The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-11-10
Studies i'm the South.

AuanuC MOnJnly.
rode out ON horseback over the mountains
from Huntsville, Alabama dozen miles or
more to see a cotton mill. At one point saw,
near the road, negro digging a post-hole,
while two tall white men directed his opera
tions. had been told that the negro required
supervision, and had thought that something
might be said in favor of the theory, but this
seemed to be somewhat extreme application
of it. little farther on young negro, per-
haps 20 years old, crossed the road just in
advance of me, with books and slate under his
arm, evidently on his way to school
I 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 hain't got
much time fer to stan'." I was astounded,
and could scarcely believe that had heard
Alright Everybody that I had seen in the
south before had seemed to have unlimited
time SER to stan'," and this fellows utteranoe
had an explosive and revolutionary sound. II
I should hear of anything noticeable being
done in that region, should suspect this boy
of having a hand in it AS I rode away, ard
looked at his energetic movement across the
fields, it occurred to me that if should ever
write book about the destiny of the colored
race in this country | should like to dedicate
it to the negro who "hain't got much time fer
to stan'." ~
In various parts of the south found few
negroes who own and cultivate large farms
100nI0V1nO q hnrnTo Of fhofr
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 negroes "will do no good" all such men
say, without somebody to oversee them and
keep them at work The overseer is respon-
sible for the amount and character of the work
accomplished, and if there isany failure, some
thing is deducted from his pay The employ
er either furnishes all supplies for the
maintenance of his hands during the season,
keeping an account and charging them with
whatever they obtain Tor stake 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 l
learned everywhere, the laborers try to obtvin
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
tnelf dealings with their Workmen. Many of
the charges were for things which were absurd
and extrayagant for the negroes to buy,-cost-
ly articles of dress for the women and Iuxrlries
for the table, l often asked such EMPLOYERS
why they did not give their hands some advice
about economy, and the use of their best iudg-
ment regarding the selection of things most nee
essary and useful for them when expanding
their money; but they always said It would
do no good. "Humph! Dey hain't got no
judgments" l was in country store one
morning, when negro woman came in and
asked for a dollars worth of sugar The
merchant dipped out brown sugar but the
woman objected, and wanted white. The man
demonstrated with her for her extravaganza
saying that he could not himself afford to use
such things as she bought She was greatly
"do fun free niggahs an lowsdown white folks
l lows my money Jes' as good 3 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 stuck 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 a cir
Gus band-wagon- in the world-if
he had the money" One man, who had a
family, and was working for $40 per month,
"took up" three dollars and eighty cents in a
month for whisky. Such extravaganza and
lack of judgment as to what laborer's FAM
lily needs or can afford to buy are very general
among the negro laborers