The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1892-01-15
THE WHITE BARBARIAN.
The Character and Capabilities of the
''Poor Whites" of the South.
TINTED States Investor.

United States Investor
We have purposcly adopted this cx-
prcssiyc term in locating and setting
apart our client 1t is not specially
"catchv Or chic" but is comprehensive,
pointed and familiar to public cars. IT is
Of The white barbarian Of the South as
distinguished from the savage Of any and
all other lands, that We will present him
to you.
In saying that our hero is a southern
barbarian, We do not for once admit that
there ID or ever was such thing a. bar
barism in our southern States. The
newspapers and the politicians tell rs
that the creature does exist in great num-
hers here among us, and We will presume
that such is the case The paradox, exist
ing in metaphor, vanshes in explanations
| all the children Of the earth are taught
to believe that there is It man i'll the
moon, we must act toward them as il the
man was actually in the moon.
In his family his humble home and
| among his acighbors in poverty and OBJ
SECURITY he best appears All the sweet
and tender graces Of hospitality, liberali-
ty, respect for religion. helping the poor
attending the sick, and deserving the Sab
bath day, characterize this poor white
man Of the South In this sphere, far
away from the maddng crowd, is where
he reigns He is here.
PRINCE wIroUr A PORTION,
king uncrowned. and hero in buckrum.
We bless God for the sweet and happy
memories Of these dear by-gonc days,
when we ate at their tables, sat by their
open hearths and held sweet c0ncoursc
, with them They we're our daily comrades
! from the cradle to the parting OF the ways
in manhood Free from so many of the
vices of case and wealth, he yet had his
sins and faults. He did never envy his
richer neiehbors nor admit any degree o.
infcrority If his rich neighbor suffered
from the govt, or riotous living, our hero
could initiate him in his half holiday, Sat
urdav evening frolic' at the village bar
We might group his frailtics and put down
TO his discredit hardly more than three
cricyious sins He would take his dram,
he would use vigorous language in wrath,
and back his horse to beat the best maH
to the other end OF the lane.
Faithful to his VOWS, gentle to his wo-
men folks, and kind to his offspring, and
| helpful TO his poor ncighbors, he filled
his place we'll and quiet up to the measure
of his ability. When lie died and was
buried in his own garden without slab or
tomb. the preacher said Il saint had
entered into rest, and he did not miss the
truth as often as when he pronounced
the benedicion over the grave OF his rich
friend His bed and board are open to
the stranger who enters, and without cost
10 the traveller His friendship and ac-
auintancc are readily gained, and his CON
fdenoe as easily abused Always helpful
never niggardly in his dealings, he lives
nearer to the limit of his means than any
of his kind in all the world. Fighting the
wars of his country that hlishting and
competitive force might live to crowd ham
into Il corner, he lives to-day the bright
est example of unsclfisl! patriotism and
obstinate loyalty, Ournation ever present
ed. Many varieties of the white harha-
rian exist in the southern country In
purely agricultural regions he is now, and
always was farmer.
In the long years intervening between
the departure of the Indian and the free
dom Of tho negro, the poorer class of white
people were by force OF necessity
COMPELLED TO LIVE on TUE FARM,
With no largo oities and very few man
ufacturing plants, no way was open TO nm
| or his children to diversity their pursuits
The few cotton mills, and fewer iron ana
wood working industries, were easily sup
nlied from the local population. Ii he
grew tired of his little farm, he could buy
himself an axe, saw and an anger and
huild cheap houses for his class. Or, he
could pull up stakes altogether, ana go
further west to do the same things out
thcre. These were his chances for about
50 years. He did what was best IN his
Judgment, and most generally settled in
his native county and lived as his anGcs:;
tors before him mad done. The poor whine
people of the South are very much abns-
ed class, prosecuted and mallsned COM
munity, forever before the public as de-
PENDANTS in libel loNs attach,
The stranger from the northern states les,
on hurried trip TO other parts, sees him
from Il car window or meets him in country
towns. His dress Of home-made cloth, his
traditional SLOUGH hat with Tapping brlM,
his face and head forever Vnshorn and un-
shaven-these things proclaim hls place
and name. The stranger, seeing The face
and form. takes it for a type of a race.
The mental operation of this average
stranger, for scope of leps apd snap OF
o oo'n'is Is the koaak Of social science
and about. as accurate, Inpoitical news
papers our client is permanent aoy '
| !. tbo houR IF hnIlOT- box