The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-06-12
OUR SOUTHERN BUDGET.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
RALEIGH, NC, May 90, 1886.
"a big white house
With nobody living in it

The old song says down in Alibam."
So we will let the saying of the song go
for what it is worth. 1t is fact, how
ever, that "down in North Carolina"
there are 'mighty few ''big white
houses with nobody living in 'em."
The houses, regardless of color, and al
most of condition, are occupied. An
empty house is novelty. And even an
unoccupied cabin is quite rarity.
If there is another part of the United
States where it seems to he almost q
crime to have a house surrounded by
grass, have never heard of it. Where
the beauty of a door-yard devoid of
grass-an open, eye-destroying plain of
white sand-comes in, | have never vet
discovered.
Now this may sound almost treason
able to readers who have white, claring,
barren door-yards, but it is the truth,
and, quoting the sentiment of that elo-
quent Southron, Henry, of Virginia. l
must say, if it is treason it must stand
as it is written. And yet experience has
shown that fine lawns can be enioved
even on the sandicst of the sandy lands.
l would like to suggest to the ladies of
the South that white patches of door
yards, where green grass should be
grown, are productive of eye disorders
and headache. -...
'Do you see those shade trees?" in
quiled a noble hearted generous South
ern gentleman, pointing to group of
noble oaks, sycamores and gums that
threw a cool shade over the sandy soil
beneath Nodding acquiescence, he
made the startling confession that they
had cost him many thousands of dollars.
Lost in wonder | asked him to explain.
lie did so, and the explanation was to
the effect that the shade had acted as a
wooer, and many hours that should
have been devoted to labor had been
spent in more quiet rest, in obedience to
the mute appeal of the wavin trees.
Indoors and outdoors in the South
too much dependence is placed on the
colored help. This is especially true of
the natives. The writer knows of some
good workers among the colored popu-
lation, but the good ones are largely in
the minority. Green girls, Just over
from 'the old sod" while considered
poor enough in the North, are far better
than the greater part Of the domestic
help of the South. Here the colored
girls are all cooks( !)and they understand
every branch of household labor-ac-
cording TO their own talk. The fact is
that their skill as cooks consists In
knowing how to fry bacon and make
little round baking powder biscuit
Further than that, silence on ny part is
golden.
Now the following is fact, and we
would like to impress It thoroughly in
the h ads of some northern people.
1t is an erroneous notion that North
ern people have fallen into that white
people who labor in the South are looked
down upon. Such is far from the fact.
People want Ia be self-reliant down
here. They needs must have examples
set them in that direction. / have vet
to see the first Southern man who fails
to respect man who knows how to do
his own work, and fearlessly does it.
As to working girls-I would be will
ing to guarantee good places for at least
twenty good working girls from the
North-places where they would be
properly treated, well and promptly
paid, and where they could provide
handsomely for the future.
A great effort is often made to in luce
men to come South, or go West. |
would advise that an effort be made TO
induce an immigration of working girls.
wouldn't advise any girl to 90 hap
hazard into any new country, or into
the city; but they are needed down here.
and they can do a good work by com
ing. Some friend should be written to.
or the State Commissioner of Immigra-
tion, ] dare say, would interest himself
in behalf of any girls who want work.
and are willing TO do their duty con-
scientiously by their employers.
The chances in the South have not
been over-stated; but there isn't won
derfully great opportunity for shoddy
aristocrats and kid-gloyed gentlemen of
leisure, who have no capital to back
them up. People who can face Oh
staeles with brave hearts and hopeful
souls are needed here and can do well
Those who. want and expect an easy
time from the outset win not succeed
here, or any where else. f-
FP. woapwABp.