Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-11-09
Studies in the South.

l rode out on horseback over the
mountains from Huntsville, Ala, dozen
miles or more, to see 4 cotton mill. At
one point l saw, near the road, negro
digging post-hole, while two tall white
men directed his operations. l have
been told that the negro required super
vision, and had thought that something
might be said in favor of the theory, but
this seemed to be somewhat extreme
application of it. A little further on a
young negro, perhaps twenty years old,
crossed the road just in advance of me,
with books and slate under his arm, evil
IDENTITY on his way to school. l called to
him, and asked him two or three
questions designed to educe whatever
knowledge he might possess on
points of interest to me- He answered
briefly and then added, but l hain't got
much time fer to STAN" Twas astounded
and could scarcely believe that had
heard Alright. EVERYBODY that | had seen
unlimited time ''fer to stan'," and this
fellows utterance had an explosive and
revolutionary sound. If l should hear
of anything noticeable being done in that
region l should suspect this boy of hay
ing hand in it. AS I rode away and
looked at his energetic movement across
the fields it occurred to ME that if should
ever write a book about the destiny of
the colored race in this country T should
dedicate it to the negro who "hain't
got much time fer to STAN"
In various parts of the south l found
few negroes who own and cultivate
large farms, employing many laborers of
their own race. Men of this class are
rarely hopeful about their people; they
say they know too much about them to
expect any great things They always
employ an overseer, paying him more
than the other hands receive. The ne
groes will do no good" all such may
say, without somebody to oversee and
keep them at work. The overseer is re-
sponsible for the amount and character
of the work done, and if there is any
pay. The employer either furnishes all
supplies for the maintenance of Lis
hands during the season, keeping an ac-
count and charging them whatever they
obtain Tor ''take up" as the phrase is),
or he authorizes merchant in the town
to supply them, becoming responsible
to the extent OF the wages of his men.
Then, as learned everywhere, the la
borers try to obtain credit, 'for all that
is coming to them," and little more. I
looked at many of the account books
kept by these farmers, the records of
their dealings with their workmen.
Many Of the charges were for things
which were absurd and extravaganza fer
the negroes to buy-costly articles of
dress for the women and luxuries for
the table. / often asked such employ
ers why they did not give their hands
some advice about economy, and the
use of their best judgment regarding
the selection ofthings most necessary and
useful for them when expend-
ing their money; but they always said
it would do no good. 'Humph! Dey
country store one morning, when a ne
gro woman came in and asked for dol
lars worth ofsugar. The merchant dip
dipped out brown sugar, but the woman
objected. and wanted white. The man
demonstrated with her for extravaganza,
saying that he could not himself afford
to use such things as she bought. She
was greatly offended, and retorted that
such things might edo fun free niggahs
an low-down white folks. lows my
money JUS as goods Cunnel Gahshom's
money" The merchant remarked that
she would probably never come to his
store again.
The negro farmers said that their
hands nearly always "tuck up" their
wages faster than they earned them,
and they often added such observations
as these: "A niger will buy anything.
You could sell any man on my place
steamboat. or an elephant, or circus
band wagon-anything in the world-if
ne had the money" One man, who had
per month, "took up" $3.50 in month
for whisky. Such extravaganza and
lack of judgment as to what laborer's
family needs or can afford to buy are
very general among the negro Ia
bOrers.