Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-04-26
LETTER FROM MONTANA.
SOuthcrncr Longs for "thc Land of
the Cypress and Pine"

Deer LOuSe, Montana, April ID
Editor Courier: When | renew my
subscription to The Courier | like
to send a word OF greeting to all its
readers. This time 1t will be an
Easter greeting-a wish for a day of
peace and happiness. and that 1t may
be possible for all to unite in the JOY
full Easter anthems. In the South
land the flowers for the churches
them indoors, carrying them from II
window to another, Sc that they may
have the sunshine and be ready for
the church decorations. In our home
we have Easter lilies and daffodils,
others will carry palms, ferns and
tulips, and the roses will come from
hot houses. So, amid the flowers, the
songs and sermons, W. catch the
spirit of the day, and feel as do the
Russians, from Car to lowliest sub
ject, when meeting each other on
Easter morning the salutation Is, "the
Lord is risen," the answering salute
being "He is risen indeed"
The change from the long winters
to spring, in Northern climes, in
spires Il feeling Of thankfulness. In
Alaska, where there Is no daylight
for a time during the shortest days,
the people celebrate the return of
the sunshine, and during the summer
they are repaid for the gloom of the
dark times by having no night, and
raise good crops Of many kinds Of
vegetables INT small fruits, even
though the summer season is very
short, there being continued sun
shine.
Perhaps not all Of The Courier
readers know that we have fine
schools and colleges now, since the
advent of railroads, and the churches
are supplied with able ministers Of
several denominations. The Presby-
terrain ministers are from the North
ern division Of this church. In the
Deer Lodge Presbyterian church we
have had the privilege Of hearing
some Of the most prominent pulpit
orators in the United States, who at
different times have visited the West,
among them Rev. Newell Dwight
Hills, who preached two fine SER
mons for us one Sabbath. his home
and church in Evanston, Ill.,, at that
time; Rev. John r. Mott, the Y. NJ.
G.. A. worker, who is known in many
| NJ >, vic, rNL.. 1.-. T-. w.. ~
Mckenzie, of New York, visited the
Presbyterian college here and preach
ed for our congregation. One Of his
daughters Is a missionary In Africa.
Deer Lodge had the honor Of en-
tertaining the Montana Pioneers AS
ISOLATION September 23d and GATH,
1910. AS this city is one Of the old
est in the State many Of the Pioneers
had their homes here in early days,
and 1t was fitting hat they should
gather here in annual meeting and
revive old memories Of the days
when they were young and full of
hope. Many Of them are the promi-
nent men Of the State. There we're
the regular business meetings and
speeches, and In the evening an ele-
CANT banquet (nothing stronger than
coffee to drink in a large building
deliberately decorated with flags,
flowers and vines. The after dinner
speeches and short talks we're most
interesting, both men and women
taking part, most Of them telling how
they crossed the plains, the danger
from Indians, wild animals and
storms. had never seen SO many
Of the "old timers" together before,
and was impressed by the cheerful
ness and evident enjoyment of them
all. though their heads were gray,
and many feeble from age. Since
that time several of them have died.
The saddest hour of the annual gath
ering Is when the names Of those who
have died during a year are read, the
members standing with bowed heads.
More than fifty had passed away
from September, 1909, to 1910 the
same date. Like the roll of the old
soldiers, there will soon be a time
when there will be no names of the
living on the list.
| enjoy the weekly visits Of The
Courier with It's tidings Of JOY and
sorrow. My interests and home are
here, but | love the South and her
people, and am proud OF the fact that
an a Southerner, and of what the
South has been and is.
Sometimes when I look to the