The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-12


From the New York Post.
II the squatter's portrait were painted
II would have to be in neutral tints. There
are so many things that he is not and
so few that he is, so many things that
he does not and so few that he does.
that even a black-and-white sketch is
too emphatic 20 depict his supine mega
tiveness. He is a fixed quality. however.
the same to-day as he was generations
ago and as he is likely to be generations
hence, wrapped In a reposeful calm and
unruflled omniscience that no condition or
combination of circumstances has been
known to disturb. unless it be the Pc
riodical shakings Of the ague fiend, which
no man may withstand. one positive
characteristic of the squatter pure and
simple is a rooted aversion TO work. to
any kind Of work in general and certain
kind in particular.
IN work steady for month. at any
thing you choose to put me at, 'scusin'
plowin for a rifle like this" one of these
people volunteered one day to the owner
of the land on which he had his being.
ut would be misleading to say lved.)
An unusually fine sight on the rifle in
question, a deer, with branching horns
carved on the stalk, elected this outburst
from a man who had not been known
to utter that number Of consecutive
phrases in years Of acquaintance.
"And why not plowI' he was asked.
You would get more plOwing TO do than
any other kind of work
The squatter shook his head, the while
he fingered the frearm GENEROUSLY.
My granddad Marcy, broke up his
plow-stock and give away the shovel,
one day, u O'Clock, when he came out
the field. There ain't anybody calm
himself by his title what's plowed since.
Looks like 'twould go against the grain"
The squatters have a sort OF family
fealty, an indefinite allegiance to ties OF
blood which they regard as inviolable,
although the idea thar rank imposes OBJ
legation seems grotesque in people so
a Carney alters has married a Jeffcoat
or a Jeffcoat married a Gafney since long
time back" explained lean, lack-lus-
ter Gafney, a widOwer of three months,
who had just brought to ms snanly on
the edge of the swamp a second wife.
Il had TO git a missus,' he admit
ted. Them three young ones needed
womans hand-in particular the twins.
Not that I'm lookin to raise the yearlln
boy, cause he's been a Weakhn from the
Your mother couldn't have looked af-
ter the children?" inquired the planters
well not handy. You see. she tells
fortunes and one things ana another ana
likes to visit round amongst her i9iks
havin' a wife in a mans house. ana
The new wife was a much more appre-
ciable fact than the house, which was
the merest apology for a domicile, with
squat little dwarf and chimney attached,
the top of which had parted company
with the side of the house and leaned 70
one side as If determined TO have MOTH
ing more to do with IL.
The squatter was working that afternoon
sitting out under tree in the midst or a
litter Of white oak splits, from which nc
was plating a basket, Shaping II Droau
and roomy like the kind commonly used
for cotton picking. Doubtless the proceeds
of this unwonted industry would go to buy
tobacco or a scant hOmespun frock for the
bride, a glimpse OF whose sun bonneied
head could be had through the open WIN
dow as she sat by the smoky fireplace,
grooming a song over the puny baby on her
In regard to the location of an abode for
which he pays no rent, the squatter has
more choice than at first seems apparent.
There are in the south certain sections OF
land where the surface OF the SOIL as ~
shows through the pine straw, is so Whlte
and sandy to discourage even the most
energetic farmer from trying to make
THAT BeiviIle tract is so poor it wouldn't
even grow cow-peas," countryman VIII
observe, after drive through such re-
Il don't believe even the black jacks on
it would give out much heat, comments
another and then expresses doubt as 10
the pines yielding gum enough for tur-
me owners OF such land often neglect 10
nav the taxes or to. bother with the prop
erty at all. Sometimes the tract Is in liti-
CATION and remains so for years. BE that
as it may, the squatters learn OF me
change by magic and migrate to the spot
in colonies, feeling comparatively sate
from interference. Moreover, even III the
land owner is aware of their occupancy
he does not care very much. He knows
that these volunteer tenants VIII not at
tempt to sell the wood off the land, and
that is all that concerns him. Even II
they wished to engage in the wood bust
ness they have no OK or mule or wagon
to haul It away with.
As an alternative TO the pine barren and
the scrub-oak thicket, the squatter has
miles Of swamp to choose from, swamps
alive with every living, growing thing
that has wings, or fms, or web feet, and
every shy and mast-fed animal Indigenous
to the country The very thickness and
impenetrability Of the swamp are his safe
guard, for well he knows that the owner
will hesitate long before he undertakes to
clear up and drain off that dense morass
Splendid rice land! Zine for swamp
cornn the proprietor thinks, half-a-doZen
times a year, but the time and money 1t
win cost to clear ii deter him from the
venture. Maybe he puts fence about the
best of II and pastures surplus cattle there
than which no other arrangement could
suit his non-payng tenant better for cows
give milk and milk is handy thing TO
have in a family where the state of the
larder Is not to be depended on. Not that
the squatter would steal, not he, he Is as
honest as he is Indifferent. But every one
will concede that it is no harm to milk a
COW occasionally whose milk is only need
ed for her calf.
The pine barren is healthy and there is a
plenty Of lightwood to burn there, without
the exertion Of cutting 1t. For years the
gnarled and twisted knots, blackened by
fire and snapped off by prankish winds,
have been piling up on the ground for fu-
ture campers convenience. The pine bar
rem is healthy, but the swamp's edge Of
fers better opportunities. The squatter
braves the green-veiled malaria, with
chatterng teeth and feVer-iushed veins,
and sticks to the swamp where in wintry
dawns he casts out his lines for catfish in
the Silly pools Of the lagoon, and in the
dark of propitious moons tracks the sharp
nosed possum and willy coon on their
prowlings abroad.
And how do these people live how do
they get clothes?" IL may be asked.
1t Is true that rabbit and squirrel and
coon skins do not seem wearable material
for human beings, but the squatter sells
a bunch Of pelts in town some day when
he feels energetic. and takes out the price
IN homespun, calico, or ball-thread with
which TO sew them. Fine strings Of fish,
caught and got to town In early hours,
fetch IN a little coin, and for these he does