The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-11-20
"PLANTERS," NOT FARMERS.
anu that what's the Matter Win I'm
In the nelta.

IN the nelta,
Thi' Is the way lho Memphis Semi
tar heads an article copied from the
GreenyiIo Times Of Nov, l3.
There is some ju'IIco in tho little as
peisiou, There has been much NOR,
IN days gone by than at present. but
"plantng" Instead of farming ba.
had It's inevitable result in the Delta.
ana where aro now the picturesque
ana gallant company Of planters
who once lorded over it, broad do.
mslus" Ask Of the winds, that far
around with fragments strew The sea "
Our planters" have learned many
s. bitter and humiliating lesson, aud
those who have not been ruined and
sweep away ike dead leaves are try.
ing, with The cheerful courage of gal.
lan' gentlemen, 10 face altered coll
dition7 aud conform to necessities
which were not apparent in former
times, The task of abandoning fixed
habits and methods which are the
growth Of life time Of training ia
hard onc, but tho planters of the Del.
Ia bring TO it degree of intelligence
aud education probably higher than
eau be found in any other purely
agricultural community in the world
Tie planters of the Della-lhe class OF
land owners who give to IT ius peculiar
dis'jnction-cau never become farmers
in the usual acception Of the term The
who wears torn straw
hat and Drogan boots, "chaws ter
backer" and spits on his whiskers,
never combs The hay seed out of his
hair, and eats greens with knife has
nc place among th,m. The repre-
sentative planter of Washington
county is equally at home Oh his own
plau ation, in the crowded streets Of
great cities, or IN the society of eul-
tured people. In short, he Ia man
Of the world, and will never become
a farmer iu Puck'8 acceptation of the
term. 1t would be simple stupidity
to urge that a man can not be a sue.
ceesful farmer and yet be a man of
education and refinement. In sug-
ge5;ins The advantage of'farmiug' over
planting" the TINES was very far from
limiting dispGraglngly Mt the iudiyid.
lality OF the Delta plAnters, bat may
With good reason have offered q criti-
2ism Of some of their methods. The
very faults which have in so many
,ases resulted in the impoverishment
md ruin OF tue planter arose from
ngb aHd generous qualities. The in
ltfsrgUCe to small thugs, the cou-
empt of money except for The com.
'orts and Injuries it would procure,
be confidence in the honesty and sin.
,erity of others, the extravagsnce,
lot manifested in display, but his
waste OF uuGonsider-
d trifes, and unnecessary 'mi.
y eXpenses,~-2l thee. mistakes and
rrors hn@ their origin in a habit
If life aud thought which does not be-
ong to the sordid methods and keen
ompetition of the present. However
luixotic aud old fashioned they may
ppcar, such qualities must ever COM
land respect rather team provoke
idicule.
The ruined planter, preserving in
,0verty what semblanCc he may of
hu manners and habits OF his past |
lie. is more djgnifed and elevating
xsmple than the rude and boorish in
ividual who hugs his sQuslor aud |
despising all that Is higher
han the dirt, or the greedy aud |
modern agricuIturisl, who |
ees in his acres only medium from |
which TO extract money.