The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-11-22
DECLINE OF SOCIAL INTER
COURSE.
Editor Democrat-Star.


Editor Democrat-Star.
l am about 40 years old, look much
older. but feel much younger. l DO
not believe I have arrived at that age
when l, like most all old people,
think nothing is as good as 1t was I'm
the days when l was young" l am
in all matters a progressive man. In
fact, il there are two ways Of doing
the old aud the other
the new-both equally good, will
favor the new. l believe our race Is
improving, but there are few things
and customs that I do not believe are
improving, and one Of these Is social
intercourse. Thirty years ago the So
cial intercourse among ncighbors was
very different from what it Is now. In
those days a man after eating
supper would often step over to a
neighbor's land this perhaps in his
shirt sleeves) and sit around the
neighbor's hcarthstOne for an hour or
more In friendly chat. Perhaps half
Of the evenings were spent either WIS.,
iting or entertaining nelghbOrs. The
women would share equally In these
visits and entertainments. 1t was
seldom that such visits were confined
to the PARLoR. The young people OF
the neighborhoOd were equally as
social and transformations. In those
days small ncighborhood OF score
OF families, with houses no larger than
we have now, could, and did, often
entertain church associations OF one
to three hundred delegates and visit
Ors.
On one occasion the BAPTIST church
at Shubuta, Miss, had invited their
association to meet with them. Old
Bro. r. r. Howe was member there
at that time. The church had meet
ing to assign visitors to houses, as two
hundred were expected. The commit
tee began to ask the different mem
bers how many each could take, leav-
ing Bro. II. T. Howe to the last.
After sixty out Of the two hundred
were assigned, and could place no
, more, Bro. Howe was appealed to.
: He promptly said, II will take the bal
ancc." He went home, and, having a
!. long room or ha!l upstairs that had
: ! not been divided of, he spread out
seed cotton full length Of the hall on
> both sides and spread quilts and
sheets and new cloth from the loom
over this and as the weather was warm
his hundreds slept comfortably, while
their horses were fed from long
q troughs in the lot, and themselves fed
y at a long table under the shade OF the
II trees.
It In fact, this old brother cared for
i more visitors than could be cared for
'e now by every family in Moss Point.
J. Why is this 7? Who Is to blame?
IL Those days all the beautiful girls and
n- manly young men in all this neck OF
the woods, would usually congle egatt
IL of Sunday evenings at old "Grandma'
rs Ellis or Helaire Krebs', or Mr.. Manue
ne Deas' on the beach, where Mr.. james
N McFaul's residence now stands. TIT
O. house was small, but on these occa
o. sions it was practically given up tt
O. the young people, and while goos
20 manners and kindness to all were sect
r. everywhere, there was none Of tn
ng present reserve and stiffness. Our oil
lp friend Ben Pickett was young maj
ce In those days and feel safe in saying
nc that he got more real, unalloyed pleas
TO- ure out Of one Sunday In those day
TX than all his sons get out Of q Who'll
NC year now.
co l believe real good manners is ITO
e" regulate your conduct so as to give n
'r' offence to Others" In fact, the II
III. herent right of man is ito seek an
'eo obtain happiness" This being tru
rs' and as man is by nature a soci'
ass being, would hail with delight a r
'"e turn to our former pleasant soci
es1 relations. Really, II one Of my neig'
'ne bOrs was to come over to my hou'
Inc especially not dressed up) and sit az
th' chat awhile, all my little girls woul
70 as soon as he had gone, ask what
Ver came after, and ! am not sure, but
EN- may meet him at the door and ask hi
oro what he would have.
To- Your readers may think me ung'
'no liant for saying so, but must char'
MS the LADIES with being the create
VA. cause of this decline in our soci
OF relations. They may not intend
req do so, but they do. No lady In Nc
mas Point or neighboring towns will agr
us to entertain or care for any more v
itors or delegates to q meeting tn
49, she can give separate rooms to, n
.nS over two.
~. And II her next door neighbor d
.o', ~ her husband calls in the evening til
~ ~. are invited into the parl0r and ma
.'s. .s.. to sit In so.called easy chairs un
""s their backs ache, and they 60 home
'..ss ~ rest. The political fights now bel
's. ~. over, and As I must have . fight
"'' some kind going op, am ready for
attack from tine LADIES II they
,as a belllgereut ut the tsuthful charge.
One a. DIAS
f,nc Moss Point, Miss, Nov. 10, 1895.
luir- <1-
M q Tho man who sings the 10udest
~ = nR,, rNh nomora11v Ahro,uo hta honi9