Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-02-11
DENSE

II always had an idea that the sto-
ries we read about the ignorance Of
the people living in the mountain re-
gions of Tennessee were exaggera-
tons" said a Chicago nan who lately
made a visit to the southeastern
part OF the state. But now | know
better. These reports are not only
true, but the facts have not been half
told. | am not easily astonished. but
| c~onfors | was astonished by what
saw in Tennessee. Why, there are
lots Of men down there who have
grown old and have raised families
who can neither read nor write and
have never in their lives been far
enough away from their homes to lose
sight OF the smoke that curled out of
their chimneys. | knew there was a
time when people lived in houses that
had no windows in them, but never
dreamed that such a state of affairs
existed in this enlightened age. Yet
there are plenty of such habitations in
Tennessee. And the people who live
in them arc quite as much representa-
tive3 of civilization as their dwellings.
Trey have no knowledge whatever Of
the existence of a world that extends
beyond the range of their vision on a
clear day. will say, however, that
with them ignorance is decidedly bliss
full. To possess Il rifle or Il shot u
and a Jug OF whisky is the limit of their
ambition. They know nothing of the
value of money except as regards its
power of purchasing liquor and ammu-
milton.
Zone day n man whom / met had
occasion to 90 from his home to the
county seat He was a man of more
Intelligence than most of his fellows,
but he had never in his life been away
from home before. He had never seen
a town. The nearest approach TO one
lie had seen was the collection of
houses about the store where he sold
his truck and bought his bacon. When
he got back from the county-seat |
asked him what he thought of what no
saw. Well said he, all | got ter say
Is this: II this world is as big on tho
right OF us rs it ia on the left she must
be a regular whale
II was once riding up in the Cum
bcrland Mountains" continued tho
Chicago man, ''whcn saw a bearded
mountainecr splitting Il big tree ho
had fcllcd. 1t was a huge black wal
nut. said 10 him, My friend what
are you dOingP' I'm making fence
rails was his reply. Well, l said
You don't mean To tell mo you are
making fencc-rails out of that piece Of
timbere' Why, sartin. That's II good
log, amt ii? 1t was rs fine n black
walnut log ~ | ever saw, and if my
friend had known enough to get some
body with a few oxen or mules TO drag
tho log To the railroad he could have
sold it for $500, for it was worth more
than that.
But it Is not only tho mountainous
whose density of ignorance is aston
ishing. | observed n case notable as
showing in ii striking manner why
the South is so far behind the rest OF
the country in the matter of progress.
Tho lumber used in Tennessee for
building purposes is poplar, as the
mountains are full of it and pine is
scarce. Sawmills are established in
the ~'covcs,' and tho mill man cuts up
logs hauled To his saws by the noun
tainecrs. He pays Il certain sum for
logs, and then, figuring compensation
for his work Of saving, sets "a price on
his product. 1t happened that ut the
! any a w - ~ iItooiO NV III lNt VI
lumber was $lS per 1000 feet. A
man Of my acquaintance was having a
house built, and determined to tave
the interior finished with hardwood
and red cedar, which abounded in that
region. Accordingly he asked the
sawmill mar what he would charge
for lumber OF the kind wanted. My
friend was greatly ~astonisllod OF being
told that the price would be Just the
same a. for p~oplar-$lS per ZOO.
That sawmill man will probably ncyc,
yet rich, Had he taken his hardwood
and cedar lumber to the railroad aud
shipped II to Chattanooga or NASH
Vile it would there have brought him
$50 or $50 per 1000.
'Ono more yarn" added the Chicago
a "A big strapping hoy came
into the grocery store while was
there and offered Il bag Of hickory
nuts for sale. He wanted II quarter
FOR them. To afford mo a little amuse-
ment the storekceper threw down a S.
goldpicce and asked the boy if he
would sell them for that. No, Stree
he said. you can't cheat me. | want
a quarter The storekeeper after
ward told me that the boy didn't know
what the goldpjece vas He said the
boy, like most people in that region.
had no conception whatever OF n
amount OF money exceeding Il dollar.
That was his limit. beyond that his
fancy declined 10 carry him."-Chicdgo