The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-10-09
MPERLSHABLE GLORY OF THE OLD SOUTH
by CARLTON MURRAY aRoslus- :

tiful city has enjoyed a century of progress al
prosperity, and has reached point where
her inhabitants can point to her with pardonah
pride and be thankful that they live in city
$ culture, refinement and unsurpassed beauty.
In view Of the approaching Centennial, al
considering the fact that the "Old South" reacht
the zenith of its glory during the time that hi
interviewed between the founding of Cdlumbl
and the present, it seems appropriate at this tin
to write something about the "Od South" thi
lall too rapidly is taking its place among perioC
of history 600 beautiful, too beautiful to last
In the great cradle of the ages, no nation hS
ever attained the golden age. All have striven
reach the goal, but it has continually been my
tic vision before their eyes. Rome reached 1t
such an extent that Gibbon says the time thf
elapsed from the death of Dometan to the az
cession of CommOdus was the most prosperous
the history of the human race. But Rome wit
all her glory and grandeur, has decayed, and ne
battle cry will be shouted no more by her sturd
sons as when they marched to deathless fame
The onward sweep of the ages has witnesse
the rise and fall of many nations, but no stretc
of time can ever dim the luSter and lmperishabl
glory Of the civilization of the "Old South" Tha
civilization-at once pure, ennobling and dlgnlhe
came nearer being absolutely perfect than an
civilization the world has known since the grea
drama of human life was staged by the good Go
in the rosy dawn of creation South of the Maso
and Dixon line was built up a civilization tina
had never before been equalled beneath the blu
canopy of the skies Those sturdy colonsts bega
at the bottom and laid securely the foundation 0
civil and social fabric that was the envy o
the world. The forests were cleared by Stron
men, and the school house and church OF
cavalier race supplanted the wigwam of tn
savage OF honorable lineage, they inherited tha
culture and refinement, tempered with sense o
right and wrong towards their fellow-men, tina
caused them to rise to heights sublime
There is something about that wonderful lif
lin the Old South that strikes the reader of histor
with awe 1t was unlike any that had ever existet
before. Peculiar to the South and admirably
adapted to its environment, it was life suited t
such people. The plantations were large; con
sisting of thousands of acres in single tract
abounding in all the resources that were useful t
man. The South was not thckly populated
there was no large influx of emigrants; the Ole
South kept her own citizens, and did not receive
many from other sources. She fell behind the
north in manufacturing and economic lines Therf
were few systems Of railways traversing her from
state to state. Nearly all that was used on the
plantations was made by the slaves, thus max
ing each plantation almost self-sutaining. Yet
while she was eclipsed in population and in rail.
way mileage, the civilizng influences were not to
be equaed anywhere. The principle of living
within the law was taught to those people from
the cradle until they had reached their majority
1t was the great lesson Of their life to be sup
porters of their government. They were not i'm
perious; they respected the rights of others, and
expected the same towards themselves. They
were honest you could take their property,
homes all but when their honor was assailed,
reparation was made or a fight was the result.
Theirs was chivalrc life. 1t was the most
chvalric that has ever existed since the middle
ages. They were true Knights at heart and in
deeds, only lacking the ceremonial functions Of
always willing to help the needy and
The most discussed thing of the Old South was
the institution of slavery. Revolving as human
slavery seems to highly cultured people, those
negroes were well provided for and were con-
tented They obeyed knowing that it was a
superior that commanded them, and even the most
fanatica of the abolitionists were surprised to
find such satisfaction among the black folks. They
went to their work singing, only as the African
can, those chanting songs, which, so Ope Read
SAYS, musicians have put to notes and spoiled, and
actors reproduced on the stage and made fail
ure.
There were often hundreds of slaves to a single
family. yet the dusky throng moved amongst
them and harmed not one. The devotion that
existed between master and slave cannot be duly
estimated by one who has not seen it in its en-
.irety. There was an affection between them that
asted through life, and the humble black was
willing TO Law down his life for his master.
When the Civil War burst upon the nation, and
The call to arms was given, the Southern planter
eft his home and went to the front TO fight for
he Confederacy. Before leaving, he called his
rusty slaves before him. told them he was going
away to fight for his home and might never
-etuIn: that he would expect them to care for his
owed ones and defend them while he was gone.
They received their charge with that obedience
J0rn Of love and respect, and how well they
,bcyed the command. let history attest Every
light during those four long years they would
assemble az the house to learn if any news he'd
,een received from their master, rejoicing in vic
ory. sad when the dread news of defeas came.
IN the time conscious Of the fact that the sue
css - the Confederate arms meant the continua-
iOn u their slavery. Henry Wo0dfa Grady said;