The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-11-19
LETTER FROM BERGEN CO., NJ.
SADDLE RIVER, Nov. II, 1856


Mr. EDITOR: Your paper, through its
correspondence and otherwise, does well
in directing attention to agriculture and
other elevating employment, but at the
same time care should be taken to guard
the initiated against erroneous concep-
tons of rural life. Our city-bred friends,
who are wont to indulge in dreams of a
home in the country, should not for mo-
ment harbor the delusive idea that their
Summer visits, sporting among the flowers
and feasting on choice fruits, resembles in
any respect the everyday life of the far
mer. His lot is usually stern one, and
the prosperous farmer is not very likely
to be carried to the skies on a fowery bed
of ease If, however, our city friends are
willing to live in comparative seclusion ];
to come down to such realities of existence
as guiding the pillow, breaking out stones,
welding the ak, shovel, hoe, &C.; to be
thankful for the blessings of plain but
wholesome food-let them find a home
somewhere in the country, and the result
may be, in the end, beneficial to themselves
and families. But unless they are pre-
pared for privations as we'll as luxury, it is
best for them to remain where they are.
In this part of New Jersey there are
several colored landowners, all them ma
tives of this part of the country. One of
the most noteworthy is Mr. John Ryer, an
active old gentleman, residing at Pascack,
couple of miles from the writer's sane
tam. He has there place of about thir-
ty acres, more or less, containing dwelling
house, barn, and, in short, everything be-
longing to well-ordered farm, besides a
saw-mill also situated on the premises.
On dropping in there few days ago l
found Mr.. Ryer and his Fran busily en-
gagged in preparing poultry for the New
York market, where he disposes of it and
his farm produce himself, instead of send
ing it by sponging commission dealers.
The air of comfort and independence Wis.,
ible was enough to cause one, like Oliver
Twist, to cry for "more"-more colored
men owning and cultivating farms. In
deed, one important distinction between
civilized people and savages is, that the
former obtain and hold lands in fee simple,
while the latter are destitute of such an
idea.
The soil in this part of the country has
not much to recommend it, with the ex-
ception of nearness to the market of the
great metropolis, though that alone is not
sufficient to make it preferable to better
lands in more remote sections of the coun.
try.
Mr. VIM. Williams, whose name / send
you as subscriber, is an intelligent gen
tleman, the head of an interesting family
and also resides at Pascack. Being first
class musician, Ia performer on the violin,
his services are in constant demand fo1
balls, parties, &c. On introducing your
paper to him he freely subscribed, and ii
is to be regretted that every colored man
is not equally ready to go and do likewise
For their own honor they should do it, il
for no other reason, for there are yet white
men in existence who profess to believe
colored men incapable of editing and sup
porting newspaper. Now, a copy of the
"Anglo-African" is an excellent thing t.
have at hand to show such fellows, and