St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-06-15
The Poor Whites of the South.


Letter to the New York Timesl
Their days are passed in the routine
OF miserable life or in the worse idle
ness of an aimless existence. The men
get Il little contact with their own sort
in the labor they perform for one an
other, or the local travel to the store
and the mill. This helps confirm their
degeneracy by affording some pleasure
in their mOnotonOus life and the SYM
pathy of mutual misery. The women
have no more to do than the men. But
this enforced industry is scarcely any
help: for weaving cloth, spinning cot
ton, hoeing corn, and cooking corn are
each and all too menstOnous in their
ways and ends to stir single interest
They have no parties, no dances, no
picnics, no reading. Their evening
amusement is expectoration. However
atf1uent they may be in this diversion,
it rarely follows an elevated aim, OF
produces a result favoring social devel-
opement But they are not devoid of
all social instincts. They are very kind
to the needy or suffering. And no
quality in others is more esteemed than
benevolence. They ale hospitabe to
those whom they know or accept. But
their suspicion toward strangers is now
equally marked and is explained by
the deceptions and hard experiences of
late years. Instances are related that
both prove their former, even their
present, generosity, and also justify
their present caution. AT the close of
the war more than one young man fled
to these mountains, and partook for
years of the peoples dinners and daugh-
ters without ever offering reparation.
Their intellectual life is still more
void. Void seems the best word, for
one can scarcely find any other condi-
tion to name. Not one in 20 of the
men are able to write their. names to
such papers us the sheriff presents
them the women are still more litter
ate, and the children are continuing the
same ignOrance-fOr schools are very
rare, very poor, and very short. The
people have no idea of school tax. al
though the school fund is ridculously
small, so they cannot read the Bible. or
the papers; and they must live and die in
the ignorance of savages. But they are
far from fools. The men ale shrewd in
their limited sphere; they are keen in
trade, sensible in the discussion of their
local interests, and as fervent and intol-
Grant in politics as can be desired.
They are well endowed with common
sense, and are certainly capable of av-
erage development.
Their morals are exceptional. Those
who know them say they have every
virtue but chastity. | know they do
not lock their doors. But thev bring
every tOel and movable object of value
into the house. You see nothing living
about the farms in the abandonment of
perfect confidence. But in important
trusts they are said to be scrupulousIv
honest; and i'll other minor matters
they are extremely faithful to the right.
In one regard, however, there is no de-
pendence in them. They will not
work steadily even in their EMPLOYERS
greatest need. As soon us few days
rations are earned they go home, to re-
turn when they are starved out. Per
haps they have some justification in
the general custom of paying for Labor
with goods instead of money. But the
exceptions to this custom have thus far
secured but small improvement in la
bour. In this respect Il harsher climate
would improve morals, and the increase
of luxury would elevate the standard
of manhood. Even in regard to
chastity better house would he n
help. Here men, women and children,
relations or not relations, all live in
one room, almest in one bed What
privacy is obtained is found under the
boundless contiguity of space. Under
such circumstances cleanliness, deco
rum. ana modesty could hardly exist in
any race. Individuals suffer in the
general ruin. Chastity is not matter
of Importance. Neither public opinion
nor the law imposes any restraint or
penalties, and the private circle is too
fragile in virtue for throwing stones.
Consequently many an idividual drifts
III the foul current without the help of
Il saving hand, OF even feeling the re-
volt of disgust.
Their religious condition is difficult
to describe, for it has few expressions.
They are credulOus and superstitious
to remarkable degree. Signs and
events of uncommon kinds are readily
taken for prophecies and miracles.
Their bigotry and dogmatsm are pro-
portioned to their ignorance. But al
though they often seem devout, and
are perhaps really moved or nervously
excited by conviction, their lives are
fully us tar us may be anticipated be-
meath their religious instructions and
professions.
The poor whites, however. cannot be
condemned without mercy. On the
contrary, they can only be pitied when
their condition is studied us the effect
of irresistible causes vested in their
surroundings. Socially they were out
casts they had no means of improve
ment, either in the sympathy of intelli-
gent neighbors, in public affairs, or in
public or special instruction. Political
ly they were helpless, for they had no
voice above whisper in their govern
ment; and their opponent was too much
engrossed by his own peculiar monopo-
ly to consider his victims. Financially,
even, they were hopeless; for the mo-
nOpOly of power and money was too
strong caste to be broken by such
weak men. From whatever point they
may be regarded, they present the
darkest picture in the oligarchy. And
to-day in the republic there is not IA
more piteOus ruin than the poor white
of the South.
THAT SEAL.-Dr. Cutting, the Cura-
tor of the State Cabinet, in "a communi-
cation to the Montpelier Watchman, re-
wives the little controversy about seal,
alleged to have been killed in Otter