Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-02
IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA.
GRAPHIC PICTURE or AN ODD TYPE
OF HUMANITY.

The Abode Of q Hue Ridge Mountaineer
OF Average Means and rhrift-Primitivs
Furniture and Household Conveniences.
Hospitality and simplicity.
The house stands In clearing of some ten
or fifteen or twenty acres, comprising a mar
row strip Of bottom land on the banks Of q
little stream or branch, while the rest of the
cultivated ground gently slopes upon the
mountain side. The house is built of logs,
the cracks either stopped with mortar made
of clay or by split boards nailed over them.
There are generally two rooms in the house,
and the one 1 am about to describe had q
rude porch in front, used rs a storage place
for agricultural implements, as also a saddle
and bride. A winding path Of about fifty
yards carries you to cold spring, from
which the family bring their water for
domestic purposes
You summon the lord Of this manor at tho
gate by loud 'halloa." He is generally
found in the house around the premises
attending TO some minor duties The stranger
Is kindly received and seldom refused shell
ter and entertainment Shortly after had
dismounted and seen my horse attended to,
two pale, sickly looking women came to the
gate, each driving u little bull calf attached
to pillow, They seemed thoroughly wearied
out, and touched my sympathy. They were
dressed in cloth spun and woven by their
own hands. Their heads were protected by
old fashioned sun bonnets, and their shoes
badly worn Pretty soon they were joined
by young mountaineer, apparently about
Is years old, with an AK on his shoulder
He was six feet tall, a remarkably handsome
man, and proved to be the husband Of one of
the women, while the older was his mother
was as kindly received and treated as
Hospitality as their means allowed On en-
tering the door of the house 1 found myself
stunned for an instant by receiving a severe
blow upon the forehead | then discovered
what | afterward found to be a custom
among mountaineers-that in cutting the
door, at least one more log should have been
taken out, and unless you huInbly bowed
your head you are reminded Of the inciviity
by bump on the forehead.
There is scarcity OF chairs in most of all
the mountain houses, there generally being
only enough for the adult members Of the
family. The visitor, however, is given the
most comfortable seat, while the family find
accommodation on the beds and boxes In tho
room The wealth Of the mountaneer seems
to rest in bed quilts, and you see these cover
ings piled up in the corner Of the room as
high as your head When these people have
superf1uous money, instead of investing it In
stocks or bonds, they go to the nearest store
and purchase calico with which to make more
quilts When one of the girls marries, this
is her principal dowry You find the room
filed with beds, and they are stuck every
where it Is possible to place one. Their litera-
ture Is of the crudest kind consisting of sew
eral Grier's almanacs, dating back a number
of years, and perhaps two or three odd vol
unieS OF old novels or q well thumbed school
book The room is decidedly uncomfortable.
There are numerous cracks in the floor and
walls, through which the keen wind whistlea
The meals are prepared in tho other room
at an open fireplace, where is also kept the
loom and spinning wheel You are given q
seat at the table, but the chair you occupy Il
SO low that your plate is about on a level
with your chin, and eating is decidedly dis
agreeable undertaking. You are given q
greasy old knife, with one side of the handle
broken off, and a fork with a single prong.
Your plate is the old style blue rimmed crock
cry, with dirty crack nearly through it.
The tabiecloth has been stained yellow with
the numerous meals eaten upon it since TIA
last wash day. and il is stiff enough to stand
alone on its corners Fried hogs meat float
ing in grease, is invariably served, and this 10
passed TO you III the skillet, from which you
are expected TO help yourself. The piece Of
corn bread is also passed by hand, and as it
Is several inches thick and cooked very hard,
Il requires pretty strong grip Of the fingers
to break it. Ii You are given coffee. it is
NO hut fha-a 10
butter on the table, IL is a white stuff
W hen bedtime comes ono OF the beds tn tho
room is pointed out your place of rspose.
Perhaps there are several females in the room,
and You of course wait for them to retire be-
fore disrobing for the night. You will, how
ever, find yourself disappointed No more
attention is paid TO your presence by these
women than were you a log of wood and they
will keep their seats by the fire, smoking and
dipping snuff Whom you have retired, they
viii so to sleep In another bed In the same
room, aud perhaps not removed two feet from
the one you occupy. Even when there are
two rooms In a house all the beds will fire.
quently be placed in one apartment, to be
occupied by the entire family and their guests
The next morning on asking your bill You
viii find the invariable charge to bet mat
ters not what was your fare or accommoda-
five cents for each meal, bed,
and horse feed As l stated. however, these
people are hospitable and kind Some Of the
BEST soldiers In tbs Confederate army were
selected from among these mountaineers,
and II they were taught habits of industry 1
and thrift and properly educated. would 1
make a superior class Of citizens OF course,
In this description l refer only to the rudess 4
class Of Inhabitants Of our mountain counties
the typical moonshinsr.-Cor. Athens (Ga.)