The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-07-10
THE EASTERN SHORE.


Justice Done to a Much Misunderstood Sec
tion--A Sensible Article Written by Sen
sibIe Man-What Rev. DR.. Tagg says in
the Methodist Protestant about our Shore.
Rev. DIR. +. L. Tagg, editor Of the
Methodist Protestant, and who knows all
about the Eastern Shore, is sometimes an
noyed by the criticism he hears about this
peninsula, made by men of course who
know nothing about it, and he has written
for his paper the following sensible and
very truthful article. He thereby does
justice to this important and healthful por
ton of the state, and places the people
here under obligations to him for his frank
ness and candor
This is section of Maryland and Della
ware bounded by the Delaware and Chesa-
peake BAYS, the Sassafras river and the
Atlantic ocean. \ stretch Of level coun-
try, fertile and productive, and inhabited
by some of the most generous, refined and
hospitable people on earth. 1t is abundant
" supplied with oysters, fish, terrapin and
other sayory marine life; its fields are COW
cred with grass, grain and fruits in almost
every variety, and in the main the climate
is healthy, salubrious and invigorating
country that has as large percentage of
old people as any country in the world.
So frequently we hear fear of going there
expressed by people who are afraid Of chills,
mosquitoes and other imaginary horrors.
We hear of preachers who cannot live on
the Eastern Shore, and Of laymen who
make themselves belive that every Whit of
air from that section is loaded down with
microbes and disease germs, that pounce
upon them with fatal and devouring effect.
We confess to very indignant Impotence
with such statements and such unfounded
fears There are some swamps where
mosquitoes are bad, and where people will
have fever and ague, if they are not very
cautious, but such swamps exist in any
country, and mosquitoes are infinitely worse
in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and
other cities than they are on the higher
lands Of the Eastern Shore. The per cent.
Of sickness is quite as great in Garrett or
Alleghany as it is in Kent Queen Anne s
OF Talbot counties. A few years ago DR..
Chancellor, who had means of great infor
nation and wide observation ON the sub
ject, pronounced portions of the Eastern
Shore the healthiest places in this country.
Yet every year we hear this unjust and
gratuitous assertion that people cannot go
there without taking the chills and fever
Perhaps all that we can say will not abate
this foolish fear, or lessen the groundless
prejudice, but it is satisfaction to state
that. take it all in all, the Eastern Shore
is the grandest country that We have yet
been in Its people are more generous
and hospitable, their homes are more re-
fined and inviting, their neral tone is more
excellent and elevating, their lands are
more varied and prolific in their produc-
tiveness, their roads are better, and their
social relations more natural and courteous
than any other country that we have seen.
We were not asked to write this editorial;
they need no apologism. We simply speak
what we do know, and testify to what our
eyes have seen in expressing this apprecia
ton of a section of country that speaks for
itself to all who will avail themselves of
the privilege to visit its people, learn their
courtesy and enjoy their unstinted hospl-
tality.