The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-28

| glaSS-knObbed drawers, three feet
high and eight feet long, seems com
mon to every house. There are nc
bedrooms. Small white curtains are
strung on wires around the edges OF
corded bedsteads, and large feather
beds are spread between the antique
posts. There are no pantries. Rows
of blue plates are ranged on shelves
along the walls. Two or three COW.
skin chairA and wooden bench serve
as seats. We saw but few stoves
The most of the cooking is done in
the fireplace, and the old Dutch oven
is used for baking. There are nc
bureaus nor lounges.
Land is cleared by girdling the
trees. and allowing them to stand
until the wind blows them down. Nc
manure is used on the farms. Herds
OF cattle range upon the Blue Ridge.
and there are no COW yards. The
soil is cultivated until it is literally
worn out. In the heart of the noun
tain l saw a large frame house with
rOtting lintelS and door posts. 1t had
become unproductive for the lack OF
compost. Large crops Of corn, wheat
o14u HOCOlONO d1C 1dxSCuS OuU lIC4C 10
no market.
It is a great fruit country, and is
said to produce the finest apples III
the United States. Apple trees grow
to an extraordinary size, and / saw
some as large as New Jersey elmS.
Pure spring water is abundant. The
climate is delightful. The summer
nights are deliciously cool, and
enough snow falls during the winter
to start the grain. Sickness seems to
be unknown, and an average physician
dependant on his profes sion would
starve. The whole country is thickly
wooded. Locust and black walnut
are abundant, but parties from Chi
cago are buying up the trees pre-
paratory to throwing the lumber on
the market. Good land partly cleared
can be bought for from So to $40 an
acre.
The inhabitants are honest, but
indolent. They lack the skill and
enterprise of the Yankee. Many Of
them work one or two days week,
and spend the remainder of the time
hunting and fishing. Occasionally an
energetic fellow buys frame house,
and settles among them. They hail
him with joy, and his neighbors
usually work for him and take their
pay in corn and bacon in preference
to cultivating their own land. A few
plant little gardens and raise shallots.
lettuce, peas, beans, radishes. beets
and cabbages. but the greater number
of the population live on rice, grits,
corn bread and bacon, and rarely taste
u vegetable. Eggs and chickens
change the bill of fare, and are
washed down with muddy coffee or
buttermilk. The cooking is unpala-
table. Everything swims in grease.
One kind lady laid dish Of apple
sauce before me with the remark that
it was something good. ut isn't
stewed in water she added, Il
cooked it myself in pure grease.
Cuttings, or the entrails Of hogs,
carefully cleaned and boiled, seems to
be favorite dish. They have dis :
agreeable smell, and l cannot vouch
for their taste.
The men all wear white shirts and
home spun garments. The most Of
them 60 without underclothing during
summer and winter. Black felt hats
uniquely cooked are universally worn.
The women are clothed in plain calico
gowns. Flounces and furbelows are
scarce, and cOrsets and stays below
par. Bingham dresses with girdled
waists and the Zig buckles SO
fashionable years ago complete the
Sunday toilet. The girls ride to
church on horseback behind their
fathers brothers and lovers, shading
| their faces from the RAYS of the sun
with large yellow parasols.
Writing of hotels reminds me Of
the one at White House, twelve miles
| from Rutherford. We arrived at
twilight. The landlord pointed TO a
tin washbasin on the veranda. After
my additions, he pointed out towel
behind the door. Supper over. he
conducted me to "A room on the ground
floor containing three beds. One was
occupied Ivy "A mountain magistrate
| who had cast his saddle bags upon the
floor and was snoring right Justify.
A gentleman from New Orleans and
the landlord 5 son slept in the second
bed. The third was reserved for my
use. The hotel proprietor advised
| me 20 hang my watch on. the wall
beside the ..>qnire's silver ticker,
but rs both windows were open and
faced the negro quarters, | preferred
to place it under my pillow.
The next morning was Sunday.
When / awoke the room was cleared.
| The landlord entered with pitcher
of water. One of my friends had
given me bottle of mConshine
whisky. and had left it on the table.
The proprietor promptly seized it.,
gave me toast lone of the customs
Of the country, and after long pull
decided that New York whiskey was
no better than Carolina corn. At
| breakfast the Squire and myself were
seated at the table on q wooden bench
without q back. The landlord raped
upon p plate with a knife, and every
head was bowed. He said grace
-Oh. Lord. bless this breakfast TO
our use, and make Us thankful" His
GevoutneSs created profound i'm
preston. but not a listing enc: for
after the meal he appeared upon the
veranda and cursed a stumbling
darkey so heartily that the negro
turned in his toes and took TO the
. r.