The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-27

YOU slip out Of one State into another
that it is hard to tell precisely where
the North leaves off and the South be-
gins. If you go by water, on the con-
trary, you come upon the South all
unaVares, as it were, without expert
sncing any intermediary impressions.
You leave a port that is positively
characteristic of the one section, and
after two days in purely neutral
world, cut loose from all influences,
political and geographical, you arrive
at a port as positively characteristic
of the other. Once the Jersey shore
is left behind, there being no visible
landmarks to show the progress South
ward. the ships atmosphere being
that of the port she sailed from, it is
not until forty-eight hours later, when
the lighthouse on Morris Island comes
in sight and the line Of the Carolina
coast breaks the horizon, that people
begin to speak as though they were
North no longer.
:tWe are fairly in Charleston har-
bor now. We've crossed the Bar, "
announces passenger cheerily. I'VE
90 in without knowing it these days,
but few years ago the getting over
Bar was an undertaking. That was
before the Jetties were built. | re-
member waiting outside on one OF
these steamers for FIVE mortal hours
until the tide came to our relief. Not
waiting comfortably either, you may
depend. The water was rough that
day. there was what they call swell
on, and the see-saVing Of the ship at
ter she stopped going was anything
hut pleasant. Ali Don't that look
familiar? We're down South now,
and no mistake.
A tiny roW-boat has come into view,
manned by three negroes rowing lusti-
lyand singing in time to their task.
Their black breasts are barred to the
August sun, their garments OF that
all-oyer-fadedness of hue resulting
from constant wear and washing.
There is a, glimpse of hearty, good
humored faces sup-turned to the stesnt
er's deck, bar or two Of song floats
upward, then the big ship strides
away from the little craft, and the
picture is lost. Three negroes might
be in boat in Boston harbor, in New
York harbor, or any other harbor on
the coast; they might be dressed just
as shabbily and be just as black, and
be rowing with just as much vim as
those island negroes, but they would
anot look.like these, nor be like them.
They would not have that air of ire
sponsibleness, and that almost child
ishly eager interest in everything,
that is native TO She, Southern negro
that something that comes OF the soil,
the climate, the mere earthly condl-
tions he has been raised among.
Above all, the negro anywhere else
but at the South would not feel the
necessity Of singing while he was at
work. He might sing after his task
vas over, and sing well, but the rythm
in him would not have to find vent
while his muscles were in use.
Eager interest in things is charac-
teristic Of the Southern people, Of the
white; owners and rulers Of the land.
as we'll as Of their black dependents
and sometime bondmen, From the
highest to the humblest, all were born
under the same auspices, SO far as the
physical character, Of the country is
considered, and the love of pleasure is
a common heritage. They love SO to
enjoy. 1t is the Southern nature;
poverty, calamity, nothing keeps it
back. No amount of education, OF
careful training in the ethics Of good
form and conventionality can quite
eradicate this native exuberance OF
temperament that triumphs over age,
and even over physical. infirmlty, and
makes many rough passage smoother
than it would otherwise be. Next to
their loyalty, and sincerity, this love
of pleasure in whatsoever form it may
take, is a dominant character in Dixie.
II such thing was possible, or at
least likely, as man taking passage
on g. ship not knowing where she was
bound, and preserving that ignorance
of his destination throughout the trip,
and that voyager should look out upon
Charleston harbor, all at sea regarding
his whereabouts, he would conclude at
once, after survey of the prospect,
that that bay and city were OF the
South. 1t would not need the care
less song of the negro boatman or the