Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-03-25
DR.. BOWEN WRITES OF
HIS TRIP TO THE SOUTH
In Letter To MIR. John S. McMaster
:; He Tells of The Charming
= Hospitality OF Dixie.

NeV. LIZ. Bowen, VINO lives at BEL
liz Nd, and who is so we'll and ia
vorably known as the poet laureate
OF our Land of Evergreens, lately
visited, with his daughter in Monroe,
La. The following letter written by
HIM to John S. McMaster, who is a.
bout to take a months trip to The
West Indies, Panama Canal, etc., tells
Of DR.. Bowen's delightful visit and
tie charming hospitality extended to
him. We feel sure our readers will
appreciate it, Editors.]
Berlin March Is, 1922
Dear Bro. John
l have been writing to you in
thought every day since getting home
but have been rushed in acknowledge
ing klndneSses back in Dixie. 1t was
wonderful experience in Louisiana,
such as | never expected on earth.
have never known or heard of such
an ovation to any minister and dau-
ghter and lasting for three weeks.
Lillian counted up and in those three
weeks we had received forty-seven
..ivltatlons out to entertainments.
And there were entertainments solici-
ting us for the next week.
those Dixie hearts are beyond corr
pare land they know how to show
them. Even the little girls and boys
are more affectionate than in other
latitudcs. The visit has left my hear
full OF priceless memories. l WOULD
not take a, gold-mine for them.
1t all humbled me, for / couldn't
conceive what | had ever done to de-
serve it all. know l worked very
hard there and not without success
among other things building one OF
the handsomest Presbyterian Church
es in the State-and laying the foun-
stations Tor the present advances-.-but
other preachers have done as much
elsewhere with never reception ike
this. 1t seems to me like dream.
An Episcopal rector went to Mon
roe from Missouri told me that | had
left my mark on that community,
couldn't tell why-but l know that
they left their mark on me.
attribute it largely to Mrs. Bow
en-. She was most remarkable wo-
man with a tact at winning and inten
styling friendships beyond anyone
ever knew. She won everybody. She
died there, amid such kindnesses an'!
sympathy as were indescribable-a-
mong Gentiles, Jews, Catholics, Oar
kles, and everyone. think our well
come was largely tribute to her. |
was touched to find on the tombstone
Of dear friends the inscription taken
from Mrs. Bowen's in Missouri-"The
Morning Cometh."
And Marshall Mo-, found out we
were in Louisiana and wrote urging
us to return that way and offering to
pay all additional expenses. Plenty
of hearts up that way too. This we
were compelled to decline. 1t would
have been rather too much for an ole
man of over 88 for the constant en-
tertaining and feasting had tested my
capabilities. The travel was not op-
pressive. We took a sleeper in Phil
adelphia and without change got
out at Monroe. So too, coming back.
The dining car too, was directly BIZ
hind ours.
| have often said that even if there
were no Heaven, l have been far
more than repaid for all I've ever
done by the friendships along my
way. AS l look back to this trip,
Louisiana seems very close to tine
Promised Land.
| would not give my outing for
yours but I almost envy yours; l see
its splendors. Perhaps you may touch
at Barbados where Mackenzie first
landed and preached before coming TO
Maryland. He also traded there from
Holden's Creek and he addressed one
of his booklets to Presbyterians
there.
| am writing to you on my young
brother Wills birthday (93d) We
are expecting to go in on him this ar
tcrnoon. Meant to do it tonight, but
We are invited to a big banquet of the
order of the Redmen at the hall where
| am expected to crate and poetic.
DR.. Verbrycke is the Toast Master.
l am going to surprise them by tell
ing them all about their predecessors
the sure-enough Redmen of the
Eastern Shore.
Lillian is spoiled to death by her
lionizing in the Land of Cotton. Our
love to Columbus if you encounter
him. Sincerely,