The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-01-16
PASS CHRISTIAN,
Its Traditions, Charms and
Beauties.
Told BY Forner Resident Of Morgan
town fer ear Readers
hUsr <. M'6oSSrit:

:. The fallewins sfslcls Vas Witch
Tor the W6man's Edition but with
number Of others was crowded out.
We give it here as many of our rea-
ders viii be pleased to see it:
1t is great pleasure to greet old
friends and acquaintance Of Moi
gant5wn once more even in this un-
responsive way. 1t may be salts
faction to some of us to fear no in
terrupticn while we are telling our
little talee--te feel that however
garfuloas and tifesome they may be-
come, that BY no psychological
freak can We be made to Understand
that tie ears Of 6ur audience have
waxed dull and heavy. What hosts
Of pleasant memories come troopipg
up as recall the few happy years
spent in Morgantow1, and not the
faintest shadow crosses MY MENTAL
horizon as / read the pages of that
part of life's history. 1t is with the
hope that few at least of those that
1 hold in kind and loving remem-
brance may be interested, that ISend
this little sketch of my present sur
roundings, Pass Christian has an
interesting history If one may be-
lleve it's traditions dating back to
the old days of Spanish explorations
and conquests before the French tSok
all this tsrritdfy ana held It in the
name Of Louis XIV. There are
many fanciful tales told of how the
old Spanish sea robbers made rem
devious Of the coast, buried their
ill,gotten ,trearres iinder these grand
old oaks and. never came back for
them. Once upon a time, as if to
confirm these traditions, a pot OF
Spanish coins was unearthed, which
caused the Barons to marshal out
their retainers and upturn the sod
on each of their respective domains,
but as nothing turned up they each
took Spanish coin as souvenir
and settled down to the old dreamy;
lotus eating life
The Pass has long been favorite
summer resort for southern people
III the old ante belldni days. nearly
III The pltcsA were Held Is summer
houses by those who found health
and vigor in the salt sea breezes
baths, and resinous odor of the pine
forests. With the new order oi
things in the south, many changes
have taken place in "the Pass. y
Now there are two seasons: during
the winter northern people ooeapy
the hotels, boarding houses and cot
tages; in summer the New Orleans
people have possession rs usual
The Pass Is iinidde and artistic
Buried In rnagnolias, live oaks and
pines, with the long stretches d
beautiful shell roads, Its gently slop-
ing beach bathed in the sun kissed
waters Of the Gulf, the broad ex
panse of dancing water, waves dott ed
here and there with boats of all sorts
and now and then sail skimminp
along the horizon and passing Out
of sight, all contribute to make this
an ideal resort. Invalids and chill
dren especially enjoy the Gut door
life.
The old inhabitants tell some in.
teresting bits Of civil war history
Salt was manufactured here In large
Quantities and Was the principal
source IF Income during those dark
days. Those who did not go into
Iactive service, formed themselves
into sort of home guard military
company in order to defend their al
tars and their fires from possible
invasion of United States troops.
Their valor was indisputably put to
the test and not man was left to
tell the tale, they had passed quietly
out of sight but not forever. The
Yankees had possession f5f a few
days, and my informant tells me,
were petite and kind to the women
and children.
One sees occasionally an ebony
relic of the good old 'befo' the wah'
times, who has not been modernized
and spoiled BY freedom and educa-
ton" Old iiammies and aunties
whose antiquity might suggest their
having belonged to the favored
thousands who served as cook 8,
housemaids, laundresses, / was
almost to say, nurses in the family
Of the immortal Washington. These
old ''ladies" are interesting and
amusing especially to the northern
tourists, and for quaintness of speech
and manner are Irresistible
But time and space forbid that l
should dwell longer upon the beauty
and charm ofthis, my present home.
If l have created desire in the
minds of any of my old friends to
come south and see for themselves
should be very glad, and extend to
them a most cordial welcome.
With the best wishes for the
prosperity and growth of New Nor
gantown and a merry Christmas and
happy New Year to all who may
recognize and remember the writer.