The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-18
up IN rnE KEyrUcnr MOUNTAINS.
People who Take Life Easily -Moonshinc
Whiskcy Primitive schools.

! have recently returned from n three
weeks trip OF business aud observation into the
mountain regions of Southeastern Kentucky
Perhaps there il no section OF the country ia
which ride 81 hut a f0w hours. even on horse
INA X will present contrasts greater and more
yvidrn' than are seen in going from the far
famed inl highly cultivated Blue Grass region
~ Kentucky To- tho wild and rugged mountain
district of the State For somc tim" past had
boon accustomed to the smooth pixies. lthc best
In III" world the rolling meadows. hrtilr fields.
comfortable country residences hiOpdrl horses.
ana short horns. beautiful women. and elegant
j piialiiy of central Kentucky. and almost ere
! WAS uWlr" OF the tat. | found myself On the
i.asful rough and hilly roads and among the
thin soil. scantv crops open log-cahins. tumble
down out-huidin-s. Stuuted cattle. UWtricd
hnr- =. and slurp- nuslsi hogs.
London Is tho COUNTY scat 81 Laurel county.
dance Of the laurel hush which II supposed ~
grow over it, hills and mountains though |
n'ithcr saw any of t. nor mot with any one who
haf. Inc court house is "a mean, dinssy. poV-
crty-strckcn afra,r. ant q brief glance at the
inside showed me jul -c's ben III which looked
like a turkey coop and bar which rrsemhlod
nothing 80 much a. a rat pit. The local option
prOhlhtQry law had bvn voted into force by
the people Of the township. and WIS el.l to
not" the absence ui harrOumS hut WIS told that
no one WIS ever permitted Ia want for liquor ia
the town had he the money 10 pay Tor il:
be- had Srh rosa. For the benefit Of the unior-
tunat"ly ignorant II may be- well t. say that
mooushue" is applied TO liquor distilled in
these mountains. Gland ostincly and illicitly. 1t
~ rarely sold by the original d.Huilers, U being
Exchanged Tor grain az the rat, y "A "a lon ot
whieSey for a hushcl Of corn. All through this
mountain region il is said to be distilled in
quantities almost sufficient 10 supply the de-
mHnd.
In my paregrinations have visited every
State and Territory in the Union. save Arizona
ami Alaska: mt never anywhere clsc. cNccIt
Greas1rs and indians Of The West. have sen
people who take life w. eas lly. and with ~ little
enori mchaanS. MS ordinary current - DO these
boomers ol Tue mountain region ~ h'ntn'ky
Nearly everything they use. oven e. IA SO three
prime nee - trs, whi-NrN. tobacco, and SAT-, =
furnished oS the hiiis or narrow valleys viii
""u-tltut. tl"lr homes II. nns.' IA "a while. thcy
are under the nee, ssty Of buying someihin-
from tn" store. and have neither the grain
nor stock 10 exchange for il. nights hunt with
u few half starved dogs. or a han day spent IN
the mountains digging Sang" tginsangl
will furnish them a commodity for eAchnn- r.
which il as good rs cash iaelf The farm of tn,
natives generally consists Of "a few ares upon .
barren hillside. on VIII IA the litlc orig nal soil
has washed after the first year or two of cult
Walton. TN these lie plants "a few hills OF corn
IA tue early spring lndoeniiy Wal rhcs IL tiii..d
mcr, ana IN the fall gathers Il either ia gunny
sack or " IN a home nude Sled that, will hoDl
about two bushels amt n halt md ID drawn ly Il
diminutlye yoke of native cattle.
oen.ris Those sustained bv private effort ar,
almost unk nown, there IL not cent Of county
money put iNf the purpose, ana So inc Stat
school fund bears almost IA" entire "opens of
t'arhlns these young id"hS now 10 shoot and
10 this iund the pc pie OF THIS section. 10y rcis u
u their poverty IHy a wr't hedly small proper
uon. Inc amount received ny s"eh stuoYl MS
trlrt IL lArailNely luslgulh' ant AMI II l.
always tho aim VI the s.hoo. trustee Ia make !
stret ii Just ~ far AS possible. An unusually
fortunMe district has eighty scholars; the ar
portunmN mt cut ~ the State fund IL 81 - t. each
: holar, this s.N.s SluJ ior tho year. The trus
tee PROPOSES 10 hire teacher, three pers ms
having uerns" present themselves. ono prnpus-
ing u teach three. another four. and the thiri
i've months. for the amount The trustee Is
himself il.itnrate. and knows nothing about tht
quail at ons ot the candidates; but. 10 use his
own language, he knows some hlngs as VOL as
anybody else. " he haint got no book farming
tcacl'er is the hist Of tho lot cause you ri Tia,
most work outen him fur the money. So h,
hires him u teach Il I've months schOol" at 81
month
There ~ no immigration e. this country. but
q El.Al DOM NJ lM.ALIl. AMAy from Il