The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-01-02
CORRESPONDENCE.
BRIsToL, TEss., Dec. 81, 1880

BBIsToL, TENN, Dec. 81, 1880.
Editor Journal:
1t is now over years since | came south
two years in Eastern Virginia on the
"black belt" four years here in south
west Virginia. / sometimes look back to
Bennington County where ] spent over
twenty FIVE years. and old faces come mp
before my minds eye and think ] would
like to say in Virginia style "Ho' do.
Receiving the Journal today gave me an
ius pirstion to write a letter. II your read
ers know as little as did about this coun.
try, come facts about IL may interest them
Bristol is town on the line between
Tennessee and Virginia, about half IN
each state; the post Office is in Tennessee
our main street is the line.
We have a population of about 10000
and the town has been built since the
"wa", we date from and back to the war
generally.
The town is thrifty and growing fast
enough. We have street cars, electric
lights and q water plant, muddy streets
add rough side walks, two colleges. one
for males and one for females. Public
schools are not failure rs we never had
any worthy OF the name except the color
ed departments, those are "tolerble'. The
young colored boys and girls are getting an
education, but for immediate use it dom
improve them but the future is the point
when they know how to use an education.
Now they think ii means no work. When
they Rnd that they must work, and that
education is q help TO get good pay and to
make them intelligent WORKERS, then they
will improve and this education will de.
velop the good it has done, but for the
present give me the old dsrkey, man or
woman. ! like the negroes, we cant do
without them, they ara as useful as any
portion OF the inhabitants. None but
cranks will advocate moving the colored
people out Of the south.
Treat them like children, kindly, honest
" and firmly and there are no better work
ers that | ever met The right treatment
secure their confidence and they are the
best help in the honse, on farms, aud in
shops They are jolly and happy but the
brains mnst be supplied. There are ex
cep,ions. Some are smart, but those are
generally stock. On the whole the negro
is prospecting. They have coloved teach
ers aud colored preachers. They don't
want to mix with the whites, and il is
better they should not In all busine, IS
matters they stand equal with the whites.
merchants cater for their trade, and few
are selling goods While am writing ]
can see grocery run by q colored man
and as good as stores will average in the
town and has the custom OF some OF the
best whites
The white population is similar In this
town TO other towns OF itH size. Smart,
intelligent merchants. and men doing 9th
err business The lover order are little
of color. they are "born tired. The
people generally are religious We have
nine churchs II is seldom one hesrs any
profsne language here, and | am sorry TO
say men here from the north are not as
particular abont using language not suit
able for Sunday school teacher as the
natives. but the prescbe.s are no' very in
teresting. II is penance to listen to them
for an hour regret must say thrse
church members 40 not care 10 mir their
religion with other business quite enough
The ministers are 10 fault, they are behind
the times from 80 to 75 years. ,inkering
on doctrine instead 81 telling us how We
oneht to behave, for ont Of church some
forge. their religion until they 60 in again
The colored preacher IL es,imstei by the
ability Of bis lungs. and tie audience
show their zeal by singing The latter is
about hall the service, which Is pretty
good, bat as rnle there is much snper
stitiou mixed With the religion OF both
black and white.
like this country. i, suits me First.
j, 10 healthy. no place more 80. sscoud.
the climate is foe. A. look out see
the green grass. men walking GA the street
without coats II We hsve the rsual wealth.
or. neg, week il vill be colder and We may
have little suow. That will pass over
aud il will he warmer. About January 10
cold snap Of five or sir days sod the tier
mome,er nsy so below zero. Then ease
Of and 10 February. spnng will begir. |
have planted Irish pots,es in Febursry ard
dug in Msy, 10 time for second crop.
!, is never very he, or very cold only
for day OF two, nights 10 mid SIMMER
are cool, and slssys cool enough 10 get 5
good sleep. The mid day Sun Is bot il
ors 10 stsniiog siill. bat in the shsie =
cooling breeze always blows
| tnsy in sno,hsr-ie,ief talk Aboui the
coustry AID The eoantsy people
Politically this par. Of Virginia 10 quite