1976 EUROPEAN TOUR

ACROSS THE FENCE

 

By Arvord Abernethy

 

 

Earlier this summer some of our youngsters took a trip to Europe and they really enjoyed it. Now some of our (I don’t want to say oldsters, so how about saying mature citizens) took about the same trip and they came back with thrilling stories of the trip.

 

Those making the trip from Hamilton were Mrs. Ann Alexander, Mrs. Mary Meester, Mrs. Lyndia Robinson, Mrs. Maurine Wilkerson, the Bob Wilsons and their daughter, Julie.

 

This column could not begin to list all that they could tell you about, so I will just hit the high places. Why not invite them over to your home some evening and let them tell you about the trip? Each one had a feeling of excitement when they talked to me and they more or less summed it up in, “You just should see it for yourself.”

 

Each one spoke of how beautiful the countryside was, but some places impressed some of them more than other places, Maurine told of things in Rome that were very impressive to her. Some of the buildings were built hundreds of years ago and are still standing and many are in daily use. Some were built during the height of the glory of the Roman Empire , long before there was any machinery or tools like we have today to do such work.

 

She told me of the Coliseum there in Rome that was completed in 82 A.D. and covered about as much ground as the Texas Stadium in Dallas . It was in this structure that the Gladiators fought wild beast and Christians were often thrown to wild animals there. The floor of the arena would be covered with red sand to soak up the blood and keep it from showing. Much of the marble and rock work has now been carried away.

 

Another very impressive building, Maurine told about was St. Peter’s Cathedral there in Vatican City . A small part of it was built about 325 A. D., but the main part was built in the 1500s. The architecture, the marble walls, the gilded surfaces, the paintings, many of them done by Michelangelo, are beyond imagination, and a person is dwarfed by its enormous size. The Catacombs where people were buried, and where the early Christians had to hide to worship, gave one a very eerie feeling.

 

Venice was a place that was certainly different. You didn’t step across the street to get a cup of coffee there. You could either, swim, paddle your canoe or take a gondola. See, all of Venice ’s streets are canals. Venice is an old city that was built on many small islands, yet it has many interesting building in it.

 

It took Mary Meester, who lived much of her life in the Plainview-Abernathy farming area, to mention, the farming life of the people. She reported seeing lots of hay being grown and harvested. It was cut and raked into rows much like we do here, then it was wrapped around a stick contraption and then the stick stuck into the ground to form a shock, She didn’t see many cattle, but there were a lot of big barns, and there were a lot of large milk cans around the railroad stations indicating that there was much dairying. Corn and small grains are important crops. Much of the farm work was being done by women and they all wore dresses to work.

 

Mary also told of the Passion Play at Oberammergan , Germany . The play has been given every ten years since 1633 in keeping of a promise they made to the Lord for sparing them from a deadly plague. Although it was given in German, the music and singing were so beautiful it made a very enjoyable performance.

 

Ann Alexander was impressed by an overnight stay they had at St. Johawn , Austria , a village high up in the beautiful Tyrol Alps. The residents of this quaint town, dressed in their native costumes entertained with singing, yodeling and dancing their native dances. The scenery through this section, including Switzerland , the tiny country Liechtenstein , and around Innsbruck , was very beautiful with its high, snow capped mountains and green valleys.

 

The Wilsons also mentioned how the farming impressed them. It was all on a small scale, so was very intensive; the crops being very close together and completely free of weeds. The mountain sides were stair stepped for the growing of grapes. There were a lot of olive groves in Italy . They were impressed with the pride the farmers had in their property; often beautiful murals would be painted on barns. They found the same pride and care in the cities; cleanliness, well painted homes and buildings, and window boxes filled with beautiful flowers. We could take a lesson from them.

 

Lydia enjoyed seeing the Roman Forum. This was the center of activity during the early days of the Roman Empire ’s glory. Many temples, triumphant arches, government buildings and other structures were in a group. The guide pointed out the ruins of the building where Julius Ceasar was assassinated.

 

The art galleries were filled with interesting things to see. Lydia said one should see the Mona Lisa in person to fully appreciate its art and coloring. Among the statues they saw were; Venus de Milo and Winged Victory, but probably the finest piece of work was David which was carved by Michelangelo.

 

Paris could be a tour within itself, as there were so many things to see. The group saw the Eiffel Tower which is the trademark of Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides which houses Napoleon’s tomb, and the world famous art gallery, the Louvre.

 

 

After a good rain like we had, one of the first things one farmer asks another is how much rain he received. I haven’t lost the habit yet, so I have asked around some. Willie Roberts out near Indian Gap received 4 ½ inches and it seemed pretty general around there. Harman Trammell of Olin received between 2 ½ and 3 inches. Joel Sellers east of Lanham had 1.7 inches but he said that was the lowest amount he had heard of. Henry Keller down toward Ohio received 3 ¼ inches but had reports of around 4 inches in the Aleman community. Billy Chumney of West Point received 4 inches, so it was a good general rain.

 

Not everything is bad about dry weather. I didn’t hear Kate Dodson, our church pianist, complaining about the keys sticking, and our Solar Energy clothes dryer worked perfectly all summer.

 

It was my pleasure to attend one of the worship services of the First Presbyterian Church during their Centennial Celebration. In Europe where some of our people have visited many things are hundred of years old, but in our new land it is just as inspiring to see institutions that have had one hundreds of successful ministry. It was good to hear many of the congregation tell what the church had meant to their lives and to their families.

 

A thought that came to me while I sat there was that behind those walls of brick and plaster were the same wooden walls that had witnessed the worship services of Presbyterians, Baptist, Methodists and others nearly 100 years ago. You see, this building was the first house of worship built in Hamilton , and other groups were invited to use it. When the present building was moved to the present location and enlarged and Sunday School rooms and facilities were added.

 

Hamilton and the surrounding area wish for the Hamilton First Presbyterian Church another century of touching and bettering the lives of people