The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-19


for this crop is simply enormous.
And, il we turn to the rice CROP, to
the submerged fields where this crop is
made, to its vast combinations of
bitches, and other Observation-Disclosures
needful, and which in thst unattractive
and unhealthful region somebody must
keep up if rice is to be grown at all; is
that crop any more desirable in the
making and handling?
l have glanced briefly and cursorily
at these few but great and leading in
terests, because the South in cloud
and sunshine" would not be fifty and
even approximately portrayed without
so doing; but say once more, in view
of it, none need envy the people of the
South the responsibilities and labors to
which they are subject, and which must
be borne steadily and resolutely If the
outside world is to be benefited by the
labor of that section at all.
If the Northern farmer fails in his
wheat crop partially, there may be his
corn, his oats, rye, potatoes, barley to
fall back upon, of which some must
make out successfully, enabling him to
live at least, and keep clear of indebted
ness. But, with far more destructive con-
tingencies threatening the great staples
of the South, it is easy to see why it at
times struggles under heavy burdens
which should excite anything else than
the envy of the other section.
In regard to the profitable cultivation
of large section of the lower country,
of the Carolinas and Georgia especially,
the appearance alone of the mass of the
"poor whites" of that region, as the
traveller meets them, is enough to con-
vince anybody that a strong, thrifty,
enterprising population is not to be
looked for there at all. Wearing, most
of them, that sad, inane expression of
countenance characteristic of the want
of vitality caused by constant sickness
from malaria wan, emaciated, with spin
die legs and bloated bodies, they seem
to merely creep about as it were, in at
tempting the cultivation of little corn,
cotton, and few sweet potatoes and
other truck" such as with 'possum
hunting and fishing may serve to sustain
existence. Some one has told it to me
or I have read of an incident so
descriptive of some of these people
that I must give it as near as I can.
A traveller through that section, hap
pening to meet in the road large and
tolerably good-looking woman, followed
by puny, spindle-shanked little man,
the latter carrying bundle, stopped
them to inquire his way, and next,
struck with the appearance of the pair,
particularly the contrast in appearance
between them, could not forbear asking
the woman, eff that was her husband ?''
EYES," was the reply.
"Then," said he, "tell me, in the
name of all that is sensible, how came
good-looking woman like you to mar
ry such a mere excuse for a man as
that?"
"Look here" Indignantly broke in
the little chap, before the woman could
reply; :" if you talk that way about me,
mister, I'll set down on this here bundle
and cuss you all to pieces!"
Poor fellow! He couldn't even reck-
on upon breath enough, strength
enough, to stand up until he could do
his proposed "cussing," letting alone
resenting the affront put upon him in
any other way.
In marked contrast to the coast line
of Europe, which is bold, rocky, in
most cases the land frowning over the
ocean in cliffs and headlands where not
indented by small bays and coves, the
Southern coast is almost a continuous
sand-fat, or section of sand hills, from
Capes Charles and Henry to Cape
Sable, and along almost this entire
sweep of sandy shore forming the coast
line is population, sparse enough GER
tainly, but poorly and unhealthfully
placed, outside of the few towns and
cities on the way, and such as never can
be reckoned upon for anything that
bears the name of enterprise.
To be sure, on the little sand spits,
covered with trees, below and adjoining
Cape Hatteras, there is hardy popu-
lation of pilots, fishermen, wreckers
etc., sort of amphibious population
almost as much at home in or on the
water as upon the land but these, few in
numbers, comparatively, seem to thrive
upon the breezes that sweep in from
seward, and do not wear the wan and
dazed look of the jewellers on the la.
goons, bayous and sand hills" fur
Their inland.
Indeed, 80 far as the pretty and pict-
uresque may be considered attractive
and desirable, there are some of these
little sea-shore hamlets which are sell
dom surpassed simply as marine pict.
ures; but all this, repeat, does not
mean thrift, commerce, trade, the profits
of the great fisheries and so on, such as
is witnessed along almost every mile OF
the shores of rocky New England; and
therefore the South, in holding many
hundreds of miles of poor coast line
with its generally-shallow harbors, has
but a poor heritage in this, and one
which, as the consequence of late events
is not likely to improve.
In all this, have been attempting to
show that the South, rich as are its re-
sources in land unsurpassed much of il
in fertility, and fortunate as it is in the
possession of mineral wealth, labors
under the disabilities of malarious dis
tricts; liability to destructive floods; to
untimely frosts in the gathering of pre-
cious crops, and so on, such as should
| call for CON OF Il arotion ipetaod of anvv