Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-23

be but ono household appIlHnco-A TIN basin.
It was first used for milking; next tho bis
cults were mixed in it; then it came into play
as a wash-basin afterwards the baby was
washed in it then it was used for cooking
hominy, and finally the dishes were washed
in it, It served the diverse ends Of kitchen,
dairy aud nursery but the practical demon
stration of its practical utility did not tend to
promote a visitors appetite My friend was
forced to stay one week in this cottage, and
she says that her reflections upon watching
tho vicissitudes of that tin basin, and the alb
normal capacity Of the baby, were all that
saved her from despair It was impossible
to procure any but the coarsest food, and her
aunt, daintily-reared Charestonian, suffered
from faintness. One day neighbor brought
my friend some delicious curds which were
eagerly eaten by the invalid. II she had been
told that they we're brought to the house in
one of the coarsest and dirtiest handkerchief
that ever met woman's eye, her appetite
would have lost its edge 1t was a hard ex-
perience, but a keen sense of the ridiculous
enabled my friend not only to endure it then,
but also to enjoy speaking of it later In
some of my own darkest days, when my hus'
band was sick unto death, derived positive
help from watching the absorption Of lady
in her embroidered rug. Palm trees might
wave, aud roses bloom, but not for her, so
long as there was q red dragon or blue-taied
bird to be sewed on to her hideous rug and
know that when she left Florida sbe did not
carry a ray of its gorgeous sunshine with her
to brighten her home life, nor a memory out
side her crewel and fringe.
Peculiar characteristics fly out like sparks
in the friction of travel. Boston and Charles
ton can find common ground in provincial
satisfaction. A Yankee traveller must grow
thoroughly American, finding perfection no
where and good everywhere.
There is one aspect of southern life that il
still hard to face, and that is the bitterness
existing in the minds of those who, having
lost during the civil war all they held most
dear, cannot forgive northern people. This
feeling varies in different parts of the south.
In South Carolina it seems to be more gene
raj than in other states, and the smaller towns
hold to old traditions with more tenacity than
the larger cities which are emerging from the
financial depression of the past. How far the
teachers are responsible for this state of af-
fairs l dare not say. Having occasion to Dor
row a school-book for reference, 1 was sur
! prised to see written across the cover of what
l knew to be new book, these words "Al
Yankee boys are liars knaves and rogues.
| The blame, of course, did not attach to the
| child, but to the teacher who allowed it. The
word "Yank" is still term of reproach, and
has frequently been applied to my children by
| their schoolmates. A northern invalid at the
south must often feel that he is in the enemy'I
country. Tact and Christian courtesy are
requisite if useless discussions are to be avoid
ed. For my own part, 1 have never beer
panied by an unkind speech, and can truly
say that a northern woman cannot live among
southern women without learning to respect
| the brave way in which they took up life aftei
/ Al 49,. i 10 80
! port not only helpless children, but indolent
shiftless husbands. Many of them did the
most menial labor in order to feed and edu
cate their children. Boarders were taken
furniture and pictures were sacrificed, and
delicate hands, unused to toll, grew hard from
| handling hoe Bravely it was done, anC
well II they feel bitterly toward northern
visitors who can wonder?
There is another aspect of southern life
which must be regarded with disfavor by az
orderly northern family. This is the house
hold service. For years after the war, the re
lations between the whites and blacks wert
anomalous. The old negro who said tha
freedom meant the privilege of lying in bee
till noon expressed the prevailing idea Of hit
race. To do nothing was to be gentleman
To wear a lace veil, to carry parasol, and t.
sit in a rocking-chair, was to be fue lady,
| To keep situation for any time was to &c
back to slavery to be penniless and lazy anC
to dress gaudily was to be Independent. A
the sea- coast, where the negroes outnumbe
the whites, it is easy to get good servants, fol
they must do well in order to keep situation
but in the 'up-country" they do their worl
badly, shirking responsibility and resenting
reproof or even comment. A woman wa
engaged to take care of my rooms, her dutie!
beginning one Sunday morning. There wa!
little to do, and as she did that little remark
ably well did not speak to her at all unit
her work was done, when l asked her to bring
pitcher of drinking water. The next morn
ing she did not appear, but sent a note yin(
that she could not take a place where sh'
would be liable to receive orders. In many
cases the mistress5s are afraid to reprove the
domestcs, as discharged servant generally
succeeds in frightening away successor. A
d class, the servants are immoral, impertnen
aud dishonest. The younger women are un
tidy at home and gaudy in the streets. An!
one who studies their history can discern il
their present condition the blight of slavery
While they were formerly trained to do the
work we'll, there was no sense of indepen
dence impaired to them. They were sudden
ly cast upon their own resources with no idet
OF the value of money, no training in thrift
aud economy, and with false ideas of labor
Many Ol lncul nave uOno NOAh NhOg nav
bought and are successfully cultivating small
farms the children are sent to school, anC
the outlook in some quarters is more encour
aging than it was five years ago. The olde
women are faithful nurses and servants, gen
tie and tender in sickness, and ready to d.
| any service for their former owners. l hav
heard many a story of the devoted, conscien
tious, untiring labor of a negro woman TO
her former mistress, who had become old, il
and desolate. Not a few faithful mammie
and aunties have known. Household ser
vice remains, however, one of the worst evil
OF southern life, and northern invalid viii
inevitably be annoyed sometimes even har
rassed, by it. One must not expect gooC
washing, nor well-swept corners, nor ligh
bread, nor quiet service. If one be favore
in these respects, he may fold his hands an
be grateful.
Experience has taught me that in pulmonar.
diseases the less medicine one takes the better
If the necessary conditions of dry, pure al
and good food eau be supplied, the docto
may be dismissed-even deied. When ply
sician, north or south, presoribes opium for
consumptive or recommends the use of whi'
key, my advice is-show him to the door
Gods pure air and sunshine cannot work
cure, then let the DEVILS helps alone. 1 Ispea
strongly because l have met physicians at tn
south whose treatment of consumption seen
ed limited to these two articles-whiskey an
opium.
A Anorthern invalid at the south has general
to face another disadvantage lack of goo
beef and milk At many points along th
coast, and ON the Kentucky and Tennessee
borders, good beef and mutton can be Obtain
ed but in the interior, and especially in th
"up country" hog and hominy becomes
fixed fact and the broiler memory. Even
the beef happens to be in good condition, it
badly butchered, and eaten too soon after xii
ing. The cock that crowed in the mornin
utters his last cry at twelve and comes to Il
BILE at two. In st. Augustine 1 could buy tn
milk of Jersey COW for twenty-five cents
quart, but it was as blue as the skies and thin
ner than water. In the Blue Ridge rego
the art of cookery is found at its worst. III
frying-pau is the only kitchen utensil, pork
the standard diet, bread and molasses is Il
holiday desert, and tobacco in some form
the sole luxury.
This may seem somber picture of southei
life but my purpose has been to protect Il
eager health-sesker against false expectation
illusions and disappointments. 1t is not wh
the invalid sees at the south that heals b
| weak lungs but the way he lives. When
went to Florida l expected to see land
Z flowers, but found mOnotonous backgroul
/ of pine trees and sand. When l saw in Il
| 4, and