Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-08-24
THE TRUTH ABOUT
WEST VIRGINIA
BY Phil M. Conley

Dy EnH VA NOuleY
A minister moved from California
to city in West Virginia. In keep
ing with the habit acquired by ninty-
nine and ninty-nine hundredths per
cent Of all the people who have ever
lived in California, the minister REFER
to the wonders Of the great Pacific
coast State on all occasions.
A large public meeting was to be-
held in the town where he was pas
tor. The committee in charge Of the
program decided they would not place
the minister in position where he
could refer to his former state. Ac-
cordingly, they asked him 70 open
the meeting with prayer. When he
was called upon to offer the invoca-
ton, he began: 20 Lord, thou know
est when thy servant was in the beau
tiful state Of California, etc."
Every person from California
swells with pride when the nams Of
this state u mentioned. And 4 sotns
one fails v sivs aduS 6easideraien -
that wonderful section oxths country,
he is looked st with plying stsre.
The Californians actually believe thsy
have the greatest stats in the Union,
the most wonderful climate and more
beautiful scenery than is TO be found
in the New Jerusalem Yet these
fingers the fear that an earthquake
may occur any minute.
Last week heard two men who
live in California deliver lectures.
Both Of them, in tho course Of their
addresses, took occasion to mention
their wonderful state. ! talked to
one Of the men after his lecture, and
asked him why it was he moved from
Ohio, where he was born, and in such
a short time became imbued with his
new home. He said to me: Il know
six other states in the Union. where
! would just as soon live as in Cali
fornia. But / have caught the spirit.
1t has become the habit for anyone
living in California to boost it. /
would be an exception If / did not
boast about it's wonderful advan-
tages."
I thought to myself: West Vir-
ginians should take lesson from
this attitude. Why can't we, with
state just as remarkable as Califor-
MIA, or any other state for that mat
ter, develop a similar spirit We
have as wonderful scenery as Califor-
mia, we have almost as delightful
climate, we have no earthquakes, we
have more native born ihabitants,
we have the purest blooded Americans
to be found in the United States, we
have more natural resources, yet, we
do not show the pride in our State
that citizens Of California show in
theirs.
Some people with whom | have
talked have claimed they were asham
ed they were natives Of this State.
My opinion is that the State has
more reason to be ashamed OF such
citizens.
But this is not characteristic of
the great bulk Of West Virginians.
have letter from lady living in
a small town in his State in which
she say: mo better people ever
walked in that much shoe leather
than the West Virginia people. Born
and bred in West Virginia is the
greatest title inherit, and proud and
thankful to the living God that we
are not going to yield to the rulings
IF other states" Her English isn't
good, but she has the right spirit.
I heard man say few days ago:
when am in another State, try
to visit Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and
other clubs. Frequently ! am called
upon to make few remarks, and on
such occasions / never fail to talk
about the wonderful state in which
I live" This is habit every West
virginian should acquire.
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