The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-04-18
''CRACkERS" :"
a Class of Florida Life Full of
Interesting and Spicy
Features.
A Staff Correspondent Studies
their Traits and Char
dCteriStiCs.
The Recent Southern Blizzard Is
Recorded by a Humor-
Gus Poet.

From Staff Correspondent
The Northern tourist on trip to
Florida looks forward with pleasant
anticipation toward study of Flori-
da's attractions, among them the hap
py darkey, lazy alligator and the
noted "razor back"
Those who enjoy study of human
nature miss one of the chief attrac-
tions for he cannot be seen lettering
around St. Augustine, Tampa or other
winter resorts, but in the native fast
ness of the pines, there free as the
air he breathes the Florida Cracker
lives a life of content, happy if he
owns small corn patch, few s'razor
backs" and enough tobacco to keep
his mouth full from morn till night.
History does not tell us when the
first Cracker came to Florida, but he
probably inmigrated from the Caro-
linas, Tennessee and Georgia. With
very little education, and no ambition
to work, one is surprised to find that
some of them are worth thousands of
dollars. Starting with few head of
cattle, turning them loose in the flat
woods to Craze, once year they are
corraled, the calves marked and turned
loose for another year and in all prob
ability the owner will not see them
again during that time.
In this county of De Soto $1,000
cattle roam at large all owned by
these children of the forest. Years
ago the money used for the purchase
were Spanish doubloons and ten cent
pieces. A blanket would be laid on
the ground, the sacks of silver dimes
poured out and slowly counted one by
one; then the Cracker would fill the
large bag, throw it over his pony and
ride off to deposit his wealth in some
old tree or under the hearth. The
story is told of one old wealthy fellow
who had numerous hiding places and
one time forgot where he had put the
money and spent days looking in
every old tree in the vicinity. The
place has certain fascination to this
day and every tree and hollow has
been examined carefully by younger
generations.
As a class the Florida Crackers are
very religious, their camp meetings
being kept up for weeks, the whole
family attending, bringing with them
quantities of food which is free to
every one. They practice the washing
of feet and many of their customs
are the same as the old Testament
taught.
They have many superstitious be-
liefs. Not long ago young man
from the North was employed to
teach in one of their log school
houses. The school board instructed
him to teach that the world was, flat
and not to have any of those new
tangled books that said the world
was round. The young:man was in a
predicament, the board we're deter
mined. sothat part of the book was
cut out.
They are very jealous of the en-
croachment of the Northerner, as
they see the downfall of their beloved
pine, the immense herding grounds
for their cattle destroyed by miles of
barbed wire and peace and quietness
broken by the shrill whistle of the
locomotive.
immortality is quite prevalent. One
old cattle king has two wives living
four miles apart. He supports two
large families, the wives being on the
best of terms.
The. Cracker appreciates a kind
deed. He is generous, dividing with
you the best he has. A friend of
mine, while on fishing tour short
time ago, stopped at a Cracker hut
for the night. It was running over
with dogs and children. He was met
at the door by q tall, gaunt woman,
who withdrew her snuff stick long
enough to say "Howdy," and, in
viting him in, saying: Eve uns is
little touched up for room, but | low
p