Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-21
Studies in the South.
From the Der Atlantic.

r rOn the November Atlantic.
rode out on horseback over the mountains
from Huntsville, Alabama, dozen miles or
more to see a cotton mill. At one point 1 saw
near the road, a negro digging post-hole while
two tall white men directed his operations
had been told that the negro required superyi-
sion, 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 farther on young negro, perhaps twenty
years old, crossed the road just in advance OF
me. with books and slate under his arm evil
dehtly on his way to school, 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 haint got much time
fer to stan'." was astounded and could scarcely
believe that had heard Alright. Everybody that
had seen in the south before had seemed to
have unlimited time ''fer to stan," and this
fellows utterance had an explosive and revoiu-
tiOnary sound. If | should hear of ANYTHING
suspect this boy of having hand in it. AS
rode away and looked at his energetic move
ment across the fields. it occurred to me that If
l should ever write a book about the destiny of
the colored race In this country should like to
dedicate 1t to the negro who "hain't got much
time fer to STAN"
In various parts of the south found q few
negroes who own and cultivate large farms,
employing many labOrers of their own race. Men
OF this class are rarely hopeful about their peo-
Pile; they say they ''knOw too much about them
to expect any great things" They always en-
ploy an overseer, paying him more than the
other hands receive. The negroes will do no
good. all such men say, without somebody to
oversee them and keep them at work. The
Oyerseer is responsible for the amount and char
10
any failure, something is deducted from his pay.
The employer either furnishes all supplies for
the maintenance Of his hands during the sea-
son. keeping an account and charging them
with whatever they obtain Cor 50 take
up" as the phrase is), or he authorizes a
merchant in the town to supply them, becoming
responsible to the extent of the wages of his
men. Then, as learned everywhere, the labor
ers try to obtain credit for 'all that is coming to
them" and little more. / 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 for the negroes to buy
costly article of dress for the women and luxu-
ries for the table. l often asked such en-
plOyers why they did not give their hands some
advice about economy, and the use Of their best
Judgment regarding the selection of things
most necessary and useful for them when ex-
pending their money; but they always said
it would do no good. g Humph Dey hain't
one morning, when negro woman came in and
asked for dollars worth of sugar. The mer-
chant dipped out brown sugar, but the woman
objected. and wanted white. The man remon-
strated 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 "dO fuh free
niggahS an lOw-dOwn white folks. / lows nv
money jes' as good s Cunnel Gahshoms money
The merchant remarked that she would prob
ably 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 any
thing. You could sell any man on my place a
steamboat, or an elephant, or circus band
wagOn,-anything in the wOrld,-if he had the
money" One man, who had family, and was
working for ten dollars per month, ''took up
three dollars and eighty cents in month fol
whisky. Such extravaganza and lack of judg-
ment as to what labOrer's family needs or can
afford to buy are very general among the negro
I0hOrorS