The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-28
/ WICHITA GIRL IN LOUISIANA
INDIAN MOUNDS, La, Jan. q. 1894

INDIAN MOUNDS, La, Jan. q. 1894.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.
Spring is always the most delightful
season Of the year, in its gradual approach
after the chill and gloom of long winter.
But to close ones eyes in the midst OF win
ter and open them on a spring, as it were,
full OF bloom, is an experience to linger
always in ones memory with peculiar
charm. Such one the rapidity OF modern
railroad travel makes possible, and 1t Was
with feeling OF delightful anticipation
that took the train at Chicago for the
south, gladly leaving behind me- the De-
wildering noise and confusion. the endless
din OF street traffic. cable cars, IL roads
and locomotives. the dreary rows OF build
lnss. all more depressing seen under duis
gray sky in the chill OF q winter day.
Before me, vision of land all
sunshine, soft winds and fair skies-a
land where the wheels OF the car OF pro-
gress do not move with such 0ewiidering
swiftness, aud where rest OF mind and
body is delicious possibility.
There are apostles, galore. OF the modern
spirit Of progress and no lack OF admira'
tion on the part of the general public for
the strides we. as nation, are making in
scientific, moral and intellectual matters.
Willit then. be u pardOnable heresy for
one benighted mortal to declare that she
grows heartily sick of it all, and longs for
good, wholesome barbarism," as some
one happily expressed 1t, or for civiiiza-
tion, which, having done away with
romance, has the charm of age to replace
it. The bare, cold outlines of our brand
new civilization are so depressing.
Our magnificience is SO new TO US, that
it seems to call for endless and ex.
travagant admiration on our part,
and an aggressive attitude to-
ward the rest of the world
to properly impress them with the fac: OF
our unequailed greatness. In Chicago
think this feeling reaches its climax
During the fair, when the nations OF the
world were brought together, this young
giant OF the west looked upon the repre-
sentatives of ripened and mature civil.
lzation-centuries of greatness behind
them, a -eposeful majesty In the present
Chicago. eager, restless and striving, con
scious always of her points OF greatness,
utterly unknowing of the things she lacks,
looked upon these with tolerance and II
disinterested hope that they would profit
by so brilliant an example. In the south.
while the repose is not the repose OF things
accomp lished, still there is repose that Is a
relief to tired brain and racked nerves.
One sees, even in the cities. none Of the
hurry and hustle of the north. The most
rapid street locOmotiOn being compassed
by means of two-mule car line, where all
energy of movement Is represented Dy the
driver and his whip.
Ny destination was, however, not city,
but plantation near a village which is
not yet "hitched on to the world" by
means of a railroad. So after the last sta
tion was reached there was still drive of
twelve miles in carriage. That first
drive through a Louisiana forest, In Its
weird charm left Dever-tO-be forgotten
impression on my mind, Night had
fallen and the shadows were deepened by
the long. trailing Spanish moss which
hung from every tree, like mourning
garb. 1t added solemnity to the silence OF
the woods, aud one felt an insignificant
atom in the presence of these stately
monarchs of the forest unchanged while
generations come and 60.
Morning and sunlighC clothe the woods
in beauty, and while dlspelliug the gloom,
never take from them the prevailin.
solemn aspect which the long moss gives
while adding to their charm. for when
the rays of the sunlight shine through, it
gives the most delicate, lace-like effect TO
the long, swaying festoons.
Here one feels that truly are the groves,
"Goo's temples" and more purely and
sincerely than in "frettel aisle" and lofty
vault Of mans contriving, the heart gives
where only the birds, natures choristers,
and the myriad insect voices of the forest
join in the anthem. So much the stir Of
life seems to take us away from the real
and true-the eternal verities But here
we come near to that spirit OF life in the
universe that gives its deep charm to all
material Misunderstanding in the soft air,
smiling from the blue sky and whispering
to US in the beauty of the flowers at our
feet.
Beautiful even in winter. what the
woods when spring has, like
magician's wand, touched wood and
meadow. no one who has not seen them
can imagine. Then the wood glows with
color: in the leaves all tones Of green, from
the dark giisteuing of the holly to the
tender pale green of the oak. The flaming
red of the maple bloom shines here and
there and there are dogwOod and haw-
thorn, masses of yellow Jessanine hanging
from tree and dshrub-everywere riot OF
color, and Il luxurance of bloom. For
in this southern land is no uIggard
of her treasures She scatters them abroad
with lavish hand until the whole earth is
carpeted with bloom, as IL her fulness Of
life had blossomed III flowers. aud burst
forth in song of bird.
And around ALL an air of such softness,
that wrapped in its seusuous warmth the
lotos eaters song is ours:
All things have rest; why should we toll alone2
We ony toll who are he first of things
And make perpetual IN paD.
Still from sorrow to another thrown,
Nor ever fold our wings
And cease from wanderlngs.
Nor steep our brows in >lumDers holy calm,
Nor harken what the Inner spirit sin.s,
There is no JOY but calm"
NJ. NJ