Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-12-22
Correspondence Of the Free Press
Letter from East Tennessee.

PRIMITIVE SIMPLICITY WANT or LARyIS' AND
MONEY EDUCATIONAL PROsPECTs.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec 10. ISL
-Nssai Editors Not long since, paid
short v,;t 10 the home ola wea thy farmer, adozsu
miles OF SO from this city The people here Of
the regular Southern stamp, formerly slave
holders, are very much Ike good substantial
farming people in Vermont, except in point Of
eiucstional Tastes and also their houses.
grounds AMI surroundings, are not as well kept
as those Of orliasry Vermont farmers. The
proprietor OF the place visited is descendant Of
one OF the oil settlers Of the country. The
slaves Of which he was the owner are now all
gone, except one old negro, '' Uncle Phil, who
who, when told BY the Yankees that he WAS free,
and could leave his master Il he would, replied
that be didn't think be could ind smother
smoke-house Ike Msssa Georges. The oldest
daughter was educated 81 the North, sui Is a
very interesting young lady She declares her
self still e little rebel, sud Eays If another
war should come, she viii raise female regi-
meut to fght for the Southern cause. She al
are superior TO the people Of the South in cul-
ture snG enterprise, ,snd that things are extremely
slow aai behind the times here in Tennessee.
Il is from 10 to 80 miles from one viisge 10
another in this region, and even tie main roads
are very poor. Ii would be unsafe for ger
10 drive, a. night, over the road between the
country residence referrei TO and Knoxville.
The genuine Teunesseau rides on horseback and
don't mind bad roads, and wagons Sre regarded
rather As Yankee innovation. Some Of the
students come in to Knoxville every morning on
horseback. often riding two on one horse.
1.-The better cisss Of people here, small min
orty. live quite respectfully but the sj1rlty,
the - poor whites iuhsbit log huts, snd live in
the most primitive style. Their Diet Is uniformly
corn bread AMI bscou, and their dress homemade
blue jeans. Their l,ngusge abounds with odd
expressions They a. meet up with you on the
rosd,-gyeet You with d" how d'y," lfor, how
are you p e reckon It's right tmart chance for
rain, have their fall plowing right tmArt
done and will hsve il '' done done coon.
They are doubtful about the necessity Of books
and - larnin - but are mostly upright and
quite religious. and 10; NJ Su troubled with
skepticsm. The other day in a Sunday School
class in answer TO question Is TO the direct aid
Of divine grace in resistance oftemptati0u, as
appetite for strong drink or tendency to bursts OF
passion) one Of them assumed 4 coutemplative
sir, for a moment, and replied, ' Wal, don't
know sure as It would cure a feller al up, but
reckon it would Jest come right smart near H..
any how, if he triei right good himself
But vita al their simplicity, the people among
the mountains Of East Tennessee nave great
deal Of coed nature, and good sense ; Ani their
religion Is Of very practical character Dur
ing my visit At this country residence, 7 heard
some accounts Of religious rsvivals, which had
occurred in towns where the wsr hSd left an in
tensely bitter feeling smOug the population, Who
we're SO divided, as was the case here The E.in-
listers told the converts that religious people must
- be At peace With all men, - and in many cases,
these reyivals hai restored concord in com
mun,iss where hatred and strife had been ex-
tremely violent.
In political affairs the people have very great
confidence in their leaders My host is a john
son man, has known Andy sud been associated
with him for years in political life. sUd thinks
him " the greatest man in the United States. -
am informed, however, thst this a. j., having
subsidized from the larger public life, is now
''serying the people the little city Of Green
vile his native place, in the more humble
capacity Of road master
The one great complaint Of the people here is
the scarcity Of money. Among all classes Of
business men the cry is: We want money, but
it is almost impossible to get It here. The
East Tennessee University. in this city, is
pressed for want Of ready cash The institution,
having commenced operations. as Agricul-
tursl College, holds sbOut $500. 900 in Ten
ne.see State bonds, and these are
not payable for some time to come.
and are paying six per cent, the
trustees prefer, If they can. TO hire money at
ten per cent. for present use, giving security Of
two for one by depositirg $4,000 or Of these
bonds as collateral, or by the most ample
security on their real estate in the city, rather
than to raise money by selling the bonds at their
present market discount. Perhaps some Yer
mont capitalist may be disposed 10 correspond
with the President, Or. T. W. Homes, on the
subject The University. which is an an old
institution. is nov taking new start. and with
this endowment an agricultural college has
good prospects ahead.