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publication of the FREEHOLDER (legal term for landowner). I wrote the lead editorial each month. Our little paper never made any money, but it documented many many right-wing articles and was despised by the liberal community. During the 1971 legislative session, Lieutenant Governor Charles Sullivan became insulted because the front page cartoon by Russell Gould, depicted a faceless creature with cap and gown and the caption, "You can't have crooked government without crooked lawyers." Sullivan banned the FREEHOLDER from the Sentate Chamber on Tuesday, but hastened to lift the ban when Senator Vol Jones, a good conservative friend, reminded the Lieutenant Governor that he had violated the right of freedom of the press. Vol also told him that, as to the cartoon insulting him, "If the shoe fits, wear it!" After I retired from the House, we continued to mail the paper to each member of the legislature until we suspended publication three years later. That is, during each session. Russell Gould really made our little paper click with his original, always conservative cartoons. He is a gifted cartoonist and artist! I am glad he's on our side.
In February of 1972 my little mother passed away. I am thankful to God that the grief I experienced then was softened to some extent by the memory of the love, understanding, and attention I had been privileged to extend to her. I have no difficulty remembering all that she gave to me.
Fran and I had decided the year had arrived for us to do a little traveling so when Tully and Barbara Brady suggested a trip to Ireland and Europe we agreed to join them at their home in Brookhaven on the first day of June 1972. On that day their good friends and neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Smith, drove us to the Jackson airport where we boarded a plane for Atlanta then on to Montreal and Shannon airport via Aer Lingus. The beauty of the Emerald Isle can only be compared with the charm of the people who live there! They are the most moral, interesting, and lovable souls in the world. Our Irish itinerary included Galway, Oughterard and Sligo in the northwestern part of the Republic, Dublin in the east, south to Glendalough and then Tramore on St. George Channel, then southwest to Cork, and northwest to Killarney and Tralee, then back to Shannon. Thirteen days of good
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food, excellent beer, beautiful scenery and wonderful people.
From Shannon we flew to London and a stay at the Kensington Close Hotel. After touring that age-old city for five days together, Fran and I flew to Zurich leaving Barbara and Tully in London. They drove through the south of England to explore the area of Barbara's ancestors, having left Tully's on the Emerald Isle.
We spent seven enjoyable days at the Zurkerhoff Hotel, an interesting place with excellent cuisine, and near the many places of interest in Zurich. We saw the TALES OF HOFFMAN at the grand opera, shopped on the Bahnhofstrasse, and spent a day touring Lucerne. We both enjoyed the beauty of Switzerland so much, it seemed like a delayed honeymoon, but then we hadn't seen Austria and Vienna yet! We flew to Paris where we joined Tully and Barbara at the California Hotel, where Tully had made reservations for us. At Versailles I was searching for a portrait of one of my maternal ancestors, and I know we were all surprised when I exclaimed, "Here he is - Jean Victor Moreau, general of Napoleon Bonaparte's Northern Armies!" It was quite a thrill to gaze upon the likeness of my grand-granpere.
Barbara had expressed the desire to tour the south of France and Fran and I wanted to visit Vienna, so we parted again. While Tully and Barbara drove through southern France we flew to Austria for an all too short eight days.
Fran and I both felt that we had never really lived until our stay in Vienna! It was a priviledge to see and hear not one, but two grand operas, Don Giovanni and Ariadne, not to mention the pleasure it gave my talented little wife. The tour to Vienna Woods and our visit to the Happsburg castle were truly eventful. We left all this and more with reluctance and arrived in Rome one day before Tully and Barbara who also had reservations at the Ambassadore Hotel. We saw as much as possible of Rome during our five day visit. Charlie, our guide, saw to that. He led us from the Catacombs to the Vatican and from the Coliseum to St. Peter's. In Rome I felt the depression that centuries of history documented by sight and touch can give. I did not leave that great city with heavy heart, but it was wonderful to have been there.
We flew to New York in a 747, which is like flying in an auditorium, arriving in Jackson at 9:00 p.m. on the same day we
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