Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-05
SUFFERING IN THE SOUTH.
A Woman Tells of the Privations
 Families During the War;

Families During the War.
 "You northerners knew very little about the sufferings that war entails, said south ern woman Some of you may have lost money; some surely did lose husbands, sons, brothers or relatives of some degree; but none of you suffered the bangs of hunger, as we did AS the blockade grew tighter and tighter, it was as though bandage was be- ing tied closer and closer around the neck of each one of us poor dwellers in the south That cut off our luxuries, that had almost become necessities so much had they become the component parts of our every day meals Oh, how I have sighed for a cup of real cof- fee, after drinking decoctions of burnt rye or potatoes. And I used to dream how fragrant a cup of real simon pure tea would be, after slipping for months vile decoctions of sassa- fras.
 "rEe army in the field also depleted the land and drew away not only provisions, but the men that might have replenished the storehouses and larders by supervising the work in the fields The slaves were wonder fully loyal to their masters households while the masters were away fighting. They worked faithfully, but they could not work as under standingly as when they were directed by their old employers So the field crops were not as large as usual. And it had always been the curse of the south that 1t devoted so large a share of its energies to raising cotton.
 "I remember that when Sherman's army came along many persons, once wealthy and who never knew want, watched till the cav airy horses had left their feeding troughs and then went and picked up the grains of corn the horses had wastedrn
 "What was the article whose loss troubled you mostg"
 ssSalt It grew scar,cer and scarcer After a while we boiled the bags in which bacon had been shipped and the coverings of the hams. Then, after the supply was exhausted, the ground under the smoke houses was dug up and mixed with water in huge caldrons, and roaring fires were set going. AS the water bubbled up under the fierce heat, we skinned the salt from the surface. Doubt less much sickness was chargeable to the lack of salt, which could not be procured for love or money.n
 "Did anybody absolutely starveF . "I never saw any statement that anybody actually died in the south for lack of food, but many came very near it. One case that came under my own observation was par ticularly sad One lady, with her daughter and two little boys, were left alone upon a farm of l50 acres, the father being absent with the army. This family had eaten every thing there was on the farm except one old hen that had escaped the raid of the forag- ing soldiers by running under the barn. little corn that had been hidden in the board ing of the barn had at last given out, and the old hen was killed and cooked There was no salt or pepper with which to season 1t, but it was set upon the table for what seemed to be the last meal the family would ever eat, when the door was burst open and party of camp followers swept the fowl from the table and tore it limb from limb A kind hearted Federal officer came along shortly after and gave the poor woman some rations. Had it not been for his providential appear ing she and her little ones must have starved. .n-New York Press
 L.c.ed the AssuraDce.
 Gas Omcial ito collectorl-Did you tell Mir Hendricks that if his bill is not paid today the gas will be shut off
 Collector-No, sir.
 Ofacial-Why notf
 Collector-Because was calling on his daughter last night until 1a:So and hadn't the cheek-The Epoch.