New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-04
A PRESENT-DAY PLANTATION
FARMING LIFE IN THE SOUTH UNDER
MODERN CONDITIONS.

very different plan from that on which they were
managed in the 'old days" on plantation or a~
acres of land in South Carolina the proprietor re-
serves about 30 acres for his planting ana
rents out the remainder TO small farmers VINO give
him so many pounds or bales Of cotton for the rent
in proportion 10 the quantity and quality 81 the
particular piece OF ground they cultivate the size
Of the house and courthouse of which they nave the
use etc. Much discrimination is required In the Sc
lection Of tenants for defective or indifferent far
ing will mpoverlsh the land and endanger the land
lords chances OF collecting his rent. Most OF the
tenants negroes, forty families OF that race re-
siding the place OF these there are NUMBER
VINO excellent farmers, thrifty, INDUSTRIOUS
prompt in paying their obligations, and thoroughly
interested in everything that pertains to their bust
ness The wife works as hard her husband;
harder In fact, because when her field work Is over
she cooks the simple meals, washes the clothes ana
patches the garments for her numerous family, by
the blaze Of .ighwood torch after the members OF
the household are rolled in their respective quilts
and voyaging In sunderland. She does more than
this for she raises chickens and turkeys. sometimes
geese and ducks selling eggs for pocket money
AMI to obtain the tobacco which Is as necessary 10
her comfort that Of her husband and sons
The ma jority Of the negroes go to work In the
early morning with no breakfast. or perhaps only
crumb to nibblc on. they come in at Y o'clock
4 .s,!rabout" is made "a dish of cornmeal. salt
and water. looking very mucn the name Sug-
gestsJ. Of which all the family partake' the ei'er
members eating an allowance OF bacon ANY
luxurcs they may enjoy appear at the evening mei'
such coffee. -four, sugar. etc Usually however
their fare Is Of the simplest and cold water their
beverage cxcep: on sundays '.ngh days, cele-
bratcd usually with reference to some religious les
tlvaL Too much credit cannot be given these ha'u-
working wives and mothers, who hoe, rake. COOK
wash. chop patch and mend from morning u"'i
night: very often garments Will BE- patched untl
scarcely a trace OF the original foundation material
mi
WIZ, is much the better cotton chopper OF the
two and her work far more desirable thah h''
husbands. About one-thri Of the plantation negroes
are good. respectable citizens. living in harmony
with their wives AMI honoring the sanctty OF the
marriage relation. bur The majority. though devout
church members ana punctua In their attendance
a, all services by day AMI by night. on SUNDAY ana
through the week v.o.ate the seventh tomnaHi-
mcnt in the mos, fncrant manner. even though
they obey number ~ the other ten
Tho coorcI people with one accord are making
every effort 10 obtain education. The older ones
even the most ignorant make real sacrifices that
their boys and Kris. and even their young men ana
women. may attend school and though the schools
are Inferior In many cases and Keep IN session o''y
three months IN the year under the supervision OF
the poorest teacher. with no object IN vie" pu'
the salary they receive. yet slowly but surely
knowledge % the ruiiments OF an education Is BENZ
secured II a young coprei man our plantation
proposes 20 visit young girl withln NV" OF HN
unlies he invests a sheet OF writing paper anu
an envelope AMI SITS down - labor over Ir'''F
,.llns DIS aly-loyc Of his intend > excursion. III
aim. .s.. ,ui ~ ton he viii get 1t all WRONG. the
yf.- vll bc g. obs, ,nncotei series OF hieroSyPn'S'
,a. meaning Il which can only be- guessed a.. Has
.,rr.s... nIent ma; never e., her letter. nor NJ
leas, before she sr.s him. owing % the peculiarly
~ the address,. her distance from th' poS'o'"'''
but SIN be- fces his ,mportanc" In having l"'tet
to Write. and being able 90 wiz it. His trying AZ al
ne. .r 4 be- If
,-I after numerous failure ~ me Kind be- VIII on
dav h. able - write document that IN" recipient
can rclI or ger read by third party and not sim
ply pilz. as souvenir OF her lovers Devotion
Some ~ The young children are very APT a' i"ht"-
Ing and would MAKE good progress II they hid
more Advantages. bar the school year beng brlti
i, ,h u.vf school term II thcy be- spared from
work 10 go they have forgotten great deal OF what
the knew Within eight miles oi ~" Plantation
nancI there is splenilly cquippc! university Tor
,llrsI students II is free % hl nnt a small sum
d. pail f,r board ani incidental expense. - many
who would gladly avail themselves ~ iis Dement'S
A.. J.l,rrei on that account or prevented from
,tfcni ling ~ account = work ~ nome. u Is harh
flr those who do 90 - return - Their Original W''e
~ life the oni, life open o them. On" young me-
r~,ss who %, fhe greatest slcr.mce 90 h'r parents
part. was spared from ise field work 10 attend the
university flr Two terms returned utterly unht Tor
,he task. she had formerly accomplished wi'h ease
iiavlnr become accustomed - being under roof
the greater part ~ tne day working IN the not sun
gave hey a headache N~t. her limited amount Of
!ic,,.0n rr.cluIel her engaging IN any other work
,rb menus ~ rho family prevented her b..ng occu-
ii' "' ''' " '' ., ,.f.. H.
pod HltI cooking ana "''''"''' ""'''' "'' u.s."
r.t her h,r mother REGARDED university terms as an
- ....,,. .,..,,..,, u.,f.. sn. did not rene AZ
"''i" '''''"'' -, t,.. Ia. -, ,
with her S"'onl I'uNn''F' '"' guns h'''''' ~
higher ORDER OF living may however tend 10 elevate
-, 49, ,..,,,,,,. ~ t.., own f,r,ll, and thug prove
''' 49, ''"'''
q blessing
There aye on 'hr plantation t"o churcn'S.
l,i,cls,,,,h shan i stor. Stocked with plantation
"'''''''''' '''''' " ' 800, .,
tools. dom''u goods ""1 i'"''-'"S' '''' 80
grinding corn gins Il. presses for manipulating tAe
,t o., ,,,r.y;.,r,, Grain Grinding
'''''' "''' ''"'''S ''' -
ugtr-rdrr bJaug ~" Siil', "t- l"'7' ''''''"-