The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-19

their Chara acterIstics-Dr Converse.
tion, Religion, Amusements-AS Start.
ling Picture of the ssA1gerines."
correspondents Of the Boston Post.l
SOUTH sEABRooK, N. H., July l6.
It rather startled society to be told by the
Newburyport Herald, short time since, that
there was heather settlement in New Eng
land: that in the very centre of our moral and
social refinement there was depraved and
ignorant community which was a disgrace to
the civilization of the nineteenth century.
Leaving the good people OF Newouryport
behind, crossing the Merrimack, ana, oy an
easy transition, exchanging the old Bay State
for the Granite State, one quickly tnds him.
self in an almost entirely uninhabited region,
surrounded on all sides by barren hills and
shady hooks. entirely untortured by the abom-
nations of modern art. Finding his way as
! hest he can through the rough and narrow
highway, the traveller suddenly comes upon
the scene of low marshy district, which
group of rickety shanties tells is the ABODE Oh
To satisfy what had become greedy curios-
fty. your correspondent enters the village set
Element, camp. or what you WILL, and there ne
6nds-whatsf Not two score miles from the
Hub of the universe, hardly out OF signt OF tne
Quaker poet Whittier, nor beyond the reacn OF
the echoes that not q century since resounoed
at the thunder tones of George Whitfe!d's
nreachinr there he came upon scene, the
pdeonate representation of which defies the
nen' nencjl or brush. Entering the settle
ment. the road turns abruptly to the right, and
Won are Immediately brought into the midst OF
the .heathen district, It. Is now known as
South Seabrook, and is distant from NeW6ury-
port only about eight miee5 and from Hamp-
ton and Salisbury beaches by less distance
geographically it belongs to New Hampshire,
though it is, by no means, beyond the possible
influence OF Massachusetts enlightenment.
ORIGIN OF THE SETTLEMENT. :.
Generations ago there lived, In what was
then the Township of Hampton, family by
the name of Souther. By somekind of social
ostraclsm, little heard OF nowadays, this
family were banished the village on account
OF their kleptomaniac tendencies and bad In
fluences generally, and, In humble submission
to their late, they sought this locality, and,
entirely cut of from the rest OF the world,
they began leading the life Of hermlts: It ,INy Iney
outside, and they relied on their ability 10 en-
dure priyalion and what the immediate vicini-
ty afforded them for the means OF subsistence.
Subsequently they were, Joined by two families
OF Kindred tastes and sentiments, Eaton and
Dow By name, and by intermarrlage OF Nor,
mon type they now number between nVe anu
six hundred people: For neariy century,
thew had no schools, no church, no morals
nor culture ur any kind; Their british tastes
and unbridled passions led them5o state OF
positive barbarism. They looked upon civil
ized people as their natural enemies, and the
nefqhbbrinp people considered them as alto.
eetRer beyond the reach of salvation. They
built for themselves rude huts, and, without
distinction OF family, lived together 10 utter
degradation. No mother knew her child after
1t had left its cradle, and no taineT Knew lne e
number OF his progeny. Their dressIat 1t
could be catled dress-was scanty, meal bag
or horse blanket, with which to cover them
selves, being considered luxury. A BOOK or
newspaper was as rare with them as II the art
of printing had never been discovered, and
their language became such as only thelr emo
tions could indicate. What wonder IS 1t, tnen.
that they were regarded as hopeless cases!
The people who knew OF them thought lnat
they could not be helped so long as they re-
manned in this condition.
A MISSIONARY.
Not 80 thought the Rev. VIM. A. Rand, who,
having heard Of this people; determined, about
five wears since, to see If something could not
be done by which they could be brought under
the influence OF Christian civilization. Mr.
Rand Is quite young man, stout and erect as
pillar, and his general appearance Indicates
that muscular Christianity is part OF his
creed.
Services are held in the church twice OF
three times week, and here Mr.. Rand tells
his people, In plain. practical way, the duties
which they owe to themselves and to each
other. He has started school In the district,
and by making them feel The need of culture,
the people learn as eagerly as they eat He
has introduced shoemaklnS among them, and,
by fostering habits Of industry, has taught
them how to depend upon themselves lOr 9
decent and comfortable support. Officers Of
public order he has caused to be appointed
among them, BY whom all disturbances are
ouelled and order maintained. On account ol
their practical character they have been nick
named s.Algerlnes," after the corsairS OF Al
glers.
Passing down crooked lane your cores
pondent came upon q group OF shantles, none
oil which measured over twenty oy ten feet
from corner 10 corner. They are raised Out
of the surrounding mlre by posts driven INTO
the ground, and look more like abandoned
mud. .scows than abodes of humanity. In front
of one of these houses your correspondent
stopped, and there met his gaze through IN
Open slit in the side of the house an elderly
dame of BIZ no means prepossessing appear
ance. She was clad in ragged piece OF cloth,
which hung to her 00uy Dy meuuS VI Fope
tied around her waist, and her foul body was
sight that would provoke an agent OF the So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Entering the room, around her we're gathered
some fifteen or twenty children, none of whom
were over six or seven years Of age, and all
were huddled together in the only room in the
house, the size of which was, perhaps, fifteen
by twelve feet In this room they cook, eat
and sleep. An old rickety bedstead stands In
one corner of the room. and on It Is some
loose straw and blanket. No chignons are
here, but long dishevelled locks that looks
more like iy brushes than human hair. Small
editions of humanity were scattered around
the room .'what haint got holdings on" and
they stare at you from out their hazy eye IN
mute astonishment. You are 10th to believe
vour own eyes as you stand and gaze on this
sickenlng picture.
:, INTERVIEWS.
SIS this all your family, Mrs. Eaton ~ your
correspondent asked of the mater JdmattdS.
THE Chances are only three to one against
Won that you will be right Ii you call any per-
son you meet Eaton, as every ones name yon
meet is either Dow, Eaton or Souther.
"Kee-kee meow, kee-kee neow,' answers
Mrs. Eaton, How'd you ken my name war
Eaton ?'