The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-11-16
lChamber's Journal.1
A Tennessee Squire.

United States where life goes on NOR.
calmly than in the region Of the Cum
berland Mountains, Tennessee. Thi
beautiful wilderness is thinly peoplet
by race Of natives es''-that is, whit,
settlers and squatters, who are as un
affected by the fierce activities Of thei
fellow-citizens in the Eastern ant
Western States as If they were inhab
itants of another continent or men o1
another age. Their homesteads ART
remote from highways; and these
highways are so little frequented, thai
weeks may pass without stranger
appearing. Having very imperfect
means of transport for corn or cattle
to paying markets, they grow just
sufficient for their own use; and sim.
pie wants are easily satisfied in sub.
tropical climate.
Maize is the staple food, wheaten
bread being rarely eaten. Swine-hesh
of the toughest and least nutritious
sort furnishes much Of the animal
food. Milk is little used. Intoxicat-
ing drinks are rarely partaken Of
though good deal of peach brandy
and corn-whisky are said to be made
illicitly. But these are sold to saloon
keepers in by-places, and the money
expended in powder, shot, and the few
articles required for primitive house
hold.
Tea and coffee are the favorite stim-
ulants of Tennessee natives, particu-
larly the latter. When whisky is not
made, game is sold at the nearest town
to obtain what is needed; and often
the hunter will 60 ten miles with a
pair Of deer-hams, half a dozen tur-
keys, rabbits, or other spoils of the
chase: and glad is he to bring back q
few pounds of green coffee in ex-
change.
Hunting is indeed the real business
of the Cumberland mountaineer, farm
ing being mere incident. To roam
in the boundless wilderness with a
long rife, accompanied by dog, is the
occupation and the Joy Of the half
wild men of the Tennessee forests.
Wonderful shots are they, rarely fail
ing to bring the deer down by bull
let through the heart. But though
loving solitude more than society, the
hunter is kindly, hospitable, and any
thing but misanthrope.
In a sparsely peopled country where
there are no hotels, the traveller must
either carry a tent and provisions, or
seek shelter and food from the dwell
ers in the land. I took the latter
course; and never was refused the best
that the house afforded. Many hosts
repelled all attempts at payment; some
even objected to be thanked. The
system Of demanding and giving hos
pitality is so common that it is never
considered as benefaction or favor.
What the squatter gives to-day, he
himself may have to ask for to-mor-
row. Business, the chase, political
errand, sends him a days Journey
from home, or leaves him belated.
That causes him no disquietude. The
wanderer goes to the nearest house,
assured of a frank and hearty recep-
tion. It matters not that he is a
stranger. He is received without en-
barrassment, with genial politeness.
But it is necessary to observe that a
change is coming over frontiersmen.
A host Of tramps are prowling over
the United States, worse than their
fellow-vagabonds in England, and per-
haps more difficult to reclaim. The
maraudings and brutalities of these
men have made farmers suspicious,
and chilled something of their native
kindliness. Still, the honest stranger
is welcomed in manner that COM
pares favorably with the hospitality
of cities; for in these remote wilds,
poor people living hard lives, are more
neighborly than the inhabitants of
London, Paris, or New York.
One Of my pleasantest remembrans
ces of Tennessee travel is connected
with short stay | made at the house
of a certain Squire named Harker,
who lived on a lonely road some dis
tance from jamestown. The weather
was very hot. and my horse and self
were tired with a five hours rapid ride
through forest and fell. It was near
ing noon, the Tennessee dinner-hour
as came in sight Of the Squirrels log
cabin, to which had been directed by
those who had marked out my timer
ary. The barking Of a great wolf
hound brought out the Squire. He
appeared about sixty years Of age, tall.
spare, and 1.-THE as a young man. His
hair was steel-gray, face close shaven,
skin Drowned by weather; his eyes
light blue, calm and benianant In ex-
preston.
III come to ask for something to eat
for my horse and myself" I said.
Eyes, sir he replied, expectorating
deliberately. "Come in
With that he led my horse to a
trough fed by mountain stream; and
afterward put the tired animal into
the stable, throwing before him some
corncobs and a bit Of coarse hay.
Then we went toward the house.
Sitting by the fire was a woman, of
dubious age, fifty-five or sixty-fve
Although the weather was so hot, she
was crouched over the blazing logs
Her face was yellow-olive in color
thin to emaciation, haggard and wan
Her eyes had dreamy quietude in
them, like those of a person habitu-
ated to soothing drugs. Her figure
was gaunt as skeleton, and scantily
draped in faded cotton gown; the
outline of her long angular limbs be-
ing rendered more observable by ar
obvious lameness. In her mouth was
long and much used clay-pipe, thu