The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1945-07-27
Cordial Welcome, Helpful Citizens Says
New Neighbor' In Writing OF P~ascagoula

Editors Note: Below we prime
an unusual communication from
one who Is obviously a very gra-
cious lady, and who prefers e
remain anonymous. II shows an
insight into and appreciation OF
the efforts of Paseagoula's nor
NAL population TO absorb an in
flux Of war workers five times
their number. We are sure that
thousands of other persons who
have come to Pascagoula feel the
same and to these we say thank
YOU for your understanding of
oar problems.)
We came to your town because
a war was on and you had a ship
building plant. We came because
we wanted a share of the good
wages the plant was paying the
workers. We laid down shovels
and hoes and came marching into
your peaceful town by the thou
sands. You had few facilities to
offer, but offered those generous
" and Fundamentally. You OPP
ened the doors of your churches
which were inadequate; you
shared your schools, which were
much too small; you shared with
us the things that had been rev.
erenced and cherished for many
generations.
We accepted your hospitality as
though IL were an obligation you
owed us. We stripped your stores
Of food and clothing. We crowd
ed your restaurants and board
inghouses. When there wasn't
enough we complained and grum-
bled-and would have done like
wise were the gates of heaven
opened to us.
! deeply appreciate the cordial
welcome l received. The first
lady l asked if she had an apart
ment to rent said she didn't have,
but knew someone who did have.
She dressed and drove with me
to the place which | rented at a
very normal rate. II was comfort
able and pleasant and the people
were courteous and very consid-
crate of me. / was invited into
many homes and was graciously
received. I attended your church.
es where we all shared and shar-
ed alike. / was invited to many
sea-food luncheons and found
the food very delicious. | found
your beach and its breeze very
delightful.
Paradise Found
We over-taxed your postal sys-
tenn with communications to the
ones we left behind. telling them
we had truly found a paradise
within our own state and 1t was
flowing with milk and honey We
attributed very little to the ex-
pense of maintaining your civic
organizations. We donated little
or nothing to your municipal ex-
penditures.
! came from a strictly farming
area. felt as if the negro and
the mule were an indispensable
part of me, but have learned
there is much more satisfaction
in life without either of them.
During my childhood there was a
negro to cook our food, wash and
iron our clothes. another to feed
the stock and bring in the wood
and water, another to hitch the
horses to the carriage and drive
us wherever we desired to go.
My father operated his farm on
the s%hare-crop plan. The tenants
usually moved in during mid
winter and with the landowner
who would advance what they
called Christmas Money Their
regular monthly issue didn't
commence until March when ac-
tual farming began. This issue
consisted of from twelve to TWEEN
ty dollars a month which was
used for both food and clothing
for the entire family. This issue
they received each month until
the crop was "laid-by" which was
usually the month of July.
AT this time the tenant was
permitted to work at any job he
could find until the cotton was