Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-06-30

there was nothing of the strained rela-
ton SO often found in our American so.
ciety. Master and servant were brought
into direct relation without the interview
ton of the hated overseer. The plan
tation was usually not too large for the
owner tn take direct supervision of it,
know his servants personally and to visit
the quarters, which We're not very far
from the "big house, The perfect
healthfulness of the climate made life
possible all the year round on the fsan
tations-for white master as well as i:e.
gro servant. d
On his fathers farm the fieldhands
were on the kindlicst terms with the
white members of the family, especially
with the children, who delighted to
visit the quarters, to hear the stories
and to feast upon the cracking bread
AMI roast sweet potatoes, that never
seemed quite so perfect anywhere else.
The relations between the field hands
and their owners were here very much
the same rs they were, in other parts of
the South, between the household SER
wants and their masters.
Here no impossible chasm shnt off
the "po' whites, completely ostracizing
them, rs was the case in many parts of
the Southern States. Life was almost
archaic in its simplicity. The poorer
classes were treated by their neighbors
OF the better class with the confidence
and respect that their sturdy upright
ness and self respect commanded. They
were simple. unlettered folk, full of
hardihOOd and loyalty. They did what
they pleased with the kings English.
but were true to the behests of all hon
or" the men were brave and the women
were virtuous. This is utterly nm
like the picture that has been so often
drawn of the Georgia ''cra:ker."
Among the children of this gentle
hearted, simple-minde1 people, Richard
Johnston grew up, forming friendships
which colOred oil his future life, and
furnish the keynote to that life and
work.
Until he was eight years old, Richard
Johnston lived in this simply happy.
untrammeled life, absorbing its charac
teristics day by day, and being nodded
by its influences. For four wears he
attended what is known in some regions
OF the South as an "old field school"
Some poor broken-down farmer, or bust
ness man, at the end Of his resources.
would betake himself to teaching for a
mere pittance.
"The Goose-pond School," the first
story in the earliest series of "The |
Dukesborough Tales" is n genuine pic
ture OF the old field school, touched |
with the quaint humor Of it's writer.
No one can read this story without
feeling the warm hearted, loving recoc
milton of all that is good as we'll as q
fnll appreciation of all its ubsurdities
Inc uncouthness of the master, his bru-
tality and craven cowardice, were excep-
tlonal but not impossible, and thew
serve to bring out into clearer relief
The system, the school, and the "scho.
lars' than more commonplace and
teacher would have done.
In 1880, when the boy was eight wears
Did. Mr.. Johnston moved first to Craw
ordvillc, then to Powelton, the dukes
borough" Of the tales. This he did TO
ylve his younger children the bene-
1t OF better schools than they could find
n the country. At this time Powelton
vas finished town of never more than
me hundred and fifty inhabitants.
After leaving the Powelton school the
10Y went to college, where he was grad.
lated in 1841. He taught two years.
md then began the practice of law with
anton Stephens, younger brother of
alexander h. Stephens, as his partner.
'or ten years he continued at the bar.
q the northern and middle circuits of
ieorgia. - ,
A lawyers life, in those days, when
No country Was 30 thinly settled that
% one small district afforded sufficient
t'gation to support a single LAWYER.
'as peculiar one. A bevy of practi,
!oners following the court in its SEES.
ions made . peripatetic society for ,
themselves. The scenes in court were .
irresistibly funny; the pc. !
ct the people. the inoonQruity 1