THE SOUTH IN SUMMER. 



329 



I think it will never again be so lush and velvety to 

 to the foot as here upon the floor of the forest. 



" Poor soil, this," says some one scornfully, think- 

 ing of the black muck of his Illinois prairie. Aye ! 

 but in this glorious climate you can grow herbage 

 from a rock, or a pot of sand. The railway com- 

 pany below here has an experiment farm, and 

 from the white sand of these pine lands they grovv 

 wondrous potatoes and cabbage. And for fruit — why, 

 we stand on the threshold of the home of the fig 

 and the scuppernong. Are not these names to con- 

 jure with ? Where in song or story will you find me 

 better? But to morrow — . It is to-morrow, and I 

 stand by the shore of the Mexican Gulf, and from 



written upon every foot of its soil. This portion of 

 the gulf coast, the portion lying between Mobile and 

 New Orleans, now occupies a rather unique position 

 toward society and the world at large, as it is one 

 of the few places in our broad land which seems 

 equally desirable as a summer or winter home. 

 Certain points, of which Pass Christian is the most 

 famous, are largely sought in winter by northern 

 tourists and health-seekers, while in summer, the 

 residents of New Orleans find here a resort conven- 

 ient to their homes and business, where they may 

 enjoy sea air, bathing, driving and the freedom of 

 life of a summer watering place without going far 

 afield to seek it. In one long street facing the gulf 



From wide and open wojds I now and then catch glimpses ok the blue gulf. 



a tree whose roots are almost washed by its blue 

 waters, 1 pluck a pomegranate. Behind its tawny 

 skin hide dreams and visions of dark-eyed eastern 

 women ; the odors of " Araby the blest " arise, and 

 I hear the tinkling of a lute, and castanets upon the 

 feet of the dancers. From wide and open woods I 

 now and then catch glimpses of the blue Gulf. The 

 white-sailed sloops are brown-sheeted lateens, and 

 rough, black-bearded fellows man them, the bucca- 

 neers of story ! 



It is the land of romance and of story. There is 

 no dull page in its chronicles, from the time of Iber- 

 ville until now. The annals of history have been 



at Pass Christian, these summer houses extend for 

 a distance of nearly five miles. Most of them are 

 quite unpretentious, being constructed in the south- 

 ern style of architecture, which plans for as much 

 space as possible on the ground floor, and are built 

 with a view to comfort rather than display. Yet 

 many are picturesque and attractive, being suggest- 

 ive of idyllic, lounging ease. In front of each and 

 extending well into the gulf are the long bathing 

 wharves, with bathing houses at the end. A clean 

 white road, overhung with wide- spreading live oaks, 

 skirts the shore. Trees and plants of semi-tropical 

 habit, the magnolia, China (or umbrella) tree, crape 



