The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-05-27
Ghelemorraf-S Star
lFcr the Democrat Star.
MISSISSIPPIANS AND MISSIS-
SIPPI.


1t is a long time since the author OF
"Home, Sweet Home" wrote the bal
lad that went straight to tlacore OF
human hearts, and it will continue to
do so until human hearts have ceased
TO beat; nevertheless, while all that is
best in our nature responds to the
very name Of "home,n is it not an
open question whether we really ap-
p%rcciatc its charms. We are very
prone to look abroad for bcauty-to
undervalue what lies nearest to us.
We read id the newspapers OF a deed
OF valor and are thoroughly thrilled
thereby, while all the time some silent
hero at our Preside is fighting and
coming of victorious in the greatest
battle Ut all-the battle against self
ishncss, against disappointment,
against crushing calamity or the petty
cares OF daily life. We shoulder our
easel and load up our kodak and set
out for the summer tour, totally un-
conscious that the beauty we are seek
ing lies close TO our own doorway, and
the glory Of the Creator shiues no
where more brightly than about our
own piazzas.
Why is it that Mississippi has no
big city, while Louisiana, Alabama,
Georgia, Texas, and all our neighb0rs
count them by the half dozen? Is it
1t not due-at least in a measure-to
the fact that Mississippians, as a rule,
60 outside their State for their invest
mcnts and do not establish local in
dustries?
With our magnificent seaboard, our
superb timber. land, our fine summer
resorts, why is it we have not more
capitalists, and do not rank as we
ought in the scale OF the Union?
Our native writer's should look to
this; there should be State patriotism
MS well as country patriotism and the
old cOtton'bale on the seal should be
no less venerable than the Stars and
Stripes. 1t Is all very we'll to conquer
Spain, but while we fight for the
American eagle, let US not forget to
keep the crows out of our own Missis-
sippi corn-1elds.
What George Egbert Craddock is
doing for Georgia: what Bret Harte
did for California, and James Lane
Allen and Walter Lecky for Kentucky,
should be done and must be done for
Mississippi; and the time is ripe for
doing it. now that the big literary
syndicate of the East are Offering
greater inducements than eve before
to Southern talent that will produce
work OF q distinctly local col0ring.
Mississippi Rich in legendary lore,
fleming with historical associations!
And yet, since Chateaubriand wrote
his Romance OF the Natcllcz Incl-
ans and Claiborne his history Of this
State, what has become OF our local
literature, and whence the blindness
Of our local writer's?
When l4ongfcllow wrote "Evan-
geline," all eyes were turned upon Aca-
dian Louisiana, where some of the
principal scenes Of the poem were
laid; but, speaking from the knowI.
edge gained by a recent visit to those
portions of the Teche described by the
poet, ] can state that within fifty
yards of the spot where l am writing
Is a bit Of land and water that rivals
the s0-called unrivalled beauties OF
the famOus country OF Attakapas."I
Yet the Teche parishes are synonyms
Of beauty throughout the civilized
world; while the Pascagoula with its
sunny, ribbon.like windings; the in.
tense blue waters Of its lake and pools;
the crystal charms OF its bayous, that
flow and interlOw like tangled threads
Of a silken skcin; the %Pascagoula, with
its name as musical as its own mys-
terious melody, flows on through its
marshes, comparatively unknown to
the civilized world. Could one yet
have faith in mcrmaids. as in the days
OF y0re, 1t were easy to believe when
the Southern moon Is full, and the
Southern night is heavy with the jes-
samine breath, that some gentle bride
OF the waters makes plaintivc lament
alton, and that the music OF the Pas
cayOula Is but the mermaid signing
her regret that. her native waters are
unsung, for her native poets have not
loved them.
IRWIN HUNTINGTON BURTON.
Moss POINT, Miss, May 20, 1888.