The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-02-26
A Northern Lsdy's Impressions Of
the South,

he NITlZEN mas Oh us 6ACuduS6
list an excellent paper published at
Freehold, New Jersey, whose peri
odical visits are always kailed with
pleasure. 1t is entitled The Mon
mouth Democrat, and, as the name
implies, its political garments are
cut according to the constitutional
mode. A correspondent of the
Democrat, a northern lady of re-
fnement and culture, is now
travelling in the south and publish
ing a series of readable letters in
which she describes the habits,
morals, and social as well as politi-
cal condition of our people, in
manner that does equal credit to
her penetration and love of truth.
Unlike the average northern visitor,
she does not appear to be 30 enamor-
ed of her own section as to see
nothing worthy of imitation in
ours, and it Is peculiarly gratifying
to note how quickly her woman's
wit has penetrated the flimsy guise
which partisan malice assumes when
it attempts to describe the actual
relations existing between the ne
gro and his former master. While
our people are subjected here and
there to some delicate criticism
which is perhaps deserved, and a
little that is open TO controversy,
yet,in the main, the fair writer is so
candid, so conservative, andso plucky
when the north loses by compari-
son, that we are disposed to accept
her statements IN toto, without
showing sensitiveness as to the de-
tails.
She begins by citing the moral
and social improvement OF Maine
man living in Atlanta, who, accord
ing to her frank and womanly adj
mission, "has lived in the south
long enough to have acquired the
extreme urbanity and affabihty
Characteristic of southern men to
ward women--especIally old wo
men" This is compliment which
has the merit of being true, and one
which southern women may claim
the credit for, since the knightly
courtesy and chivalrous demeanor
of the other sex are both inspired
by their modesty, their chastity,
and the fine sense of propriety
which induces them to live strictly
within a woman's sphere. 1t is
interesting, as well as pleasing, to
read this lady's impressions of the
negro and the treatment he receives
at the hands of the white class.
She says:
"The working class, and the non
aOorking lower class. which consists
of negroes, principally, is a better
behaved one, in many respects, than
the same class among US, particu
larly in our cities. We see no
fighting nor intoxication in the
streets among our "unbleached"
American brethren. They are re-
garded by the dominant class as
children-or at least, treated as
such in their families. They speak
of their former slaves very atfec-
tionately; in fact, there is no personal
prejudice against them, as loith as. In
the north, unless oar ancestors oiOned
slaves, and zoe aoere accustomed to them
in oar childhood, zoe feel a repugnance
to them ,ohich IS entirely U1aknoaon here.
This does not, however, include a
feeling of social or political equali-
ty. They are children to be direct
ed, scolded and tolerated-some-
times petted little"
Mr.. Blaine, and even the virtuous
Mr.. Hayes, who finds leisure occa
sionally to profess great concern
for the man and brother, are at lib
erty to put the above morsel IN
their pipes and smoke it, and if it
fails to soothe their quivering
nerves, we recommend the follow
ing:
"There are undoubtedly, fewer tg
noraat men holding office here than
with us-ignorant i'll the sense of
popular education"
This last admission is a plucky
one, and it required steady nerve
to make it. The fair hand, how
ever, was equal 10 the emergency.
and we should like TO give it gen
tie squeeze just to show our appre-
citation of the generous perform
ance. 1t certainly deserves a warm
pressure everywhere in the south
for the friendly service it is render
D..