Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-19
WhyDixie
COu|dntBeM0ved
10Brdzi|

pioneers,
E groups have set out to establish communities
I they could put practice the ideas and theo
which they believed would result Utopia earthly
paradise.
One group all but obscured by time and distance
recently revealed strange of American history when
Mrs Anna Bookwaer S5 on her plantation at Americana
Brazil observed the 18th anniversary of her sailing from
New Orleans with her father and mother and other South
planters to create "DiHeand' in South America
Today Mrs Bookwalter who still speaks with the soft
voiced draw of South Caronan is the only survivor of
the original group although there many second and
third generation descendants Of those proud Southern
families Born in Brazil and married to Brazians. they
nevertheless speak Portuguese with the Southern infection
and tempo that is their heritage.
1t right after the Civil War. Mrs. Bookwater
calls that friend of the family Colonel William H Norris
Of Georgia called meeting Of several prominent planters
in the South and said
Our plantations ruined. Our slaves have been
freed The South is being with scalawags and
carpet-baggers I'm leaving this country and going to
Brazil where the Emperor Dom Pedro offers his hos
pality and the right slaves What youal to
going with me ?"
The planters talked it over and many of them agreed
enthusiastically In Brazil a haven where they could
reestabish themselves and create another "Dxieland
without Yankee interference Plans quickly drawn
up There would be three saings from New Orleans to
accommodate all those who wanted TO go.
The Bookwalters left the first boat along with
Colonel Norris the leader of the expedition and many
families from Georgia South Carolina Mississippi and Ala
They household goods and other personal
and property with them. Colonel Norris had planned
comprehensvey that quantity of Georgia water
melon seeds were included.
In Rio de Janeiro the planters discovered that the
Colonel had not overestimated Dom Pedros welcome The
Emperor had of the best hotels ready for their exc
while their plantations being constructed.
They allowed TO buy large tracts of land for little
as and wined and dined lavishy.
Under Dom Pedro patronage appeared that they would
become prominent members of Brazilian society
Another shpload of Southern colonsts arrived And
then another Some of the planters decided to form set
tement near Beem on the Amazon River; others near
1guape the state Of Sac Paulo The Boolwaers with
several other planters jouneyed into
Paulo where they founded
the colony of Americana.
At first seemed they realize their
and prosper in their "Dxieland" But soon the En-
peror with affairs of lost interest in them
When this occurred they found that they were no longer
regarded members of the highest strata of Brazilian
society They merely immigrant farmers and to the
planters who had been prominent in the Old South this was
understandable irritating.
The next thing they discovered that climatic and
other of their plantations could be
compared 70 the Dixie they had abandoned Crops didn't
respond cultivation methods which they had pre-
vousy used The jungle and the heat proved TO be for
midabe antagonists Transportation, spite of the En-
perors promises TO build new roads was difficult Even
the slaves different from the Woodworking
carefree ones Of the Old South.
AS the years passed the colonies began to slip badly
until only the at Americana halfway ivabe Be
that Colonel Norris keen observer began 10 notice
The growing movement towards the adjustment of slavery
Nor ms forebodngs unwarranted
one day the announcement that henceforth there
would be slaves Brazil The Colonel stalkcd
anpry into the library took well-thumbed atlas from
there's a place where man can go and work his
plantation with slaves like Southern gentleman, that's
whore I'm going"
But be didn't leave Americana Instead he stayed on
grow his Georgia watermeons did the Bookwalters
When the Colonel died Mrs Bookwater bought his plan
ard took the growing Of his watermeons whose
fame extending not only throughout the state Of Sac
Paulo bat all Of Brazil
Mrs Book,yalter her old fashioned Southern hos
ptaly South Carolina equally famous and
occasional American travels by Americana, did
Elmer r. Clark Of The Methodist Board Missions and
Church Extension recently, they find the Bookwalter
plantation the last vcsuge OF the pxicland' that was
founded there lhrcc-quarters Of a century ago.