The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-07-05

the time to hear such and other cases.
The druggists who were thus treated,
only one or two of whom now carry on
business In the city of Richmond, were
sill well-known and highly respected cit.
izens.
Arkansas Mountaineers.
"Last summer T had occasion To spend
some time among the mountains of
Northwest Arkansas, and was thrown
much in the company Of the simple
country folk of that undeveloped region,
and had ample opportunity to study
modern primitive mau." The speaker
was Col. Ashley Pond, of Michigan.
'These people, for the most part, are
simple in their habits, careless of their
appearance-they are densely ignorant
and wholly unsophisticated.
"Liying as they do far from the baunts
of civilization and the hurry and noise OF
modern progress, where even the appear
ance of stranger is an event to be
talked of and specula.ed upon for weeks,
they are not much in advance of tho
original possessors Of the soil, or, I
should say, rocks, beneath the shadow Of
which they pass their lives, only at rare
intervals visiting tho nearest town or
village, perhaps fifty miles away. Being
ignorant, naturally they are supestitious,
and was amazed at the amount of folk
lore and legend current among thems
some of which would outvie any legend
of Sleepy Hollow or kindred lore, but
more often I was amused at The exager.
ated Importance they placed in signs and
omens, in which they devoutly believed.
"First in importance among them
comes the moon, which 10 watched by
them with religious faith, and e1erts an
influence upon almost every day of their
lives. Each change is observed with the
utmost solicitude. Their corn and run
ming vines must only be planted in the
light of the moon, while small grain and
tubers are supposed to thrive best when
planted in the dark; if worm fence is
laid or a gate post is set when Luna
shows her horns it will surely rot out in
short time, but if the work is done
when that luminary is fullest it will last
generation; if her horns hang down it
will be q wet month, and vice versa.
Even love, courtship and marriage are
thus Influenced, and. no we'll raised
mountain lass will consent to be welded
except when the moon is at her best.
"Tree frogs are their barometers in
summer and squirrels in winter. Thus,
if the frog is heard at night there will be
rain next day; if they are silent in June
there will be drought in July; if the
squirrel is industrious when the nuts are
brown on the trees hard winter is pre-
saged, but if the little rodent is lazy and
Indifferent about gathering stores Christ.
mas will come and go without snow II
they sport much in the treetops the
weather will be fair; if they run upon
the ground storms will follow.
1.-THE mountaineer is never at loss for
compass, since he finds one in every
rock and tree, for he long ago learned
that the moss grows heaviest on the north
side; and as for a thermometer, he little
cares if it be hot or cold 30 long as he has
plenty to eat and little to do.
"Amopg them it is considered fool
hardy to commence q journey or assume
any undertaking on Friday, and it is an
evil omen to receive a visit from stran'
ger on that day. The whip.poor-will is
regarded with the greatest awe, and II
one lights upon house a death is sure
to follow, and the bravest mountaineei
shudders when he hears the gray owl
making that disagreeable noise they call
laughing, for they swear that the bird ID
making sport of some misfortune that il
sure to happel.
"It hens Jackie a great deal you will
have company the next day; if your dog
howls some one he knows is in distress
if your horse neighs frequently you will
soon go on long journey. The height
of ill luck is to take your cat along when
you move, but if she comes to you it is
an omen of some piece of good fortune.
"These are but a few of the scores Of
meanings which these people apply to
incidents common to their daily lives
and he who would doubt them is consid-
cred unworthy of confidence, and, in fact
is looked upon in sort of pity as one
who is defying the fates, and will surely
sooner OF later, come to grief." ."-@. L0a''
Globe-Democrat.