The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-11-05

buds from the ends of the branches. it
will force stronger growth on the
laterals, and thus thicken the tree.
BACK FROM LIBERIA.
An Intelligent George. Negroes Gives
Her Impression of tho African Re-
| public.
Recently Juna Hudson arrived in
Atlanta, after an absence of over sew
cnteen years from Georgia. She was
one of the negroes who went to Liberia
soon after the close of the war. She
belonged to Major j. Warren of the Ex-
ecutive Office, and was the nurse of his
children. The craze for Liberia did
r OF captivate Juna, but it caught her
husband, skillful mechanic, who was
a free negro in slavery times, and had
accumulated property.
In the latter part of 1867 there was a
very large emigration of negroes from
the cotton states to Liberia. A party
of about fifty was made up in Musco-
gee and adjoining counties, of which
Hudson and his family were prominent
| members. The negroes who composed
this colony were nearly all old servants
of well-known Georgia families. They
reached Liberia safely, and founded a
Town which they named louisville, in
honor of the well-known Georgia fam
lily. The history of the colony is sad
one. Most of its members died of the
fever. Hudson prospered and accumu-
lot III <1xvv
months ago he died. His widow deter
mined to return to Georgia with her
two children and spent the remnant
of her days among her old friends.
Yesterday she reached Atlanta. and
went at once to see ''Mars Joe" Warren
at the capitol, who gave her cordial
welcome. Juna Hudson is woman of
remarkable intelligence, and appears
to be well educated. When asked
what she thought of that country, she
said: Il never liked it. 1t is a re-
markedly rich country and the climate
is generally agreeable. l don't know
when have felt day as hot as this.
The trouble is with fever, which never
fails to attack settlers, and is very fatal.
1t takes two years at least to
become acclimated. and don't think
the climate ever agrees we'll with any
body but the natives:
us the population growing?''
NO, sir. think not. The natives
may be increasing, but there are fewer
American negroes there now than
there used to be. Nearly all of the
fifty that went over in our party died.
Some came back. On the vessel that
brought me to New York were twenty
one emigrants returning to this coun-
try. They generally get enough of
Liberia in six months
"What inducements are offered to
settlers?''
Every family is given twenty-five
acres of land, and they can buy as
much more as they want for fifty cents
an acre. 1t is the richest land ever
saw, too. l had a beautiful place with
many Improvements. There were H.
600 bearing coffee trees on it, besides
thousands Of bananas and plantains.
1t was valued few years ago at 49,
600. Yet when l sold It to get
money to come back on, all real
lied was about $500. One reason of
Very little money is circulated. People
are afraid of the money because it is
constantly being deprecated. Trading
is done almost altogether by barter. l
could take my coffee and get anything
l wanted. So with syrup or fruit. But
when my property was offered for sale
for gold could hardly get anything
for it. The legislature is trying now
to make the money OF the country good.
Crops are bountiful, but every neces-
sary of life is high. Pork is thirty cents
pound; beef twenty cents: ham fifty
cents, and good flour very high"
"What about the government
1T is modelled after ours. All the
officers are negroes, and there are
good many politicians.
''Do the people generally seem to be
h' !'Nar r snnnos. 90 r,. n,+;,...
are happy in their way, but l don't
think the country would satisfy those
who had been raised in Georgia.
''What is the religion of the people?'
Among the cmigrants there are
the various denominations We have
here. The natives worship idols
why don't they send missionaries
among them?''
They do, but it is a hopeless task, 1
think. Among the thousands of ma
tives saw while there, only three had
been civilized and christianized
Missionaries are scattered all over the
country, and they find no trouble in get
ting crowds of the natives into their
churches and schools. Many of these
profess conversion, and are enrolled as
christians, but almost invariably they
60 back to idolatry when they return to
their tribes. The missionary work in
Liberia seems to be making no pro-
gress."
''You don't think the future of the
country looks bright?''
mo, sir. The emigrants who have
gone there from this country as a rule
are not contented. Many of them come
back, and many more would come if
they had means. The country is not
going to fill up with intelligent negroes,
and don't believe the natives will ever
be made into good citizens. They are
ignorant and brutal. They are happy
when they can come down from the
forest loaded with fruits to sell in the
towns, and then 60 back to their mis-
cradle huts.'
Make q Crazy Rug.
Take Il yard of railroad canvas,