The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-03
Studies il sAs south.

I rode out on horseback, over the /
mountains from Huntsville, Ala, q dor
en- miles or more 70 see cotton mill At
one point saw, near the road, negro
airxinr j post hole, while TIVE tall white
men directed his operations. ! had
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 q somewhat ex-
trene application Of il. 4 little further
on young negro perhaps twenty years
old crossed the road Just ia advance Of
me with books and slate under his arm,
evidently on his way TO school. Icalled
to him. and asked him two or three
question designed to educe whatever
knowledge he might possess on points OF
/ interest to me. He answered briefly,
/ and then added, .But hsin't got much
time fer ter STAN" was astoundeds
and could scarcely believe that had
heard Alright. Everybody that had
seen in the South before had seemed TO
have unlimited time fer ter stan and
/ this fellows utteranee had an explosive
and revolutionary sound. IL should
hear of ANYTHING noticeable being done
| ia that region. should suspect this boy
as having 4 hand in Il. As rode away,
| and looked at his energetic movement
across the fields, il occurred TO me that
/ IL / should ever write a book about the
destiny Of the colored race in the cOun-
try. | should ike TO dedicate il to the ne
/ gro who hain't got much time Ter ter
stan"
In various parts of the South found
a 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
know too much about them to expeXI
great things. They always employ an
H oyerseer, paying him more than the
Il other hands receive. The negroes will
do no good" all such men say, without
Isomebody to oversee them and keeI
them at work. The oyerseer Is resPon
sible for the amount and character Of
|. the work accomplished, and if there II
any failure, something is deducted iron
his paw. The employer either Furnishes
all supplies for the maintenance OF ms
!. hands during the season, keeping an &C
! count, and charging them with whateve
! they receive (or ''take w" as the phras'
, lis \ or he authorizes a merchant IN TIT
townt to supply them, becoming respon
sible to the extent of the wages OF HI
. men. Then, as / learned everywhere
the laborers try to obtain credit for al
= that is coming to them,' aud httl
i more, looked at many of the accoun
. books kept by these farmers, the record
1 of their dealings with their workmeT
. | Many of the charges were for thing
4 which were absurd and extravagant tc
e the negroes to buy,-costly articles
y dress for the women and luxuries for II
s. table. / often asked such employee
i why they did not give their hands sou
"a advice about economy, and the use
a their best Judgment regarding the sele
To ton of things most necessary and Us
of | full for them when expending their N
IN ney; but they always said it would
NJ no good. t'Humphl Dey hain't got
70 iugments." | was in a country st'
tv one morning, when negro woman ca
Il in and called for dollars worth OF
,rs car. The merchant dipped out bro
,r- sugar, but the woman objected, a
ali wanted white. The man remonstra
ro. with her for her extravaganza, say
that he could not himself afford to
of such things as she bought. She
,sa greatly offended, and retorted that s
&c fhines might "do fuh niggahs an
ms m down white folks. lows my mo
les les as godd' Cunnel Gahshom's
,ch new" The merchant remarked that
I'M would probably never come to his $
The negro farmers said that I
ted hands nearly stuck up" their wys
in faster than they earned them and
~ often added such observations as tn
are "a niger will buy anything.
led could sell any man OH my place ste
nd boat, or an elephant. or circus D.
80 80 waoon.-anything in the world,- ,-if
.ai had the money" One man, who ha
Of family, and was working for ten dol
he per month, "took up" three dollars
nd eighty cents in a month for wins NJ.
OF oSt such extravaganza and lack of ju
hat ment as to what laborer's family nc
to or can afford to buy are very gen'
no, among the negro laborer's.-Atlanti'