The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-18
LIFE IN THE BLUE RIDGE
An ELooUEN1Lr TOLD STORY OF
THE HOLLOWsIN GREENECOUNTr.
A People Untutored, Yet strong in Passion
and Prejudice-whcret the Good ana
the Bad Are Blended.


TO teach a school near tho foot OF the
Blue Ridge completely in touch with the
inhabitants from High Top TO the sur
rounding mountain and the different
holiows. which are situated between the
many spurs OF the Blue Ridge.
These hollOws have either taken their
names from families which have predoml-
mated there. or from q misdcmcanor OF
some forcfathcr OF by-gone days.
Life In its rural simplicity is found IN
III. homes Of these staunch mountaineers.
They have no record OF the events, which
are continually transpiring around them'
save I'm the minds Of the older inhabitants,
and they remember tho evil deeus OF
others such as injuries, fighting ana muir
ders, which they recall with minute A-
actnoss by a roaring treside-with chH-
dfen as willing listcners-no wonder there
are so many dreadiul 'hlHSs h"Ppe"'"e
among them.
LIKE CHILDREN or THE FORESTS
The nature Of some Of these people
seems 10 be as wild. reckless and cruel
as the Indian who lived here before theh-
I'm fact. they appear 10 have imbibcd
great many OF the qualities or the req
man. They never forget a kindness-woula
die for one who had done them favor.
An injury Is objectionable. and revenge
Is sweet 10 their minds
They usually cook. cat. sleep and en-
terrain by the same tresde, ana they
will treat any one as kindly as Hospitality
ms they know how II they do not excite
their avarlce. arouse their suspicion. or
think themselves. as they say, above
them. II n stranger IS detained over
night with them, and they have but the
one room. they will fix him bed. and
All occupv the same room as 81 IL was an
everyday occurrence.
These people consume lot Of tobacco,
men. women and children have parucu-
lar fondness for the weed. Little girls
and boys. Of FIVE and six. will smoke with
as much relish as the Oldest person
They are very superstitous too-especla-
ly the women and children, who think
the souls OF those who have been Killed
come back 10 disturb the living.
WOMAN'S LOT
The women have n great deal OF the
hard, manual labor TO perform, and pro-
vide for their families, whilst the men
roam around, hunt frequent stlll-houses,
and attend shooting matches. nOtwith-
standing TIT evil consequences resulting
therefrom. Though. usually. the men
and women work together.
wife whipping. with a blacksnake whip,
as they call IT, IS cruel pastime with
s0me OF the men; whilst men with better
advantages sometimes devise more cruel
fortunes And those women y III cling to
their husbands. and never tell anything
on them. as II they were the best Of men.
There was an instance the past winter
Of man who whipped his wife severely,
and turned her out OF doors one night,
with a young child in her arms. She
went 10 a neehbor. who told her he would
take her indoors but. OF her husband
came there interfering he would certainly
kill him. She would not stay then. and
away she walked in the bitter cold for
miles to find shelter fr0ts ser Infatuated
husband for herself and child.
WOMEN CAN FIGHT.
Whilst these women submit 10 their hus-
bands. they do not let other people in
terfere with them. They are fully capa-
Die OF taking care of themselves. Last
winter young man wanted TO so home
with o young girl from church. She told
him he could not 20. lie thought he
would go. anyhow. She picked up a rock
and Knocked him down. He saw she
meant what she said. so did not attempt
10 go any more.
Yes lighting II aroused sufficiently
seems 10 belong 10 both male and female
and theythink under no conditions must
they show the white feather, no matter
actually got 20 fighting al their mothers
grave.
A great many OF these people are very
ignorant. they do not even know how 20
count money. and excitement seems 10
be their ruling passion.
FIGHTING FIRE.
When there are no ghOuldish doines
around them, after the SHOWS
and rains OF winter have dried off, before
the buds begin 10 swell, some one will
set the mountain on fire Then. Of all
the ringing Of farm bells, running Of
horses. following fire frightening or
women and children, and getting together
OF men. TO put ont the fire before IT
gained much Roadway and destroyed
their valuable timber. fences and dwell
lings. never was seen. P1ndemOnium
reigns for while.
This kind CT amusement. VIII continue
sometimes for four or five weeks coDae-
cutively. until the buds and sap. gain
such Roadway that the woods will not
burn readily.
The sewing machine agents created
quite a commotion here for a while They
came through Greene county and fooled
a great many people into NTving ma
chimes on very easy terms, as they
claimed when the collectors came
throu~S the bonds showed differently
All suvers were worked up TO the high
est tension. when the collectors came
through. They claimed they were shot
at. one woman got after them with a
broom. another threw a Ratchet at them
But. be that as IL was. IL they talked 70
all women as impudently as they did 10
others. they would have beenjustifable in
throwing a kettle at them. hot water and
all.
II was we'll for the community, and
much better for the welfare OF the sell
Ter. that he was not the collector. People
fancy peculiar names here. l have met
with one child name Ananias, but, am
certain / will never meet one named for
that sewing machine agent.
HANGING NOT POPULAR.
Whilst great many dreadful murders
have occurred around us. there has never
vet been a hanging I'm the county that
I know anything about. Whether it has
been the intelligence OF the accused
Guiding the law. or the lack Of II on the
part Of the prosecutors. do not know.
II Is true the officers endeavored to cap
ture one alive, but failed. After Late
Shlflette was waylaid and shot. one man
left the county. his wife and children
followed him 10 Allegheny county. There
he farmed with his wife or son, carry
ing Winchester rifle with him. The
officers found when he was at home,
and aroused him whilst sleeping I'M
awares. he took one OF his Children from
the bed, and held It In front Of him. and
told them II they could take that childs
life to shoot.
In the mean time his wife handed him
his Winchester. The officers left