The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-04-16
Immediately neighboring or

try. Immediately neighboring on
that live little town but few negroes
were induced to remove, but IN the
more remote regions to the north
west OF that point vacant cabins, with
their smokeleSs chimneys, broken
! fences and a general air Of desertion
become oppressively apparent. One
small farm after another is passed,
and now and then IN extensive plan
ti.tion. upon which no signs OF Lite
appear. Evidence of recent and hasty
removal are everywhere visible. Parts
Of broken furniture. cracked or broken
cooking utensils, old brogan shoes,
ard various remnants of wearing ap-
parel, all in 4 shape of having been
carelessly and hastily thrown aside,
bear testimony to the hurry and furry
with which the late inhabitants took
their departure. Occasionally va
grant cur dog, which, as general
thing, the country negro prizes above
even the members of his family, is to
be seen still. with mute but loyal
fortitude, standing guard over the
empty home Of bis whilom friend and
master. The country is full of these
miserable brutes, which were of ne
cessity left behind and no amount of
coaxing will induce the sad-eyed,
n,angy-coated mongrels to desert the
hearthstone. Here and there little
mounds. with plain board markings,
tell of the last rest resting place OF
the kindred of those who have yolun-
tarly sought new homes in the dis
tant Southwest. Once in while
damaged coon pelt flaps in the breeze
against the gable of the empty hut;
an old battered bucket sits by the
well side: wide open barn doors,
vacant managers, empty COW pens,
AID neglected garden patches com
bine to present picture IN detail OF
utter desolation. The humble meet
ing house, in which God was wor-
shipped on Sunday and the young
blacks received instructions in the
blue black speller on week days, IS
now a lonesome testimonial of ad-
vantages enjoyed in homes they have
left, which may not be so easily OBJ
tanned again.
Still further on one comes to cross
roads, and here again all is hushed
and silent as a churchyard. The
blacksmith shop is nailed up, the
forge is gone, and with it the smith.
So also is the store closed and barred,
the goods removed, and the store
keeper with them. So contagious
was the exodus epidemic that one or
two white families, formerly resident
here, caught the Infection and went
along with their colored neighbors.
A stray domestic fowl, which proba-
bly, roasted in some sequestered spot
unknown to it's owner, is met with
now and then, as is also a pig or two
vainly searching for it's former mates.
The road itself shows that there has
been no recent travel over it, and,
with the advancing spring, weeds and
grass are sprouting forth soon to en-
swath the pathway in track of living
green. ~
-Ss.ss.lte Ss.sslte-ar 81 ( the the visible evidences Of
the desolation wrought by the exc
dus. but of course they are only to
be met within tie more remote Sec
tions. From the vicinity Of all towns
very few negroe, have removed, for
the double reason that they were not
wanted and wouldnot have have gone
if they had been. In and about all OF
the cities and towns there san abund-
ance of negro labor, which, but for
the demoralizing effect Of town Life on
the colored citizen, might be utilized
in restoring the waste places and re-
ha1ilita35ing the planting interests,
now at a standstill. If it vas posi-
BILE to properly distribute the surplus
and burdensome negro elements OF
the towns throughout the farming
districts now lying waste the exodus
would prove blessing to the State,
which has for so many years suffered
from an excessive, consuming and
non-producing population. But that
this will be done, or that it is possible
to do it, none who knows the town
bred negro dares hope.
But even as matters now stand, the
landowners are taking very philo-
sophical view of the situation, and the
moreforeseeing agree that the effect Of
the exodus will ultimately be benef-
cial to the State in every way.