The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-09
AN INTERVIEW WITH GA YANKEE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
How They Treat Northern Ladies in the
South.
PLANTATION MANNERS COMING IN STYLE
AGAIN.

1t would surprise most readers of the PRESS
to know how many teachers Maine supplies to
the Southern States. We know single towns
il Kennebec county whence at least a dozen
yeuag ladies have gone to engage in the need
full work of regenerating the South by educat-
ing its people. Many of them are Quaker
girls who emulate the herosm of their elders
Of the Indian Peace Commission by boldly es-
tablishing then, selves in the midst of hostile
communities that prove themselves but little
less barDarous than the Apaches and Sioux
They are glorious girls, and some of them, like
Amy Bradley, Superintendent of Schools is
North Carolina, who has been the subject OF
euiogistic paper in Old and Ne,O are Justly
famous. Tney are tue children of meh who
are well to do" and who would most cheer
fully maintain them in comfort at home. 1t is
not want or cupidty thai drives the delicately
nurtured daughters of the Puritans into South
ern towns where every individual of their ow
race shuns them as a Brahnin shuns Pariah
but generous enthusiasm for the great work
they do there The sound of Lees guns had
hardly died away before the pioneers of this
army of fair invaders made their appearance
n the war wasted territory. They perceived
that all reconstruction must be based on the
elucation of the poor whites and especially of
the freed men. and they gladly offered them
serves for the work. They have been largely
reinforced from time to time, till hundreds OF
Maine teachers are to be found in the schools
OF Virginia aud North Carolina. What wei
come they receive there, and what apprecia-
ton the Inhabitants accord their missionary
labors, We leave our correspondent, who lately
met one OF these teachers in her vacation to
tell:
AUGUSTA, Sept. 9th, 1871.
Mr.. EDITOR,-Tha other day our doctor
asked me 10 ride into the country where he
was to visit patient whose slight indisposi
tlon would require bis attention and keep me
waiting but a moment. So was driven to q
white, roomy, hospi able-looking, old farm
bouse, before which stand four gigantic elms
that are iamous ali the country hound. Each
tree Is i'll itself poem, and, with its weighty
bile, wealth of branches and luxurience of TO
'iaee, casts bredth of shade like that of the
cedars of Lebanon. Imagine, then, how pleas
aDt 1t was, AS sat waiting under trees that
one might we'll ride miles on purpose to see to
hear pleasant cry of recognition and to see
coming down the steps, holding out "whte
hands of welcome" sparkling little bruoette
whom l we'll remembered as the girl who
few years ago. in NY pedagogue days, used to
readiness with which she recited page after
page of Latin Grammer-"remarks," 'excep-
tons, the detested fine print" and all. This
was Miss A. the political opinions of whose ex.
cellent father, sturdy Democrat had Dot pre-
vented her teaching freeiman's school in a
village near Richmond, Virginia, whence she
had come in June for her summer vacation
This yonng lazy is fine representative of a
class OF persons who have better opportunity
than most others to form correct opinion as
limo
Southern people. Therefore you will agree
with me in regarding her observations as bav-
ing genuine political value ia these DAYS
when SO many are deluded into the belief that
The fire 30 longer burns in the Southern heart.
The following is substantially what was said as
we stood under the trees where l could take no
notes.
Corrrspondent-You Father tells me that
he does not wish you to return to Virginia,
Miss A.
Miss Al am sorry to hear you say so, for
shall regret exceedingly if he refuses his con-
sent.
Cor.-He says that he thinks you have got all
the benefit you will be likely to derive from
travel and the experience of Southern life, and
he wants your company at home.
Mass Alvin pathos,) All, yes-but am
so much interested an nay pupilsi Ihey need in |
structton so sadly! (And here this good girl was
on the point OF bursting into tears)
Cor-You seem SO well pleased with the Old |
Dominion that l infer that you Northern
teachers are no longer subject to those annoy |
ances and insults which the chivalry bestowed |
on those who went first.
Miss A.-(ShakDg her curls, and speaking |
as rapidly as if she were at the Latin Gram |
mar again. You are very much mistaken sir ! |
We are subject TO every insult that ingenuity |
can devise. Every resource is exhausted in |
expressing towards us the deepest scorn-the |
most whitening contempt. The white men
have 40 hesitation in insulting Us, and they |
stop only short OF absolute violence. II it were
not Tor the friendship and protection of the |
o. Acks We should be actually unsafe. When | |
Trst went there l was positively alarmed, but |
!, nave gradually become accustomed to their
conduct.
Cor.-You do not mean to say that white
men grown nlen-insult YOU?
MaSS A.-Ctrtainly. That is the experience
~ All Vi US 10 gong to our school nv associ-
ltes and are OBLIGED to pass grog shoD. and
me chiValrous ex Rebels about the door are ac-
cuStomed To pun tobacco smoke in our faces |
aud they very often cry out 'Tbere 90 The
Id Yankee school ma'ams." (My fair inter-
ocutor indicated the profanity by a conven-
eut parapbase.
Cor.-ADd the white women?
Miss H. ICON eIpreSsi0ne mutto) They do
lot suffer the skirts OF their garments to touch |
Cor-Your social prescription i, complete,
hen?
Miss A-Complete They have no more
eailngs with us, except 10 cases OF absolute
ecessty, than they would would with dogs.
wen the school officers are inclined to treat us
Try caValiefly. We are obliged to find ac-
o Dil hooations with the blacks. but that is no
,eonIa u,al, slnce they are most affectiOnate
,ent th ana are RAPIDLY becoming mere intelli-
aee Wh ut all this happens in a country viii
ut? W hichmoud 1t is differ
"a M.ss A aeris not much different We al
Richmond ard T iu cor or less annoyance when
ways favored with observations thai are a aar
rom complimentary. 'n"' are lar
Cor-At least the state of thin Is is prov;na
etter! AS the old animosities die out, as the