Woodville Republican., 1902-05-10
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By KATE MARKHAM POWER.

piled up around the little fort. But
nothing is better settled now, the evil
dence being indubitable and over
whelming, that Mississippians were
the only organized troops inside Gregg.
AS to Gettysburg, If there was one
wish dearer to the hearts of Cols Pew
er, Stone and Holder than another, 1t
was that the State of Mississippi
should appropriately mark on Gene
terry Heights the place where her dead
were found just after the charge.
Last Thursday and Friday were
great days for Mississippi, as she en-
tertained the beloved Admiral Win
field Scott Schley, hero of Santiago,
and his wife, during the fieeting hours
of those two perfect May days. Just
one year before, at the same hour of
the same day, Jackson received for a
brief space, as guests of honor, the ma
tions head, the lamented Mckinley,
and his fragile wife. The town had
:
honor, to give him greeting, and as
it so soon proved, farewell, all in one.
Nor was the welcome confined to
Jackson. All along the line Of the
great road over which they Travelled,
with their distinguished guests, the
people had gathered to pay their re-
spects and to prove by their presence
the honor in which they held their
chief executive. That May day will
dwell long, and its scenes will be ten
derly preserved, in the memory Of our
people. 1t was coincidence that ex-
cited no little remark that this beau
tiful May day should have brought an
other guest great In this great nation,
and in the South beloved as no man
has been since Jackson and Lee and
the others Of our own fighting he
roes" laid down their arms. The
great tribute of love and loyalty
which our people have laid at the feet
of Admiral Schley is a most rare trib-
ute to be paid to any man, even by
a people made up, as our people are,
so largely of the splendid qualities of
loyalty and love. In the light Of his
hard-won victory he became the ma
tion's hero; but when his laurel
crown was found so largely interviewer
with poisoned thorns the South, whose
"bravest are her tenderest," at once
took him for her own, and her people
have kept him within the sanctuary
of their hearts. 1t mattered not to
them that it was sought to snatch his
laurel crown and bind it on other
brows. Even so, he would have been
their hero still-beloved perhaps, the
better because he was uncrowned.
save with the imperishable flowers of
a peoples love and gratitude. 1t was
these rare but most sweet flowers that
greeted him all along his Southern
journey with fragrance that envel-
oped and beauty that delighted him
and his lovely wife. At every point
city and country crossroad alike-the
people were there from all stations,
of all ages, but bound by the common
desire to pay their tribute of admira-
tion in person. And that the splendid
gentleman-great in his simplicity
and his gracious wife appreciated this
outburst of admiration from the hon
est hearts of the people, was proven
by his willingness to appear early and
late, no matter how small the gather
ing, to say few words to those who
were thus honoring him. In Jackson
the Admiral and Mrs. Schley, with
Mrs. Schley's friend, Miss Albert, were
guests of Gov. and Mrs. Longino, and
during the day were royalty enter
tanned by the city and the citizens.
An elaborate programme was carried
out with pleasure to all concerned,
and the distinguished guests were
much pleased with their visit.
The Admiral and his wife expressed
repeatedly their great pleasure at be-
Ing the guests in home that was so
typical of the South in its glory. The
mansion which is relic of ante-bel-
lum days was source of especial de-
light to Mrs. schley, who revelled in
the big, cool, quiet rooms and who was
charmed with the elegant simplicity
Of her surroundings and with the
homelike cordial welcome that was
shown throughout their visit by Gov.
and Mrs. Longino, their three bonny
boys and one sweet daughter. A day
in sweet Southern home is better
than a thousand in the din and turmoil
Of the great hotels of the cities; so, we
are sure, think the Admiral and Mrs.
Schley. The visit to Meridian, like the
day in Jackson, was an all around sue
cess, and the people of that great town
fairly outdid themselves. Their pro-
gramme was fine one and was SPLEEN
didly carried out. Altogether the visit
Of Admiral Schley to Mississippi was a
great event in our history and we hope
that it will be pleasant time for "The
Man Who Was There" to remember.
The Signal tells us that "Two years
and half ago Taylorsville, as rail-
road town. was not known, but today
she is live, hustling village of about
1000 inhabitants, with a number of
stores, saw and planning mills, two
printing Offices, an artesian well, two
banks in sight, and the best high
school in the State"
Lower down in the same column is
notice of the establishment Of g
branch of the Laurel Bank. This is
the right kind of growth, and we re-
joice to see it taking hold of SO many
Of our towns.