Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-06-14
THE WALDENSIAN Sc
MENT.
SETTLE.
Charlotte Observer.

neSeS, eight miles east Of Morgan
ton on the Western North Caro-
lima Railroad. The trip was made
from Morganton in company with
Rev. Carlos Alberto Iron, the
president Of the colony; Mr..
Frisard, an enterprising and
genial Frenchman who has re-
Gently located at Morganton.
bought property and improved
it handsomely, and others. The
truth must be told: these colonists
are settled on very sterile land
and have had hard work getting
a foothold. There are 80 fami-
lies, numbering 332 souls. The
first Of them to come have been
just a year; the second install
ment six months. They made
little last year and the prospects
Tor this years crops are not
bright. Nearly all their small
savings have gone for transpor-
tation hither, for the first pay
ment on their property and for
subsistence since arrival, and
some of them are about at the
end Of their tether. The people
of MorgantOn have been exceed
mgly good to them, but their
cause is one which appeals to all
the State It is not intended to
represent that those people are
paupers and upon the people;
they have their holdings and are
Industrious in their work: but
until they can have time to take
root they may need some assis-
tance, and indeed they now need
help to enable them to build a
church and school house. A
church they must have for by
inheritance and Of themselves
they are a very religious people;
and a school house is only second
among their necessities. It is
probable that in a short time Dr..
Iron. or DR.. another one
of their ministers who has
already been over and is now en-
route again-will visit Charlotte
and other places in the State and
present their cause, and the o.
sercer bespeaks for whichever OF
them comes patient hearing
and liberal response.
The Observer has frequently
said that these are such immi-
grants as North Carolina wants.
They are patient, Industrious,
orderly and God-fearing. If
these succeed. other Waldenses
will come; if this colony should
fail it would be a misfortune to
the State. Dc. Iron, its head,
is bright, CHEEKY, amiable gen
tleman, who has great influence
with the people, and he is alto
gether hopeful of the result Of
the effort to settle them here
permanently. He has valuable
assistance in practical manage
ment now, in Mr.. John Meier,
late Of Charlotte, who, as stated
IN yesterdays paper, has just
been elected vice-president of the
colony. These people are in the
main farmers, but there are
among them carpenters, black
smiths and men of other pursuits
The farmers have undertaken
general agriculture but will give
special attention to grape grow
ing. The hosiery mill, as here
tofore stated, now about beins
completed by Mr.. Meier, viii
give employment to some O.
| them.
The physical and other per
sonal characteristics of the Wal
denses are interesting. They arr
small Of stature and swarthy O
complexion, in general appear
ance much like the Italian peopl
generally as these are known il
America. In manners they ar
extremely deferential. Hats ar
off and smiles are on as 500
as one looks at them. TIL
children are remarkable for tn
brightness of their little blac.
eyes and singularly attractiv
for the civility and sweetness c
, their manners. Men, wome
and children speak French an
Italian interchangeably, as
were, seeming to have no marke
preference for either. All al
simple mountain folk, who wi
make North Carolina excelle1
citizens after awhile. Natural
: they have their periods of diI
couragement, especially in COZ
temptation of the soil they hay
struck, for where they can
5 from farmer supports his fan
lily on the product of a half acl