Connecticut western news., 1881-08-24
WAY DOWN IN ALABAMA.
A Graphic Picture of Home Life in
 one of the Southern States.

On the outskirts of the town of Selma, writes Springfield Republican correspondent in Alabama, comfortable and even e1egantresidences are situated, whose surroundings have been we'll planned but equally we'll neglected. The neatness that argues thrift does not show itself in the yards and fields. Negro huts, as rude as the primitive houses of pre-architectural races, cluster in the suburbs. Squalld women and children appear in great profusion. When the plantations are reached, the fences are half decayed, the fence cor ners are neglected and there are no evil dences of economy. The stock is not bad, but 8 real fine horse is seldom seen. The COWS and hogs are of low degree, and return the poor care g iven them in little butter and tough pork. The hoes and blows are of the same old make that was prevalent hundred years ago. Nothing new, fresh or neat attracts one s attention for miles. Ox-carts are abun- dant, and the ox's gait is the speed of the community. The country house where an answer is to be found to the question, why Alabama is slow, is situated deep in a grove of native oaks. The first gate reached opens into the grove. It swings with the weight of years on its hinges, and has suffered many unskillfuI repairs, so many in fact that it is difficult to determine the origi- nal material. The pants of the black urchin whose strength is required to open it present the same difficulty. A wind came near blowing the whole fence down once upon time, andit was never made erect again but rough posts sup port it in it's inclined position. The grove is not cleanly. Timber, pieces of old wagons, worn-out shoes and axes, old shoes and wood prom1scuously dis figure the beauty of the view. The old now with rank weeds and all manner of litter. One or two are yet occupied, for nude children stand in the doors but the others have gone to decay. The roof of one has fallen in the logs above the door of another have fallen down ; the chimney of another is leaning far from the house awaiting the aid of the first wind to fall. A cotton gm stands near the gate, and that, too, needs re- pairing. The stock lot is entered through "bars," not gate and the stables are not constructed with refer ence to convenience. The food for the horses must be carried fifty steps by hand. and they must be led hundred yards to water. The stables are not augean, but they are not clean. The yard that closely surrounds the house has gate in better repair, and a new fence, which, however, has never been completed and has no paint. The shrub of the trees lie in the yard. Behind the house there are " "smoke house." 8 chicken house, corn-crib and kitchen. They all need paint and the chicken house even door. The garden fence cannot withstand an energetic pig. Such are the surroundings.
 The house itself is neat inside, scru- pulously neat. The remnants of fine carpets tell of other days, and the antique furniture seems in place beneath family portrait of grandmother s mother in Elizabethan rufles. The books are old, too old to use much now; and they are merely part of the old furniture. Many other things are new. The hall has new hat-racks, a new oil cloth and modern table. The furni- ture everywhere but in the sitting room" is not only modern, but also nice. Nothing indicates great wealth, but certainly nothing indicates any lack of money. The neatness indoors is in noticeable contrast with the un- cleanly surroundings. The man of the house is hospitable-hospitable above all things, hospitable at any cost. A candid man and good talker, in even 8 short evening he will manage to give you an epitome of the history of Ala bama, explain the inner workings of his farm, give sketch of the outlook of the country, and indulge in various po- litical speculations. His home and his ideas furnish the answer to our question. The mines must be opened, he will say. But he himself has several thousand idle dollars, and his friends have many more.
 While he is talking so earnestly about the need of capital, why does he him. self not organize company Bless you, it never occurred to him That is not his business. He must attend to his plantation. He was not born a miner nor trained an engineer. And yet if an engineer were to attempt to induce him to invest in mines, he would call to mind all the men of his acquaint- ance who have made bad investments and lost their money. And his conclu- sion would be that, situated as he is, he is safe, and he will not risk his hard earned money in doubtful enterprise.
 His capital is as conservative as be is. He was born to despise mercantile life, and nothing but banking could tempt him to make an investment. He feels his ignorance of finance and he is afraid to learn. Capitalists he thinks neces- sary for Alabama; but about immigrants he is doubtful. If they all can buy small tracts of land, if all are industri- ous, if all are consistent members of 8 church, he would favor their coming. But one bad immigrant in company ot a hundred would be an argument in his mind against the hundred. As for spend ing few thousand dollars of the States money to advertise the States resources that would not be economy, and he would never vote for the return of a member of the Legislature who should so waste public money. A system o1 public schools has his acquiesence, but hardly his support. He has an idea that child who receives his education al the expense of the State will expect tc be fed and clothed by the State public schools make office seekers. And edu. cated negroes do not love to work.
 Why are the fences not in better
 order, the gates, the out-houses and the
 wagons? Why are the cowsnot Jerseys and the hogs not Berkshirers? Why
 are the agricultural implements not ot
 new patterns Surely he knows how
 to farm, and is not afraid to invest money
 in agricultural improvements. We'll, ir
 the days of slavery, there were slaves
 enough to. keep the place neat and ir
 repair, and now such things will cost
 cash, and how is the cash to be replaced