New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-19
A VISIT TO KINGSTREE.


PAPER MAN IN A COUNTRY TAVERN.
[FROM STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNEl
KINGsTREE, 5. c., Nov. 14.-Thls town, unlike
most of those in the South where exciting events
occurred in years past, previous to or during cleo
TONS Is not an out-of-theway place and difficult OF
access. 1t lies on of the direct through lines
from the North to Florida, aud the visitor may
make the journey from Boston, New-YOrk. Philadel-
phia or Washington to Kingstree in one of the most
luxurious of Puman's coaches, and without change
of cars. From the last-named city the time is only
twenty-one hours When l landed at the station
Yesterday afternoon. a ragged barefoOted, but
| rather bright-loOking black boy, about fourteen
years old offered to take my baggage down to the
tavern. which is III the town. half mile away. As
we walked along the railway track, he gave me
some interesting information about the crops etc.
Nv first impressions Of Kngstree were rather IA
vOrabe. Like most country towns in the South, OF
400 or 800 inhabitants it is regularly laid out.
and although all the streets except two or three,
which lead out into the country, start oil pretty
well after one or two squares the houses become
more aid more struggling, and within quarter OK
a mile of town the broad avenue disappears IN an
old field oyergown with dOg-lennel. None OF the
bindings in the town. except the Court House. are
imposnC structures but there many comfortable
cottages built the Southern style, with climbing
vines covering their broad porches, and that most
beautiful of all Southern trees, the live oak. Afford
ing grateful shade. Of course, there are pigs and
geese in the streets and knots of idle men and boys
lounge about the stores of which there perhaps
Dozen big and little. Two or three lone chimneys
and an old safe bottom up by the side of one OF them
| mark the spots where fires have occurred, ana re-
mind the visitor that he is not in the enterprsing
North. where the builder begins his work almost be-
| fore the embers of fire have had time to cool.
| So much for the place now for the people. Of
| course no stranger could arrive IN such village
without arousng general interest and as walked
| through the main street TO the hotel, could hoo
fail TO observe that the conversation ceased IN each
| group of men as / approached, and that every one
devoted all his energies to staring at me as passed.
One cannot help feeling q curiosity to know whao
| people think and say about him at such times.
| overheard a single remark, and that was,
| limited States officer" | presume the people all
| reached the conclusion indicated in this remark,
for the landlady at the hotel seemed afraid OF me,
| and when went out into the street after dinner
of wild turkey there was none OF that freedom and
| openness that have been accustomed to meet with
in every Southern town. One thing that contributed
| TO the good impression to which have already re-
ferred was to witness the return of the children
| from school First came the white boys and girls
down the street and following soon after were the
colored children thirty or forty of them, intelli-
| pent-looking well dressed, decOrously behaved,
| CARRYING their satches and their books That
once would have been strange sight IN South Car
olina | suspect that the methods OF instruction
both in the white and cOlOred schools are very
primitive for heard the teacher of the former ex-
planning why some of his pupils were dismissed
before Others lie said that " they did their
SUMS during recess, and when he had set them new
SIMS he let them co." But it is something TO have
free schools of any kind in South Carolina. The
all. al rylan man
have since formed. Is Southern man and some
thing of an enthusiast in his calling. lie hasa
vonng colored woman for his assistant.
Fortunately for me. United States Commissioner
Hutchinson and Deputy United States Marshal
Bolger the former from Colleton County and the
latter from Charleston arrived later III the evening
70 make an investigation of the late election here,
and "a il was seen that we were Dot acquainted
and that our business not the same, the people
began 10 thaw out little, although they continued
70 be rather guarded III what they SAID about the
election, and until was able to go around the town
without arousing a suspicion that l might after
all be detective, avoided asking many questions
touching political subjects.
Mr.. Brady, of The Kingshee Star newspaper, is
voung man about town, intimate with the managers
If the election. and fair specimen of the young
man of the place The Star has been one OF the Bit
torast sheets in the State Mr.. Brady is from the up
couptrv He has been in Williamsburg County only
about a year. and is young man OF small mental
cabre and could not possibly have influence IN any
respectabe Northern community. L found IN Inc
Star for This week many paragraphs which illustrate
the character of Southern country journalism. In
describing the rcjolcings of the kingstree
Democracy over their victory, last week, IT
said among other things. that the crowd visited
the house of Mr.. II. II. Monzon. cOlored man.
hali nf he RaDublcau County Conn
mttee. and invited him TO come ont and be killed
with his party, an invitation which, the editor
saws. he did not accept. The journal also
gives a lively description of the oyertnrnng on
election day of the United States Supervisor OF
Elections by the white Democrats, the throwing OF
the box ON which he stood into the street, and the
nushing of himself down the Court House steps.
The article represents this to have been done
bv voters in whose way he stood. The true version
of this performance which is to be judlcially in-
vestigated / shall give in another letter before
leave Kingstrce.
Twas fortunate enough to form Mr.. Bradys ae-
ouaintance last evening as we sat together before
the fire in the common room OF the tavern. VI
course we talked very little about politics. but dis
ous,ed the crops the prices of lands. the heahful-
ness of localities in this and adjoining countess and
other subjects that man looking for place TO SET
tic in the South for himself or friends would be in
terested in Some inquiries about the taxes led to
others about the political future of the State, and
asked if there was not danger that the Radicals"
would again get possession of South Carolina, and
make its government extravagant and corrupt as
it was under Governors Scott and Moses remarking
at the same time that the bare possibility of such
| thing frightened people away from the state.
l. He replied that a Radical success In the future
| WAS impossible; that the Democrats had carried