Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-04-26
RETROsPECTTvE.


ful sketch from the howery pen Of
Miss Leila B. Dickson, Of Tupelo .
A retrospectlon Of some forty-hve
years, and we see the South one of the
proudest and most a~ristOcEatic nations
on earth. The hospitable, chivalrous
Southern gentleman and the beautiful,
virtuous daughters of the South hadno
peers, and the counterpart Of many IN
elegant manston throughout the South
might be seen filled with every luxury
and comfort; the abode Of hospitality
and leisure. company coming and GO
ing, beautifultables spread with every
delioacy, choice cookery, old wines,
massive plates and q routine Of we'll
dressed. we'll trained servants forming
an obsequiOus array, standing behind
the chairs Of guests az the dinner hour,
or waiting on them In their apart
ments, all combined to give the impress
SIGN Oi a joyous, abundant life. All
was cultivation, elegance and refine
ment. The flower gardens, shrubbery
and ample lawns were laid ont with
European taste. The stables were
filed with bloOded horses, which were
at the disposal Of guests, and kennels
of the finest settlers and packs of grey.
hounds were kept not only for the
amusement Of the proprietor, but that
Of his friends, both ladies and gentle-
men, who would frequently gather at
the mansion and spend days under the
hospitabla roof. The ladies' euperbiy
mounted; and with gallant escorts,
oftimes would follow the hounds In full
cry, taking daring leaps as they few
over fields in chase Of the wary fox.
There were many contiguous farms
or plantations adjoining the estate, on
which we're thousands of acres Of waV-
ing corn and growing cotton, cultivat,
ed by African slaves. The masters
kind and considerable Of all these de-
pendants, was held in profound res
pect, and they were cheerful and con-
tented under his dominion. The young
or members of the family we're held in
special alteration by these faithful
slaves-constant companions In child
hood, partners of their youthful grief
and ioys-Who would willingly have
given their lives for the sake OF "young
marster" or young mistis.' Such
was the devotion these humble slaves
bore to their ~superiors, and this was
the happySprosperous condition Of the
South, when viewed by a distance by
our conscientious Northern nelghbors
who had found the institution of elav-
cry improbable, now deemed it pru-
dent 10 relieve the South Of so profit
able a resource. For years this ques
ton was agitated until a bitter section.
al antagonism existed, and the es-
arrangement between the two localities
had so widened that there was but lit
tie intercourse between the people OF
North and South, and they regarded
each other almost as distinct national
tiles. At length matters had graviated
to such a point that the booming of
cannon and musketry and clashing of
arms was heard throughout the land
we love, and the American people we're
engaged in one of the bloodiest war
the world has ever witnessed, costing
the lives of nearly a million of men,
and taking the light and love from as
many happy homes and loving hearts.
The heroic struggling the Southern
people made to retain their rights and
property entailed by ancestry, and the
accumulations of years was one of the
most valiant and strenuous efforts his
tory has ever recorded. Loyalty and
development to the noble cause was
rife throughout the land, and never
had a people evinced a more determin-
ed spirit than now animatedthe South-
ern men, women and children. Upon
the first call men few to their arms,
and wives and mother sent their hus-
bands and sons to battle without a
murmur.
Southern valor, directed by leaders
whose names were identified with the
proudest prestige of America, and the
noble, patriotic soldiers enlisted IN de-
fence Of principles which were the
dearest convictions Of the Southern
hearts.
Never we're opposing forces o
nnequally met. The grand army If the
assaAant, thoroughly provided with
every appliance OF modern warfare,
schooled and disciplined In military
tactics, unlimited wealth and re.
sources. and ~inexaustible numbers,
combined with all the elements of SUI
periorty against a people entirely agri-
cultural in habits and resources, weak
10 numbers and q government not yet
organized three months; without sup
plies. without navies and shipyards,
and without time or opportunity 10
obtain them. Il is is not strange that
this grand invading host was 80 conf
dent of q glorious victory and their
war cry was, Let It be short, sharp
and decisive" and with one bloody
holocaust the victory was theirs. But
for q moment let US glance at the sud-
den revulsion of this grand army of the
enemy who had derived the Confeder-
ates for che want of numbers, the want
Of arms, and It's lack Of all essential
material Of war. Behold their arrO-
gance and hauteur put to flight. routed.
ct every point, and now flying 10 In
glorious retreat before the victorious
columns Of the ConfedeFates. "Regi,
ment after regiment came rushing
along the road and over fields. Bat
soon al distinction Of regiments and
companies Of infantry, cavalry and
artillery were lost. The confusion 81
Babel was synthetic order and perfect
symmetety when compared with the
chaotic uproar which BOW prevailed,
Soon the way Of flight became choksd
with private eonveyRnces, with terri
fed eivilianB' with broken gun-car-
riagea, all tumbling, crashing and roll
ling against each other, wounded
hnwams m8mmmmH a. and SEE In &hn mn1rnt