The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-07-16
Present Condition of the low .Ceun-
try-Farmmg in Colleton and Ad-'
icinilg Counties - Change
from Wealth to Poverty
Negro Labor.

=
with the sad changes which follow
in. the wake of war. But particu
Iariy is it so, when after a protrac
ted absence we return to view
place, where, in unbroken pleasure
We passed the careless days O.
childlood-days between which
and the present lies a gulf OF pas
8ions, sorrows and regrets.
Change marks the progress o1
nan, and is often associated with
Tie pleasure Of successes which
produce it; but as often does il
spring from dire misfortune and
rera;nds US of want and necessity.
The latter is more commonly ex-
perienced in these days of radical
rule and the unlimited stretch OF
conscience. I have never been
moro struck with the sequellae OF
our late war, as on a recent visit to
the home Of my childhood in our
once happy and prosperous low
country. Perhaps there is no sec
ton of our sunny South where
nature has not been more lavish in
her gifts as here among the low
lands of Eolleton and adjacent
counties. With lands as rich as
those Of historic Egypt, genial
climate, the most valuable and ex-
tensiye forests, filed with deer and
game, while bold and optic streams
water the rice lands and furnish
the finest fish. It once seemed
that nothing was here wanting to
render a people prosperous and
happy. But alas! what change
has come ovef "the spirit of their
dream" AS well might the DARK
enod halls of death compare with
the liveiiness of life, as would this
modern Pompeii with the spirit of
its former days, when all was life
and gaiety, and where dire necessity
bows the head in sad obedience to
d sadder decree.
improvements, after leaving the
railroad are few and far between,
like oases in the desert. Fences
and houses in the county town
(Walterboro) that rot and fall re-
1aaia so, until burned by the horde
of Ethiopian parasites that infest
the place. Many fine residences
are in wreck of ruin, not a YES
tage of enclosure left, and cattle
Craze where flower yards and Or
chards fonrished just seven years
ago, .......
This place was chiefly summer
scat, where Wealthy farmers and
planters spent tie sickly season;
In Summer the population was
about $500, in Winter greatly
reduced by the return of the plan
ters and their families to their plan
tations. It is equi-distant from
the S. G. and G. & S. r. r., an
inconvenience long felt.
'r6e citizens as a rule were very
noaltby and lived in affluence and
luxury, the society was excellent:
berg characterized by intelligence:
refinement and hospitality. Res:
pe2tablo strangers were treated
witt. marked Kindness. And ad,
mission to respectable circles not
vcreai, a man was measured
not by his worth in gold and silver.
but character.
"Ienpora nautaatdr. ct nos nontamat'
cu,n ills. That a cloud Of adversely
has darkened our sunshine, we all
ieel, for there is seldom much left
fnr conquered people to hope for
but here there seems more to sad.
den and less to encourage than in
any other section Of our State,
Despite this, however, there are
some who do very well, and very
few who having succeededin making
rice and cotton, have around them
many Of the comforts of better
days, These did not like Lot; look
back, but with the patience o1
Noah "when prosecuted by ain un.
godly generation surmounted
every obstacle with a heart fol
every fate; while the majority.::l
regret, forget the future in sad re.
membrance of the past.
This proves the fallacy of the
theory that all men were born
equal. We of the upper counties
know little of the troubles of this
unfortunate people. With us 'the
eye of the master" may make the
COX fat but then the eye of the
master is away when most needed,
al right and early morn in Summer,
and this necessity Oh account of
the great danger Of fever during
this season hence Cutie il left to
do as he pleases and he invariably
pleases to plumber and destroy,
consequently the grunt Of hog or
~ ~ o,[,Ja 70 ,opo;o al