Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-08-10
1 A AS A STEADY DIET
STRANGE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
NORTH ALABAMA.
They Ia White Clay From Infancy
and Eikc 1t, and Believe in Al!
SortsOf Onens and Signs.

A'I''
is the most sl4rscly populated and poor
est county In the State. Until a Re"
wears ago the entire county paid into the
State Treasury less than $1,000 per year
in taxes. Until three years ago 1t was
thirty-two miles from the nearest rail
road, and the County Court House was
sixty miles from u railroad station.
Churches and scnoplhousco were fe" and
far between, and the time vas, not very
long ngo. when there were only four
postofiiccs in the entire county.
The writer spent several days in the
county recently and visited tie homes Of a
number Of poor people who eat clay as
part Of their daily food. They live IN
small log cabins IL the rudest KIND and
exc out a miserable existence by farming,
hunting and fishing. Their farms, or
patches, rs they call them, are small
clcaring3 around their cabins and are
never more than Il few acres in extent.
Their crops consist Of corn. peas and
potatoes, and Il fcw who are fortunate
enough to own 4 horse attempt to raise a
little cotton. The land is very poor, and
rs the crops receive little work the yield
is always very poor. A few hogs ore
raised, but the majority depend on the
country stores for the few pounds Of meat
they cat during the year. In almost
every cave and on every little brook
among the bills is n 'moonshine still,
and the little crop Of corn gathered by
the clay eater is sold to the owner of the
still or converted into "%mountain dew" III
shares. They are too far from a market
to sell their corn for money, but they can
carry n kcg Of corn whisky to some Of the
larger settlements 4 few miles away and
obtain a few dollars in money, some to-
bacco, and coffee for it. Men, women,
and children are slaves to the tobacco
habit. The women chew and smoke and
most of them also use snuff when they
can obtain il.
The interior Of the cabin Of a clay
eater is rude III the extreme. cabin is
usually built Of small pine logs from which
the bark is sometimes removed. There
are no windows and usually only one
door. In winter the cracks between the
logs arctiIlcd with clay or rags and ONE
times boards are nailed over them on the
outside. In summer these cracks are
opened III order to allow plenty Of fresh
air to enter. There are no pictures on
the walls, No ornament of any kind, and
often ne furniture worthy of the name.
II there are bcdstcals they are Of the
crudcst kind, made by the head of the
family with no other tools than u saw
and axe. Usually the cabin is too small
for beadstcads if the family is large, and
they sleep on quilts and mattresses spread
on the floor: The entire family, often
ten or more persons, eat and sleep in ONT
small room. The cooking is done in one
fireplace, the utensils consisting Of a fry
ing pan, Il kettle, IN oven, and possibly
"A few pots. Cooking stoves, sewing ma
chimes and all modern convenicnces are
unknown. Many Of these people will no
believe that suchthings really exist. "A few
circus posters may adorn the walls ant
you may find a patent medicine almanac,
hut books and newspapers are unknown
None ofthc family can read. Their parent
before them could not read their chill
dren are growing up equally ignorant
and the majority Of them do not believ,
in hook learning. If the head of tn,
family belongs to the church he probabl,
keeps Il cheap Bible in the house, bu
they never hear it read except when som
travelling minister comes along and stop
for dinner or perhaps stays All night.
The clay eaten 10y these people is foun'
along the banks of the small mountai
streams in incxhaustiblc quantities. 1t
of a dirty white color usually sometime
Il pale yellow. 1t has a peculiarly oily ap
pearance, and this oil keeps it from stick
ing to the hands or mouth. When dry
does not crurnhle and a few drops c
water will easily soften 1t until it can b
rolled into any shape desired. 1t is al
most without taste, but must posses
somc nonrishmcnt, rs these people declar
they can suhslst upon it for days. The
place a small piece in the mouth and hol
II there until It gradually dissolvts and
swallowed in small quantities at a time
The quantity eaten at one time varit
from a lump as large a. a pea for the chill
or beginner To \ lump rs large a. a hen
egg for those who have eaten it for year,
The only bad effect Of CLAY eatin
seems to he the peculiar appearance
gives the skin Of those who become a,
dicted 10 the habit. The skin turns pal,
50 pale, in fact. rs 70 give the face Oh
pallor of death, and then later on it turr
a peculiar pale yellow. 4 color closely T,
semhling some Of the clay eaten. Childre
who addicted II the habit grow old, .
least IN appearance. prematurely. an
their faces lose forever the bright glow
youth and health. There is little sicknt
among the clay eaters. and they live
long rs the average Of mankind, 50 it
conclusive that the habit is not fatal in j
effects.
Il may or may not be the result of cla
eating, but these people are as suberst
tious As the followers of a Voodoo. Til
have signs for everything, and almo
worship the 400 Corn is planted VIII.
the moon is full. and potatoes are plantt
On the dark Of the moon. They will n
start on n journey or begin q joh unle
the moon Is right. and they ~foreteli storm
and all kinds of disasters by the anpe,,
Ance OF the moon. II one end OF q ne
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