The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-30
Letter from Kent County, lid.
CIEsTEGvILLE, Nov. 81, 1872.

! IHESTE!.V1Ll.E, NOV II, 49,.
MIR. EDlToR:-Our antiquated village
keeps on in the even tenor of its way, with
scarce ever a 1ufio to disturb is peaceful
slumbers. TO their credit be it said, of
fire our citizens are careful, and hence no
Boston contlagration; of youthful maidens
there are few. and consequently 4 like
number of runaway matches. Marriages
IN the place seldom tranSpire, and lovers
seem to encounter but little opposition
An ediiyng istico we never witness, and
puglliSts would be II curiosity. Occasion
ally, however, there is u little bustle-our
good doctor is sent for, and soon the an
nouncement is made that tiny stranger
has come in among us. This, in many
localities, would not create the least sensa-
ton; but or account of our small popula-
ton, 1t is to Us quite an ite,n-and some
times te'o d6ms' Thus you see how tran
quill we are, and So staid ara we in our
ways, that nothing short OF California
earthquake, Boston fire, or Greeley nomi- |
nation will ever serve to reverse the order
OF things.
While this is true of our village, all is
activity around us. For tue past nine
months, farmers have been driving away as
if their very existence depended upon their
utmost exertions. As general thing the |
farms are large, and in many instances |
not in very high state Of cultivation
Instead of something more durable, thous-
ands of dollars are annually spent in fer
tilizers, which are no permanent improve
ment. 1t takes about one-third or one
half of the crop each year to pay for these;
but Notwithstanding, it is said, more have
been used this year than ever before. In
cultivating the land, three horses arc fire.
quently attached to q pillow or harrow,
somewhat larger than those used with two
horses around Ellzton. In hauling on the
road, when four horses are used, they
are often driven in a rot when loaded.
With the exception of peaches, there has
not been full crop this year. Although
the grower obtained in a manner nothing
for this fruit, yet thousands OF dollars were
brought into the country by it and no one
was insensible to the relief afforded. The
money went directly into tie hands of the
laborer, and then was generally distrib-
uted.
The labor is principally black, and none
too plentiful 1t commands - cents and
dollar day. Farmers consider this high;
but the laborerS claim they can do better
in Cecil and New Castle counties, and
many leave here for those sections.
In their everyday employment many of
the colored women in this section, wear
hats the same as men, and are perhaps
more masculine in appearance thar the
majority in our midst, doing the rough
work. On Saturday night the whole col
ored population pour into the villages, and
then it is that ''ye country store-keeper
smiles blandy, and readily exchanges his
commodities for greenbacks 50 freely ex-
hibited. They seem to consider the store
as sort of fair and festival, and must
always have supply of swcetmeats The
women compel the men to - treat them
it matters not whether either are married
accorded these people, which with you
would seem highly improper. One is, they
are allowed to congregate in front ofstores
that don't sell whisky-and while one
fellow picks the banjo, one or more of the
males will dance. And such dancing.-
Dixie or Sanford is ''nowhar.' The whole
thing is truly genuine, and outstrips any
negro minstrel performances on the stage.
At first sight, our sense of propriety was
greatly shocked. but when we learned it
was in accordance with custom and their
constitutions We had to succumb.
Some of the citizens of your town seem
to have great sympathy for lis. So sym
pathetic is one of your townSman that he
has been driving the entire distance every
week to bring us bread and cakes. But We
fear This good friend has deserted us; he
hasn't been along for two weeks. We
can't get along without the " staff of life
and he might know how sad our condition
when deprived of it for fortnight
Bradbury bring bread baked brown
More anon, ADoLPHUs.
81 will" saws Bradbury, "When the