Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-06-29
IN SUNNY FRANCE AND SPAIN.
President c. R. Hightower Tells
Interestingly the Story Of His
Trip Abroad.
From the Union Advocate.

something concerning my receh'
visit to Europe which have con-
scented to do, Notwithstanding the
fact that the two months from
the office has resulted in the ac-
emulation of many important
business matters which are press
ing for immediate attention. The |
reader, therefore, is requested to |
accept what | shall say as a hur-
ried statement OF n few impress
sions gained while visiting in
foreign lands on a business mis-
sion, and not a mission Of pleas
ure-seeking and sightseeing.
The tourist in foreign lands gene
rally has plenty of time to visit
the art galleries, museums and
places of historic interest, and
sees Europe as it has been in the
centuries gvhe by more than
Europe as it is to-day. AS my
mission was one of business, L
did not have time to see Europe
as it has been, but saw it as it is
now; busy and active and some-
what after the fashion of America.
The principle difference being
that they are not quite so active
and the customs are somewhat
different because of much denser
population and other environ.
ments.
1t is true that saw some of
the things Of special interest
which | may mention in this ar
ticle, but anyone may gain a
much better idea OF this phase of
European life by reading some
good book of travels.
AS my audience is composed
mainly of farmers, will speak
principally of the impressions
gained Of the agricultural condi.
tons as they appeared to me.
landed at Cherburb, France,
which is the naval base for the
French fleet. They have a splen-
did harbor protected by massive
concrete wells rising from the
water some fifteen feet and brist-
ling with cannons pointing sea-
ward. Cherburb is quaint, old
time city rather sleepy IN appear
ance. All of the houses are
built with stone or brick ond COW
cred witk tile or slate, and many
of them so old until they are moss
covered. 1t may be of interes,
TO the average Mississippian to
know that the materials used in
the building of Cherurb is COM
mon in all OF Europe. | did not
See house during my stay on
the continent or in England built
OF wood, or one covered with
wood. | doubt if there is an
entirely wood structure in all of
Europe. The Eurnnean builds
for pernanancy, and this Is one
lesson that should be learned by
the American. OF course, it is u
matter of necessity, as well as
judgment, because there is not
enough timber on the continent
to build a single city.
l went by express train from
Cherburb to Paris, and was much
pleased to find tfiat the best trains
on the through lines of railroad
make better time than the Ameri.
can trains. The first fifty miles
Of our journey was through a
hiily mountainous country. The
scenery was beautiful. Bright
flowers of spring blossomed eve.
rywhere and the green pastures
were filled with cattle of the best
breeds which showed that they
have been we'll kept and cared
for by the owner, as they are fat.
Quite a contrast between them
and the poor half-starved ap.
pearance of the Mississippi cat.
, tie IN early spring. While prac.
ticaily ali of the land in this sec.
ton was cleared, little OF it seem.
/ ed to be cultivated. 1t is I'M
, questionably dairy section, and
/ the land is used for grazing pur-
poses during the summer and for
meadows to produce hay for win
ter feed. Here and there we're
small orchards of apples and
, cherries in blossom, adding to
the beauty of the scenery. The
J, farms were quite small and divid.
ed by well kept hedges. The
t hedge rows and ravines every-
! where were followed by a line of
, trees that had every switch trim.
meo from the body except a
HANDFUL on the top. Many of the
trees we're cut off ten or fifteen
ieet from the ground. These
stumps grew great quantity of
switches each year which are
carefully trimmed and tied into
, bundles. These switches trim
|, med from the trees and stumps
make the fuel supply for the
winter. Near every farm home
t can be seen a pile of bundled
switches and occasionally was
seen a car loaded OF them to be
delivered to the nearby village.
in other words, nothing is per-
mitted to go to waste, which
makes a striking contrast with
the American custom of of waste.
fulness and slaughter of our
forests. Fifty or sixty miles from
the coast we ran into a rather
level country, the land being
sufficiently rolling to furnish am.
MIA dpainaOo In th;o .no.: >: