Marion progress., 1949-06-09
Looking Backward
From The Progress Files
JULY 27. 1922

Editorial: ''The prettiest town in
North Carolina" was the comment
of a gentleman who travels much
and passed this way recently. Nest
led among the foothills, with green
mountain ranges surrounding its
whole environment, winding roads
approaching from every direction,
with broad, we'll paved streets, hand
some homes with we1l-kept lawns
and gardens, all do 60 long way
towards, making Marion pretty
town. Whether our visitor meant all
he said or not, there is an element
of truth in his words.
"But beauty alone is not suffi-
cient. Beauty is all right as far as
it goes, but the trouble is that it
does not go far enough, Beauty is on
the outside; it is the thing that at
tracts ones attention; it is the quail
ity that pleases ones esthetic ma
ture. Beauty is necessary; it is es-
sential. The world would be sad and
gloomy, a place of despair but for
the beautiful.
eff Marion has beauty it has a
desirable quality. Beauty alone,
however, will not make town.
What does Marion have beside beau
ty? She is the most favorably stu
ated town in Western North Caro-
lima, without a doubt. She is the
gateway to the west. From Marion
we reach the various sections of
Western North Carolina. Marion is
the centre Of gravity, so to speak;
she is bound to attract from other
section.
marion has great, transportation
facilities; railroads reach Marion
from the north, south, east and
west. A system of state highways
also reaches Marion from every di-
rection, thus affording autoists
from every section an opportunity
of easy access. Marion is located in
a fine climate, free from the ex-
tremes of either heat or cold, it en-
joys a temperature not to be excell-
ed by any section. Situated in a
region of unlimited natural resour-
ces, it affords an opportunity for
business not to be found in every
section. 1t is already the seat Of
great manufacturing industries.
Hardwood is found in abundance,
hence furniture manufacturing
waterpower unequalled, hence cheap
power for mills; labor in abundance; ;
and a good farming section; honest
and ambitious people, probably its
greatest asset.
marion has bright prospects; it
has advantages that will make a
town; Scenic beauty, natural re-
sources, cooperative people, modes
of transportation, and other advan-
tages that are bound to make Ma
rion grow. 1t is nice to be the pref
tiest town in North Carolina, but
let's work for the biggest and the
best, as WELL"
And in the same issue, an editor
ial entitled, "The Home Merchant"
read as follows:
"Mid pleasures and palaces
though I may wend, find the home
merchant a valued friend. The mail
order catalogue wooes me in vain,
or to pay-without-seeing may bring
me a pain. The home merchants
credit till pay day arrives-he knows
all the whims of his friends and
their wives. His overalls wear like
the buck-skin of old, his buttons
amt brass, if he tell you they're
gold! OF every community he is a
part, and even the kids know the
path to his heart. He boosts for the
chapel, the lodge and the school
Community uplift'' is ever his rule.
And even the football and basket
ball teams, look kindly on him, in
their athletic dreams. I'd rather
have him at my elbow each day than
to deal with a shark many furlongs