New-York tribune., 1868-04-23
NORTH CAROLINA.
POOR WHITES on TILE sEAcoAsr.

POOR WHITES on TIE SEACOAsT.
To the Editor Of me Tribune.
SIR: For the past two years we have been
acting rs teacher of freedmen at Beaufort n c. and
thus been furnished opportunity for learning tie
state Of society this The islands along shore @
inhabited by the poorest class OF white people They sub
sist mostly food, arc Of sallow complexion aud
all users Of tobacco. The women chew snnn "dp,T
they say. Their houses are small, and wnclc family
IL often obliged to cat and sleep in Only ftw
fences appear and the land TO be owned in
mon For the most part these poor people TO have
been without schools churches Near the extremtys
Cape Lookout settlement OF about 5O0 and there sth
stands small building which was once used at times -
church and schoolhouse OF course, not many are able
to read and the Sabbath Ia but very ute regarded The
people appear to have accepted their unhappy eonalnon
and quite cOntented with it, The ordinary benef-
agencies do not to have been extended to thess
unfortunate people For this reason. the work OF Mss
This lady, native Of New-Bedford. Mass. soath
during the war and at ITS close alter acting as nurse IN
people Harkers Island aid vicinity This small island
Cape Lookout and contains $50 inhabitants IL was
originally owned by the Catawba Indians and said TO
have been purchased by Mt Cane the hst white settler
to be OF NewEngand origin, and the island bears ths
OF the first settlers, who came from MaIthas vino
no congenial society cut mall communication,
and the usual exercses OF the Sabbath with no means q
perseverance, amid Incidence, indifference, and ingrst
tude lsbors this noble She has already taughs
the children Of the island to read, but the work
tnuous, and demands constant effort: The Children
while young, show good degree OF Intelligence ana
activity but for want OF something to stimulate them.
catch the spirit and fall into the habits OF their parenn
as they grow older.
When he small pox prevailed those deserted by thelf
relatives cared for by this woman Finding cutar
diseases quite prevalent the result OF poor dies
and bad habits, she Is cutiyating plot OF ground, In
tending 70 mako productive possible that the In
1uence OF example added TO precept while 10 teaches IN
dustry may also furnish healthfu diet than that
produced entirely by the In this way also, shs
hopes form sefsuppOrting mission for the benefit Of
this and neihgborng islands Home Improvement Is ase
sought.
And here also example is Joined with precept A small
being erected, which, for neatess aud order.
Will be worthy of imitation.
Beside her work the island, Miss Bell has another
enterprise In progress She has purchased 900 acres OF
land situated little bay that puts up from the ocean
u miles from Beaufort.
There IS an abundance Of land for sale in all parts Of
the State from 81 10 per and even cheaper
but the VIM not sell In small tracts There are
10000 OF sdDp lands owned by the State,
and about per acre. the cost OF surveying,
will be given to any who VIII settle on them They good
when drained but the cost OF draining is considerable
aud these poor people have TO live While perform
ing that work Thus unable 10 obtain the SOIL they are
forced to dleness and hunger and sometimes tempted 70
EndeavOriHg TO relieve the few she IL able TO aid
Bell intends divide the land she has purchased
Quite number OF families may thus find food and ea-
pOymen and the blessings Of industry and perhaps be-
come able 10 pay something for the land
The condition OF the people wo have described luk
trates that OF thousands.
Who does sympaze in this worki For the thought
country with agencies tending to lessen its number
improve its condition, Is not pleasant either 10 the Chris
tan or the patriot. J.s.
BEAUFORT, ". o., April 8, 1868.