New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
DARKY MOVING TIME.
THE NEGROES FIRST OF MAY COMES IN
JANUARY.
TOBACCO THE "souATTERs" ONE OBJECT IN
LIFE

The first week i'm January finds all the planta ton
darkes moving; all. that is. who are going to move
at all that year. and their name Is legion Inc
more intelligent negroes realize the advantage OF
permanent residence. OF knowing just what partic-
uar crop suits a certain "spe" OF land. just how
much fertilizne and what kind ano her tract nee1s
They know that this sort OF knowledge only comes
with long acquaintance end observation. so they
continue to rent the same acres year after year II
possible; reap the benefit Of such improvements as
they have made about their premises from time to
time. and comparatively prosperous and happy
Their migratory brethren not nearly as pros
porous. but apparently quite happy They move
from one plantation to another in search OF an
unattainable III Dorado. where they may find a
landowner willing to provide for them during the
entire year while they work at such convenient
seasons suit them and lay OF" according to
their pleasure. OF course, years trial OF TINS
one sided bargain into which he has been deluded
Is sufficient for the landlord. and the next January
finds these ebon birds Of passage on the wing again
seeking to better themselves" Last year they
were up the country; this year they are down
the country. Year before last they on Mr..
F's place. and the year before that on Mr. Cs;
next year they will be Mr.. rs. and their land
lords up down the country Mr.. +. or Mr. C., Will
all be chuckling over Mr. rs discontinue when he
finds out the kind Of tenants ne has secured
Occasionally certain families who. becoming dis
satisfied. have moved away from the plantation
where they have lived for several seasons come
back. after year two Of travelling and ask to
get possession OF their old houses once more. One
conspicuous characteristic of the plantation darky
Is that he seldom cherishes any anmosity. even
when he feels assured that he was the aggrieved
party. A negro who was accused OF house-break
Ing and who spent eighteen months In the peniten-
tiary I'm consequence came back and engaged to
work the same plantation when his term ex-
p'red. The negro who was the real perpetrator OF
the offence moved abruptly to parts unknown when
returned home.
and later developments also proved the returned
convict innocent. yet he seemed to feel no resent
January liz not suspicious time for moving.
Nearly all the cold rainy weather that comes to
the South occurs in that month. Yet every one OF
Its thlrty-on, days, and some OF the early
February days devoted to the uprooting or
homes and the hauling about OF household goods
In the country at the South. all the hands are
hired by the year The cook the washerwoman.
the manof-all-work. the house girl. the boy about
the yard. all engaged for a twevemonth. The
field hanl are hired for 4 year and those who work
shares Qhat IT, work many days in each week
in the landowners fields for house rent for horse
power all make a bargain for the year. This Gus
tom nccessa;cs many tedious interviews for the
landlo'I. who has many houses on his place and
much md TO rent. interviews that had not custom
stalled their novelty. would be sometimes amusing.
Even old habituateI tenants come 10 know the
how and how" "a they call II. OF new years
In their agricultural pursuits and tho explain
ing oyer and again OF certain propositions and
conditions is process requiring Infinite patience
/, Il quite the cards. too that the very next day
that IDENTICAL tenant will come again 10 ask ques-
lions tha; show quite plainly his entire misapprc-
henson % tho agreements entered into. The new
applicants for homes make four and Ave trips in
quest % the chow and how before they decide "a
- the move. and talk and haranGue al libitum
hoasing OF the amount Of work they can do ana
the amount their wives can do. and OF how sorry
their present landlords TO give them M Finally.
they will arrange to have wagon sent for their
household goods and when the mules that draw
that wagon have raversef the intervening miles az
muddy hill and dale TO the prospective tenants
cabin. II Will be found shut NJ or occupied by ne"
people and slightest Intimation Of that spccious-
talking negro's whereabouts will he discovered.
There are certain going tenants OF tho plan
tation who never move unless obliged TO- These are
the white "squatiers' who pay rent, or II any.
such A email stipend. and 90 irrcguarly given, tnat
IL does not deserve the name. one locality Is az
good as another 20 tho squatter one plantation
suits him as we'll az the next He does not care
whether his house shanty. cabin. cot. hut, which
ever term suits II bes,-is on hill or in a hollow.
by creek lagoon. river just ~ II is far from
and ne Is lett to his own devices. Agricultural
pursuits he takes interest In. Educational pur-
suits he does for. The news OF the outside
world concerns him not. The news or the inside
hood there IT, never troubles him. or theology he
knows fi,tlc AM OF bodily creature comforts he
has 10 conccQ,lon OF appreciation. For personal
alornment he cares nothing The lusis OF the flesh
have 10 fascination FOR him. neither the longings
OF the spirit, He is In the word. yet not OF II.
There is no single end or aim or object for which
men strive tina, would arouse In him the slightest
particle OF interest. No, that statement needs an
amendment There Is orr thing for which he yearns
nsxpresslbly without which the measure OF his
supreme content j. not quite full one solitary thnS
for which he would actually work II there was no
less dstasteful alternative. Tobacco is the squat
ter's guiding star He would sell his squlrrelskns
TO obtain H. his foxskins. blackberres and all other
kinds Of berries which his children pick He would
sell nsh for IT, aud pirtrldges and doves. get out
oak splits for baskets and tripler poles for wagon
racks procure IL. lie will make li,e tar for II.
sometimes 10 anything but plough and dig and
delve. though h might even accomplish those won
ders II his weed were unattainablc otherwise.
Tho squattcr never molcsts any one. He is peace
able and inonensive. and often retains the use Of
his little pine woods shanty simply because the
owner OF the land forgcts his existence altogether
Then too. he Will never impoversh inc SOIL bv
shftless imperfect farming. or cut down the Dig
trees which the owner desires left standing lie
will never carry of wagon-oads Of wood TO SELL
going an out of the-aay route TO avoid obserNa-
ton. the other tenants do. He never forms
He hasn't the energy to attack the big trees. or
any mule or horse. OK or wagon 10 carry them o"
with n he did He abdcs In peace and when some
negro dies and a coffn IL wanted he VIII make
one. fashioning II In right good shape from roush
boards with the rude implements he has TO WORK
with and staining It solemnly with lampback
When the summer comes and the negroes want
baseball bats. ne will make those. too, and DO any
other occasional Jobs that do not make too urgent
demands on his endurance. Then his supply OF
tobacco will be augmented to an enjoyable extent
and he will sit the bank OF the creek. hsh'hs-
pole In hand direct his children to get oait lean
back against cypress knee and be happy.
'TlI get you a mule Bailey. and run you Tor
year II you try farming You're smart
enough fellow: why don't you give up this trihlng
and make something OF YOURSELF" suggested the
landlord on whose place Bailey had been living Tor
several years. But the squatter shook his head IN
disapproyal of the proposition claiming that ne
..nauar uax M hand farming: he could make