The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-03-05
About Cecil County.

LAbE-Li MA, NldiSh IL 1Ov--
Mr.. EDITOR:
The dear old WIG continues to be a
welcome weekly visitor in the home of
our exile. We have been much interested
lately in the two articles which have
appeared in it's columns describing Cecil
county, its advantages, etc. 1t does one
good to hear and read occasionally Of
home. We hope to hear still further of
dear old Cecil.
Perhaps it has occurred TO you, Mr..
Editor, that the only sure way to make
Cecil ego" is to arouse her people. Get
them interested. Rekindle the smould
ering embers of patriotism, local as well
glow anew in tie hearts of her sons and
daughters Cecil will not be left forlorn
and desolate, but her noble children,
instead of seeking fame and fortune in
large cities or western wilds, will be
content to live useful, honored lives in
the narrow sphere of home.
Do you not think, Mr.. Editor, that
current literature does Cecil much harm
not Cecil alone, either, but every
respectable community in this fair land
We will explain. The boys nowadays
read the dime and "half dime libra
ries" until home holds no attraction.
They will go to New y ork and be great
detectives, or in the wilds of Texas and
the west they will astonish the world
with their fe2ts of valor and daring as
Rangers, Buffalo Bills and Jesse Jameses
So much for schoolboy literature.
Let us now examine list of the books
in our Sunday school libraries. We shall
probably find the majority of them to be
Euglish--either written by English au-
thors or Anglo maniacs. While we love
England and English literature, We love
our native land more Has not the ex.
elusive reading of English stories ten
dency to Auglicise our children? Would
it not be preferable to have them genuine
Americans? Until recently, perhaps
owing to the absence of international
copyright laws, the works of foreign
writers could be obtained far more
cheaply than those by home" authors.
This probably accounts for the favor
shown English writings.
Now we would like to know why so
many of our literary people entirely
ignore home and surroundings and write
of distant places and people. Even in the
literary department of the WING We
seldom find anything of local interest
though once in while we have such q
treat as for instance the Rev. DR.. Os-
mond's historical poem which appeared in
the WING a year or two since. Cecil has
given birth to many men and women of
note. Will they not share with her the
honors which they have received, or are
they ashamed of the land of their birth
Surely the ground work for many a
thrilling story might be found in Ceci's
fertile fields and wooded hills, her rocky
glens, rushing streams and deep forests,
or her beautiful rivers and Nesting
villages, to say nothing of the "barrens 1"
Some of Cecilia scenery is unsurpassed
at least in the eyes of an exiled native
1t is said that the great Baron Hum
boldt pronounced the view from the site
of the National Capitol at Washington
one of the most charming he had ever
beheld. 1t is very evident to us that
the learned Baron had not visited le
ancient village of Charlestown, in Cecil
county. The view from there of the
upper Chesapeake and its tributaries
might have caused him to change his
mind, and lower his estimation of
Potomac scenery. One who claims to
have seen "his native land fade Ger the
waters blue" and to have seen some of
the world, holds that Humboldts esti
mate of Washington scenery is rather
applicable to that from the high ground
in the despsed Charleston. 1t is need
less to state that he is Cecil countain.
Well Mr.. Editor as my letter grows
long, my paper exhausted and perhaps
your patience as we'll, l will close, but
may come again. Yours,
AN EXILED CECILIAN.