Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-05-11

MIR Edtor:-As you have asked me
for some dots from the old soldiers re-
union and Masonic corner stone lay
ing at Houlka on Saturday, May 8, |
will Just touch off the most important
incidents that came under the observa-
ton Of your humble scribe on that
eventfuI day in that new, enterprising
ank hustIing town. Uncle Pet and
myself drove the big bay from Houston
and arrived on the scene about 9:3O
o clock, and found the town full Of the
honest yeomanry, the horny handed
sons of toll, tie bone and sinew
of the land and the handsome ladies
that abound in that goodly land and
seem to be natural product Of the
soil.
1t had not been our good fortune to
have visited new 1oulha Oeiore. We
had heard of the vim and push, and the
get up and 60 Of its people, but like the
Queen of Sheba, the half had not been
told" Instead Of finding straggling
scattered town. with kind Of do-the-
best.you-can look on it, we found
handsome residences. painted and up
to.date in architecture and finish, With
beautiful front yards and flowers; the
business part all in one place, with a
bank to keep the money in, and nice
new churches, representing the staple
brands of religion now mostly in use
in this country, and large brick three
story school house that would do honor
to any Town in the State, showing that
education and religion, the two hand
maids Of progress and civilization, are
given the most conspicuous places in
the building Of that up-to-date town.
This is no idle praise, for they have
the goods to show. The impression
made on new. conner is one OF thrift
and enterprise, and the kindly greeting
given to the stranger within her gates
makes you feel you are at home among
friends who will lend helping hand
if you show yourself worthy Of their
esteem and confidence,
Among this throng Of all classes
and conditions Of men was seen the
festive candy-date, with his card anc
one long continued smile Chat like {
hireling time runs from year to year,
and lasted till the last glimmering ray:
Of the sstting sun sank to sleep in the
distant west and the king of day hiC
his face from the walks of men anC
darkness covered the face Of the earth
They we're all meeting with encourage
ment (did you ever see one tha
didn'0. If you smiled back at one h,
put your name down as a sure vote
and out of the l02 on the ground ever!
one went home sure of carrying tn,
HouIka box.
AT the proper time tor dinner th'
HouIka band appeared and they CAV,
us Dixie" and ! wish you could hav,
seen the patriotic look on the faces o
those old gray grizzled warriors, who's,
thoughts carried them back down tn,
dim aisIes Of time, half century age
when as beardless boys they Offered
their bodies as living sacrifices on tn,
altar Of their country, and marched
like horses and fought like devils t,
protect the rights Of the States agains
the cenlralizing power of the genera
government, that great principle with
ont which these United States woult
60 down into merited oblivion and ou
boasted republican form Of governmen
be the laughing stock Of the world
Language fails to express my opinion
Of these Old veterans whose darinl
deeds on the battle field has been Ii,
wonder and admiration Of the civilized
world, and whose noble bearing il
times Of peace has stamped them a
men Of brains and forlitude and back
bone enough to tackle the most diifcul
problems that ever confronted an!