The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-05-10
A Tribune Correspondent on Chester,

\ New Io:k Tribune correspondent,
after rartaking OF the hospitality OF the
citizens Of Chester, tells his tale about
the bloody X. Ks, ard rebs generally,
in the most approved style Of Ohio seal
awagc:ie. We quote the following, in
relation TO the town, as samllc Of wat
he can do:
Chester is G,rlorm, struggling, slovcn-
Iy village Of perhaps 300 imhah!t-
ants. The streets cciitrc on hill,
where there are a block Of brick stores
and courthouse. in the midst Of lit
tic, bare, open square, bell is hung Oh
4 tall post. Ii is rung at nine o'clock
every night, when al the sa'""rS and
stores are closed, and honcst people are
expected TO 90 hoInc and 20 TO bed.
-Froa, this hill top centre, TIC streets dc.
sccrA abrub,ly, running eft in har,h
gard, aimleSS way, until they arc lost in
the fields. The d!iaptlatcd wooden bull
dirgs SHOW faint sis"s Of having once
been painted. Groups Of lazy negrocs
lounge along the side walks, or spraw |
at full length upon the ground in sunny
places, looking like bundles of old rags.
Little half grown and half starved cattle
toll up the hill, drawing crcaki ng carts.
They are harneSscd with horsc-bridles on
their heads. AM, hts IN their mouths, 10
which rope reiuS .rr fastened, and horse
collars, Instead 81 y"hv>. Knots of Sul'
len wkltc Hc;i h7!g about the doors OF
the saloons aI,l stores, chewing, swear
ing, and splitting. j beautiful ro,lng ul-
land country >'"rIrirs away in all drcc-
tionS --hcauui:l - hook out upon from
this cmiu"n:'r. l,:t sad when seen more
closely. Never wa> y naturally rich and
productive region so ahominahly mis-
used. This wrctchcd, ruinouS Southern
method OF farming has Llishtcd and cursed
with poverty a country that had every
natural sdsantage-a fruitful soil, prodA
cling cotton, fruit, corn, and all the small
grains pure running streams, excellent
tim or, and healthy climate. 1t might
hare been as prosperous and as thicklr
p; oplrd as the valley Of the Mohawk ;
and yet the Scanty population can scarce
~ get enough to cat TO keep body ard
soul together. The farming consists in
scratching with 4 one horse plough Snch
portion of the fields as the weeds and
brush have not ovcrrun, and planting
cotton. The greater part OF every field
is cut into deep su'lics by the rains, and
co:ered with d"arf pines and bramhle>,
that are constantly cncroachins upon The
little ,illable lan'l that remains. Cotton
appears to be the main crop, Tic corn
and bacon upon which the people sub
siSt being shipped from distance at
great cost The sale Of 4 farmers cotton
barely furnishes money cnongh to buy
the food for his family and his negro Ia
horers. Meanwhile, nine tenths Of his
land lies unused, and he grows poorer
and poorer every year. All his miSfnr'
tunes are, Of course, charged TO the
"nieger government"
He makes some acqIaintanccs, and
visit plantation:
Ny acqurintanccs had taken a d'ink
on starting for tie plantation, and when
nc returned to the hotel they t""k ano.
tber, nothing being begun or ended al
the South without drinking, They be.
came quite tslkative, and the absorbing
political question soon came up, g., &c.