The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1946-08-22
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES
BY HAZEL BRANNON

Ralph McGill, writing in the At
lanta Constitution, does a neat little
job of slapping Mississippi on first
the right and then the left cheek.
MI. McGills subject is Mississippi
Cows To Greece"
One of our readers in Atlanta sent
us this piece" out of the Consti-
tuition and suggested that yours truly
get Mr.. McGill told properly for his
State. In fact, the tone of the letter
suggested that if we don't defend
Mississippi's honor the letter-writer
may go to Mr.. McGilTs editorial
sanctum and do the job personally.
So to save MI. McGilrs head, in the
hope that perhaps he may be able
to use it to better advantage in the
future, we shall attempt to answer
his ~disparaging remarks.
But first let us reproduce just
what the Atlanta editor wrote for
the perusal of his Georgia readers.
We quote:
Senator Bilbo and I, who had a
great meeting of minds on Sen.
Taft, of whom they say that he has
a great mind until he makes it up,
are pleased about the shipment of
Mississippi cattle to Greece.
At least I the Senator is
pleased. I am.
/ think it is of the neatest
and most internationally gracious
little acts aState ever thought up
to dramatic the fact it is one Of
the leading cow States in America.
1t would be interesting to know
how they financed it. Maybe UNRRA
helped. Maybe not. Maybe they took
it out of the States revolving fund.
Anyhow, the second consignment,
781 dairy cows, presented to Greece
by the Mississippi dairy farmers, has
just arrived in the capital city Of
Athens. This brings to more than
$500 the number of Mississippi cows
sent TO the Greeks.
1t was a practical and original
gift. Some Mississippi agricultural
students went along with the ship
ments to feed, water and otherwise
serve as valet to the cows.
These cows now will be distribut-
ed to the farmers of Greece and will
help form the basis of the agricul-
tural comeback Of the Greeks.
Pastures I hope some of the cows
get to the islands where burning
Sappho loved and sung, where
Homer twanged his blooming Tyre;
where Hercules cleaned the Augean
stables, where Sparta was and
Olympus is; and that some will Craze
on the plans where the Persian host
was routed and driven into the sea.
A COW has sensibilities, even a
COW from Sen. Bilbo's State, and
these Mississippi cows will enjoy
Greece. The grass may not be so
plentiful for a time, save in the
islands. The people have had to eat
it. There will not be much corn, If
any, this winter. But the Greek
farmers value a cow. They put a
value on a COW which is higher,
even, than our own.
Of course, the Mississippi cows
Will have a little trouble with the
1anguage.F For a time everything will
pe Greek to them. But, after a time,
they will forget all about the drawl
of the Delta and the slow speech
of the hills, and will understand
better than most university students
in classes of Greek.
Purthenon I hope a few are pas
tured near Athens so they may look,
in the afternoon, toward the Aero
polls and see the soft white beauty
of the Parthenon and the red roofs
along its slopes. l believe a cow will
give milk with more butter fat in
it f she can lift her eyes now and
then to the Parthenon. l know they
will Xix. the smell of almond bios
SONS.
At any rate, 1t was a fine act. II
will be remembered long after the
impersonal, but necessary and valu'
able, contribution of UNRRA is for
got.
After a time there will grow ur
legends about them. A century from
now there will be cows pointed ou'
in the Greek villages that are de-
scendants of the Mississippi cows.
I wish Georgia had though OF 1t
In fact. it is embarrassing that W.
should have so much attention call
cd to the fact that Mississippi
through the fine work OF her State
College and Extension Service, ha'
developed the dairy and cheese in
dustries to such a high degree sh'
a &C shipping hundreds of cows t
Greece just to advertise it--and d
g fine, humanitarian job at the sam
time.
Come to think Of it, this is the bes
Job Of exporting Mississippi has eve
done in the field of craftsmanship
Thus ends MI. McGilrs column.
Now, in the first place, MIR. Nc
Gill. the idea of shipping cattle t
Greece as a gesture OF respect, ad
- --~l .r.Il Gov tho nan