jeffe"
' son. which the purchase of part OF tins
e v. liey from France suggests, and the story
y of that is ns fascinating ns any romance In
O fiction; and then, above all. is the story OF
., | today. with the material development OF
TINT rich soil and the establishment -:
farms upon it which are the greatest Ia
y the world"
u Mr.. Milburn became quite enthusiast
= rs he thus spoke, 30 that IL seemed alinos;
+ as though he were delivering an address t"
- an audience, for his tones became those OF
. oratory and his gestures were Significant
;, OF his enthusiasm.
"a He said that the book would be profusc
T.. " illustrated and would contain between
l. 700 and 500 pages. Mr.. Milburn's style IL
10 n writer is peculiarly fitted for this sort o.
Df work, and although II good many othe'
T. books descriptive of the Mississippi va'leN
* hive been written, it is not mt all improba
BILE that his will attain the widest popu
" larty.
The writer asked Mr.. M;lburn somethin-
y. about his method of composition, ana IL
10 explained it at some length:
hs ''NIy own observations and investigation
.- have been from time to time d.cta'ed L
my ufIlnnueUSlS, anu bhA's
he thus collected n vast mass of material. l.
sh NV leisure moments during that TINE
searched the authorities, carried on grca
NJ deal of correspondence with men who wer
cn familiar with some things i wished I
IT, know, and collected large number Q
.s- books bearing on the subject.
ID Then my amanuensis would read thes
notes and these authorities, and dictote
from time to time as much M l though
advisable to Gull from these sources. iia'
inc TINS concentrated. so to speak. my u
formation, and having the matter irmi
fixed in my mind. | began to dictate cor
secutively - sometimes an hour ia.
sometimes all day Frequently my oth'
Ter duties interfercd for u week ut time wit
pe' this work; then again | had time enoug
,hs for several weeks to make spienhi
Icd nrocrcss. IL hts been ON the whole sio
ew work. and / nm very glad that It is no
re, ont Of my hands and in those Of the pu
I'm fishers. | certainly regard it ms my mo
ne important literary work.
ecu Mr.. Milburn spoke with delight of II
ne trip across the ocenn, saying that the 81
nee always gave him rest and health. and
her though he could not zee the ocean, yet