Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-10
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
CHRLSTMAS IN GEORGIA.
The COntrnat between the FestivnI
there md here.

there ana here.
a GLIMPSE or THE COUNTRY, IT'S PEOPLE.
AND ITS UNDEvELoPED RESOURCES, FROM
THE PEN OF \ BRATTLEBORo WOMAN.
Editor Of The Hpnir II think you may
be interested to hear how Christmas is kept
way down in Georgia Much to our sur
prise we find that the people have no CON
ception of the day from a Christian stand.
point The real spirit Of the observance
Of the day, as it is kept at the North they
seem 70 have missed wholly Here it is a
huge Fourth Of July crudely carried out
In the cities for days before, great quaint
ties Of fire crackers, Roman candles and
rockets are displayed in all the shops and
on the street corners. Huge placards an
nounce Bargains in fireworks, full line of
rockets, etc, for Christmas" At day
break, on the day, cannon are fired, bells
rung and during the day the small boys,
black aud white, rejoice in fire crackers,
and torture their elders with tin trumpets
Chaistmas eve the colored people began
their solicitations. Our first visitor left an
exceedingly ample stocking on the door
knob Of our sitting room. A little later on
a cheese cloth bag, which would hold about
two quarts was tackled on our door Pres.
emily, upon answering a rap, we found
Nose grinning outside with cigar box,
which he handed us, saying, Santa Claus
box Missus. One Of our friends had
pillow case hung on her door, and was in
4 81. r. IL
10 deposit their gifts in. Christmas morn
ing, bright and early, they came bowling
and smiling with Merry Chrsmus, Mis-.
sus Chrsmus gif', Missusn All expect
something, and they are rarely disappoint-
ed, | fancy.
In the afternoon of the Christmas day a
great wagon drawn by mules, drove up to
the hotel, filed with negroes most gro
tesquey dressed, some as women. One old
man played violin, another banjo, and
songs. dances aud speeches were given
the most absurd aud side splitting per
formance one could imagine At the close
one negro. dressed in voluminous light
culored wrapper. with wreath Of artih
cial h'wers on his head, passed the hat for
contributions. Having secured all the
funds possible, they scrambled into the
wagon, the violin and banjo started up
and To the stratus Of an old plantation mel
ody, sung 10y sv eetrst voices, they proceed
ed to find IA new audience A southern
gentleman assured me that dozen such
companies could be formed IN a very few
E. IL 4. L..
ing below us in the street, and those too,
Who could sing, playi aud dance equally
we'll
We see great many amusing things,
not the..e amusing being the "cracker
turnouts' One sees decrepit old lean OK
hitched TO II tumble down, clay covered
cart, with II rope tied to one horn to guide
him with On high backed. spliut bot
toned chair in the cart, sits driver quite
in keeping with the rig He is equally
skillful in cracking his long whip t~hence
comes the name cracker and in sending
streams Of tobacco juice long distances.
Agaiu YOU will see two old oxen in for
lorn mud covered wagon, with the iuevita-
BILE clothes lines tied to their horns The
wagon will he piled high with bales Of cot
ton or bags Of corn, and on top will be
perched the husband, and beside him, with
an enormous sunhonr ct on her head and
snuff stick in her mouth sits the wife, with
her son and heir in her arms. How they
keep from capsizing ON these fearful roads
is beyond my ken. Occasionally you will
a tI..r-
horse aud a mule, but never pair Of good
horses driven by II native They speak of
the farmers as having 'one mule farm
or two mule farm, meaning that a man
raises what cotton one mule OF two can
cultivate, rs the case may be. II you ask
one Of these farmers why he does not
plough deeper and raise a better crop, he
will tell you, with his nimitable southern
drawl, Daddy didn't" The land has new
er been used they simply scratch over the
top aud raise the fewest possible necessities
am oyerw helmed with the resources Of
this country, all undeveloped The natives
can never utilize them. Northern brain
and skill will do it.
We are 1900 feet above the sea. The
country is very rolling, covered with woods,
chiefly pine, though there are many oak,
hickory, beech, sycamore, black jack and
sweet gum trees. 1t is now simply love
| ly wilderness. The climate is delightful
and many persons are here for their health.
particularly those suffering from bronchial
and lung trouble Though the climate is So
charming, and immunity from severe cold
and sudden trying changes is very grateful,
we are more and more convinced that New
England is the paradise of this country
AP g.