The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-11
A Ladies Work in Florida.

A Ladies Work i'll FLORIDA.
Editor Of the Florida Agricuhurist:
You ask me for a sketch of ladies
life in Florida now if you will com
promise the matter l will tell you
something OF q woman's life in Flori
da. The conditions of life vary here
as well as elsewhere. Among the
natives OF the State, we find few very
wealthy, some moderately so, and
many very poor. The north has but
faint idea OF the poverty of the
south, among those known in slavery
time as ''the poor whites" you can
find them every where, in the towns
! and villages as well as. among the
"piney woods Where there is pri'
vation and poverty women are the
greatest sufferers. This is the case
here as we'll as in other lands. Come
with me to the little log house where
they hold their monthly meetings,
there you will see them gathered to-
gether, men, women and children, of
all ages, for none want to stay at
home to take care of TIE baby, so
! they bring him 'along and if he gets
tired, they carry him out among the
shady trees with which the house is
surrounded. Listen to the preacher,
he talks loud, and assures his hearers
that he has the "tluth OF the matter,
and that learning is not requisite in
preacher, that if they have once
found the road, there is no danger OF
ever getting out OF it, etc" He has
nothing to say against the filthy
habit of tobacco using which is so
prevalent here, and l did not wonder
at his silence on the subject when
after the meeting was over l saw
him talking with pleasant laced
woman and both were smoking, some
time was now spent in shaking hands
and exchanging pleasant words with
each other, the. calico dresses and
aprons and sun bonnets fairly shone
aaffspd 9ts TIC; as5i L 4
what ever else was liking, SCOT and
starch were not, the young girls
wear palmetto hats and bright rib
bon now and then enlivens the scene.
These people have as general thing,
better morals than many who have
had tar more advantages in life. They
are not antagonistic, don't seek con-
troversy, but are as peaceable and
harmless a people as you will find
north of Mason aud Dixon's line.
The women / should say are more
industrious than the men, with a
large family of children to care for,
they will work in the field most of
the day, mothers will carry their
small children to the field and put
them under the shade OF tree or
fence, and they are tired OF playing
they 90 to sleep there. These
women know nothing of the difficult
ties you speak of, all OF their Difficult
ties consist in getting the necessities
of life for themselves and their chill
dren. Many OF these little ones
never have drop OF milk after they
are weane6 from the mothers breast
and their diet consists almost wholly
of sweet potatoes, hominy and pork
Do you wonder that they look puny
and have none of the fresh color that
belongs to childhood. These women
have no time for any thing but hard
work, every day brings the same
dull routine, and if there is any rest
or enjoyment for them, 1t must be
beyond, ard yet they don't seem un-
happy, they love their children and
seem contensed with their lot, many
could learn lesson OF patience and
endurance from them. But lite il
Florida has a tar different meaning
10 those women who are not sub
iected to such labor and privalions
The enioyments to be found here are
MANY. and | will speak of some thai
are most conducive to health
Many people are opposed TO the
morning air, but l like it best OF all
"A cup OF coffee not very strong
should be taken first and then rid'
on horse back for mile or two, will
give an excellent appetite for
breakfast OF nice graham gems and ;
couple of eggs whites and all, not
10 Beecher But all cannot rid
horse back, and if place can b.
found where there is no wet grass
walking half a mile will answe
nearly as well, but if neither can b