The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-09-07
Life Among the Mountains of Western
North Carolina

HIGHLANDS. MACON Co., N c., | l
Aug. 18th, 1876.
/ The mountaineers cannot be regarded as
representatives of southern society, at least
of the more wealthy and cultured classes.
They are mostly very poor, and their manner
of living would shock the average northern
err. Occasionally there is a family Ia circum
stances comparatively comfortable, and
manifesting good degree oflntelligence aud
general culture, but for the most part th cir
condition is deplorable- There are no
colored people, although it was 30 uncom-
mon thing before the war, for slaves to flee to
the mountains in seeking to escane from
bondage.
! AS class the mountain people ale lazy
and improvident. Ignorance is denae. A.
large proportion can neither read nor write
Few papers are read, and books are rare.
It is sufficient TO induce fit of the blues to
visit their bowels, as we have done on several
occasions, both for the sake Of studying
their condition, and 20 scatter suggestions
of higher possibilities. The houses are dis
|
way that only an expert at following trails
could discover their location Usually
tcere Is a small clearing, and few acres
on which the trees have beer "deadened,'
planted to corn, and this is frequently tte
only crop. A small neglected garden is also
to be seen. The house is more often made
of logs, chinked with clay, than of boards,
Occasionally there is frame structure, ore
and half stories high, but never two stories.
There is only one painted building In the
whole region. Not house is plastered Or
papered. These may be unnecessary, owing
to the climate. Occasionally, a room is
sealed yet rarely. No one thinks of carpet.
Perhaps there are two in use, however, in
this whole section The houses are furnish
led with the barest necessities. Each has a
fire place, with chimney built up outside.
Two or three kettles constitute the cooking
furniture. Stoves are as rare as carpets,
The first appearance OF life in the morning
is the man--sometimes the woman Of the
house-at the wood pile, chopping wood
with which to start the morning fire. The
idea of accommodating fire wood for the
future, or even for rainy day, seems not to
have occurred to them. Whenever q fire is
wanted, fuel must be prepared.
The houses are usually located close by
springs The mountains are full Of these,
and the water is Of the purest quality. No
well is to be found until we descend to the
lower country. A small spring house an
swers all purposes of a celier for keeping
provisions fresh and cool.
The condition Of the women is more de-
graded if possible than THAI of the men.
AS education and civilization advance, bet
ter things may be hoped of them. The
floors of the shanties are covered with dirt,
and babies in astonishing numbers, are
scat tered all oyer them, unwashed, uucomb-
ed, and I had almost said undressed. A
spinning wheel Is one of the indispensables
in this primitive life. Apparatus for weav
| ing is common and all their clothing is
| homespun. Their wants are few and
simple, and are mostly supplied By their
own labor. With corn, bacon and coffee as
staples of diet, they manage to exc out
their miserable existence. 1t is TO be doubt
ed whether, even with more abundant
resources, there would be any marked i'm
provement.
Tobacco chewing Is common with both
men and women, and even with preachers.
It was my privilege to stepinto ministerial
conference not long since, about twenty
miles away, and it would be safe to say that
four ifths. perhaps more, of that body, were
chewing and splitting. Tobacco seems to be
regarded as essential as bread. Many of the
young men and women are inveterate chew
ers, and not few of the children have been
Instructed in tAe practice by doting parents.
They prefer 1t to candy, and even cry for it.
Ia several known instances It has been ad-
ministered to babies, on account Of suppos-
ed medicinal qualities, being sort of cure
all. What was my surprise, the other day,
to learn that q couple of young ladies, the
finest in the country--which isn't saying
much-rse the vile weed In secret No mat
ter how poor family may be, or how much
in want of bread or respectable clothing,
they will have tobacco. Little idea can be
formed of the filth and nastiness that pre-
vail In this one respect. The whole region
is literally drenched in tobacco juice. OF
course the coantenances of the people show
the effects. Clipping" is practlced to some
extent.
Bad as are the effects OF tobacco, whisky
drinking is worse where 1t Is common, and it
would he much more common than it is were
money less scarce. There are great many
Illicit d!stilleries scattered through the
mountains, located in secret and inaccessible
parts, beyond the reach of the revenue on |
GERS. 1t would be dangerous for officials |
TO intermeddle. place was pointed cut |