Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-12-26

to Work by the Gay during the gfinu'
ing. season are accommodated. No
Chinese here; but few in the state.
No Italians or I,atIns OF any nation on
this famous plantation; no native
whites either, as rule !; but the white
people employed here are mainly blue.
eyed and fair-haired men from the
north of Europe. They are able
bodied and willing workers. They are
most generously fed and cared for, but
they do no, stand the climate long.
Many. l found, were already down
with fever. They came to this coun-
try as sailors.
At ten o'clock l was in the saddle
alongside of the master Of the planta-
ton, on my way out to the heart of
the broad emerald cane fields that lay
waving in the warm and indolent wind.
We were going to see the hundreds of
men and women at their hot, intrepid
toll. The sun was climbing up almost
to perpendicular position, it seemed.
and came pouring down upon US, as
we rode along the level. grassy lands
4 between the care, as if it would con-
sumo us.
4 The mosquitoes came out OF the
cane and literally covered our horses.
We had been taking something for
the malaria, and we now drew rein !;
and my very sombre and thoughtful
host handed me something, with a
quick wink, and advised me "to take it
forthe mosquitoes"
This man at my side. the merriest
and best natured man that ever carried
lead which had been presented him
by a New Orleans duelist, expected
: me to take his advice. | took his adj
: wee and his whiskey, not as bever-
age did l take this, mind you, but as
a medicine, and then we rode on up
the long, green and level lane OF emer-
aid cane to where a force of Ioc
blacks had thrown themselves solidly
against the waving green wall OF juicy
cane before them.
1t was at once a grand and Won
drous scene, and as pitiul as 1t wa:
J possible to think of. If | suffered sit
y ting there on a strong horse, well-fec
nourished, clean aud comfortable
what must not the black men, not ovel
strong, have endured?
An overseer, perhaps about TIT
g fourth in order of authority white
e man-leaned heavily on short stick
+ as he stood IN one of the green lane
D which divided the vast feds init
/ blocks or "arpens." He silently watch
s ed the work go on from under hi
e broad, dropping hat.
e A watering cart came and went, ant
little black boys with wooden bucket
e dealt out the tepid clstern waters to til,
toilers.
On the outer stalks of the block O
cane behind us and on the other sid
= = of the grassy lane, hung huadret
d little dinners, tattered coats. too. Eats
II shoes also. for many of the laborer
e were bare-footed and as nearly nake'
n as the sharp edge of the cane woul,
!. allow.
II Far up the river for miles reache,
N this emerald field far down the river 70
e miles it ran. But the tillable land doe
l, not reach far back from the water
~ bank. Mainly 1t is less than mil
=, deep from the river at that poin
y you can come upon marsh mud, will
- vines. great cypress trees and oak tree
III and all sorts of trees, and all these ar
~ mantled and draped in glorious coat
VI of gray and their nantes are wor
u with grace and dignity that mark
them as noble order of forests. Whe
~ the American painter comes upo
ie earth he will come to the banks of tn
ie Father of Waters and paint tree i
~ moss, and SO be immortal In til
AZ land.
IN But enough of sentiment. Til
III merciless sun is now almost in mic
d heaven. There is a sort of sickenip
NC odor in the air that comes from tn
cane and almost nauseates me. b
40 looking at the black toiiers before me
vi nerve myself to endure and watch the
iS steady strokes with patience and az
IL miration. 1t is to be admitted, how
ever, that my enthusiasm for this SO
eu OF work is oozing away
Gil l shall never again take up a lum
III of sugar for my coffee without thinkln
how much drea dful toll it has cos
Tl Better to sit down on the humble:
!. bench in shoe-shop in Lynn, an
ID make shoes, than this malarious wor
- among the cane under the precipitor
nc sun.
y The brave and patient column {
st blacks has now half vanquished tn
'u great green block before it. The blac
81 people are nearly half way to I'll
u, back levee" where the field term
~ mates. The Planter, after silently ac
1t vislng and administering somethin
more for the mosquitoes and malari;
ie spurs his horse down out of the gree
e lane into the fallen rows of cane an
~ y, on and close up to the charging colum
Ii of blacks.
. Our horses are up to their bellies il
ie the leaves and tops of the cane whic
as has been trimmed and shorn from tn
:" red stalks which lie crosswise over al
&c other turrow, with their ends res,ln
- on ridges and stubble.
These cane tops rattle as We rid