The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-13
PAUPER LABOR AND SULLEN IGN0R NICE


RuTuERFoRDTON, N. c., June 5, 1871 y
When De Tocquevllle came 10 this country, forty
years ago, thoughtful young French aristocrat
for the purpose Of studying class or institutions
opposed to his every prejudice, but which he clearly
saw were In full and healthy harmony with the
spirit Of the time and were instinct with the vgor
OF youthful strength, he hit upon plan of observa.
ton which has conferred immortality upon his
labors. In place of dissipating his mental energies
In cursory view OF avast whole he examined first
single part. He took q township, dissected It's
organic political members, watched their functional
play, and, aided by an intellect at tho same time
broad In Its grasp and fine and Keen and delicate In
lis power Of minute analysis, he detected the MAIN
spring OF American political civilization. lie then
assembled to the study OF tile grand and complete
fabric OF our institutions an integral whole,
with precious foreglance Of the meaning they en-
shrined. Thus assisted, 1t is wonderful that he
wrote his Democracy In Americar-a work still,
after half century life, fresh and exhaustive
and instructive review OF the genius and working
OF American institutions as when the leaves OF its
first edition were damp with printers ink.
II Is dangerous precedent. perhaps, to follow;
but cannot help thinking that III order to reach
correct knowledge of the present state of Southern
society-asociety grooming IN the aftcagony of ter
rible war, scarcely convalescenr rs yet from well
upon which its order and well-being depended
shaken ana disturbed and in many cases forever
destroyed-a similar ethod Is the only thing likely
to lead TO success have so)ourned for time IN
q little backwoods North Carolnan village, and
hope that plain account Of Its life and condition
may do something towards eniightening Northern
readers to the true and real cause OF Southern
troubles.
RUTHERFoRDToN
is Just tnlrty-siX miles from railroad and eighty
from telegraph station. A backwoods village,
indeed, you will say But you must NOT suppose
that it Is mushroom settlement OF a few rude pio
neers, such rs may be found In abundance In the
far West. On the contrary, 1t is quite an ancient
town, and Is rich in several historic associations.
Only two miles from here still stands weather.
beaten little log house, whch-then the principal
structure in the county town Of Gilberton-was the
British headquarters In the Revolution; ana In a
corner Of one OF It's rooms are some dull dark
indistinct stains, the blackened vestige5 Of the
ebbing life-blood OF ono OF bis Majcstys onicers
Major Dunlap, who had been bushwhacked In The
hills. A few miles or s Kings Mountain, the scene
OF slight but, according to some historians crlt
cal enga cement In that same War OF Independence.
AT Burnt Chimneys, also only SIX miles away, in
little triangular field condemned TO a sorrowlu
immortality, was drilled the first confederate regi-
ment raised in the South.
1t is pleasant little town, lying on slope of
winding valley. You come upon 1t suddenly after
YEARLY cllmbing up and down endless little hllls,
over which roads OF bright red earth crookedly
crawl between patches OF pine and oak and black
Jack, occasionally interspelsed with little fenced
clearing. Now and then, but rarely, you catch
glimpse OF the Blue Ridge, It's outlines dimly looming
through faint azure haze. just as you expect soon
to pass away for good into the unpe0pied wilder
ness or rather, perhaps, just you are dreaming
OF encountering tribe OF Cherokees-you come In
view OF the town itsclf-a single street, hall mile
length, dark and cool even the nercest summer
heats with the shade OF rows OF hck-foaged trees.
One or two buildings stand out promnently-the
Court House, with huge Grecan pillars, and the
Jail, with dreary, unadorned walls Of red
brick. The rest are ordinary well-but Southern
houses, with large verandahs and little front
gardens. You notice that the fences are decayed
and broken, that the paint on the houses is dirty
and faded and that the pl ice breathes forth gene
raj air OF dapldaton. 1t is a town, you say at
once, that has seen better days. And Yankee
stranger though you be, you have hit upon a truth
which every man in the country viii echo
1t VIII not take you long
10 GKr ACQUAINTED
with everybody in the place. to make friends with
the dogs ana negroes ana children, and even TO
secognlze at sight the scores OF pigs which wander
on endless foraging excursions up and down the
cutters, now uHu tucH ptusiug lOI WuiioN anu
nap In some convenient mudhole And q very
pleasant medley Of living creatures you will find
the settlement to he. SIT In the rocking chair on
the verandah OF your boarding house III the cool Of
early morning ana the animate life Of The town
will pass before your eyes In q procession OF Gu
r,ousiy sharp.delned contrasts Of color aud OF
type. group OF ragged negro children, quiet and
doc,le as negro children mostly ate. on their way
to school; a couple OF Judge Logan's eleven olive
branches, noisy ana impuGent after the fashion oil
white adocsccnts, seated together. ana one OF them
facing the tall on the bare back OF their papa
gray mare; q village belle, IN simple muslin, Win
fresh rose IN her breast your iavorlte pig, win
black patches, grunlng with content, anu elegantly
alfred In n fresh coat OF wet, brown lnud; lhiec OF
four more pigs; the democratic editor, VINO Just
about makes living; the republican editor' lean IN
uesh but fat with the spoils o! once; barciooeu'
scanuly dressed negro girl, with big basket on
her head; n couple of niue teams, Two or thice
horscmen; darky on the tramp, trckcd our IN NJ
best clotncs-a white, long tailea linen coat
lowered white vest homcsrun pants,
nm enormous, many-foldcd necNxcrcncf AMI
an old straw hat strange. indeed, does
this moving panorama seem co the eye Of q New
YORKER. When you come TO Know the place well
enough you will end Il contains ABOUT l0J people,
four or nyc LAWYERS. four doctors. "A iudac. ionr