The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-18
THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARY
 LAND.

LAND.
 That division of Maryland which is known as "the Eastern Shore' contains no vast extent of territory, and it is peopled by no immense multitudes; no great historical event has occurred there; 1t has not had the fierce light Of publicity turned upon every happening within it's borders; it is not a state; it is not an empire; it has no gold or sil- yer or coal mines, no oil or gas wells, and it has no imperial possibilities. It is not the centre of the world; no large metropolis exists upon it, and none ever will exist there.
 Nevertheless, it is a famous region; It's local name is known to most of the intelligent citizens of the United States, and the place indicated by the title is at once understood. It has a greatness ot It's own, and has claims upon public attention. Its situation is interesting; It's population has marked character; its products are valuable and are in demand everywhere in this land, and in many places outside of America; and it's fame is great, because of the sensations it provides for the palates of
 
 world was more justly celebrated for | provisions for pleasing the epicure than this territory, which is sometimes thought as mere sandbar. The grapes of Ephraim or the onions and garlic of 1 Egypt were not more famous among the Jews, nor the wheatfields of Egypt among the Romans, nor the eel and the mullet ponds of Lucullus, nor the wines of Falernia, among the same people, than some of the products of this re- l zion are among moderns.
 The Eastern Shore produces more ta- ble delicacies than any other region of equal area, and 1t is claimed that a family may there enjoy the luxuries of life cheaper than elsewhere, and that the really poor man can live on the peninsula for less than anywhere else, save, perhaps, in parts of Asia. The poorest inhabitants of the peninsula l are colored people. The rural negro there probably averages annually for his work less than $200 in cash, and many earn less than $100 a year, while others earn less than $100 in cash. New ertheless, the negro of the peninsula is seldom without the means of appeas- ing his hunger and of clothing himself comfortably. The winter is always short and usually mild, while fuel is extremely cheap, and in many parts to be had for the gathering. It has been estimated by those familiar with the country, and upon basis of the cost of a slaves keep in the old days, that a man may supply his needs on the pen insula for about s60 year. I quote an authority which states that a cabin and little patch of ground can be | rented for $20 a year. One thousand herring can be bought for 50 cents, and cured and barrelled for 50 cents more, making $1 in all. One hundred and eighty pounds of pork, at cents a pound, cost $10.S0; 800 pounds of corn meals can be had for $10; coffee, sugar, and tobacco can be supplied for s6, and clothing for S15 total, S62S0. The man also cultivates his patch of vegetables and feeds his chickens. There Is many a negro family living in just this fash ion.
 The children provide wild berries as summer luxures, and in good years peaches may be had for the asking. In summer the children wear little cloth ing, and in winter the cast-off rags of their parents suffice. If the family lives along strip of salt water there may be had crabs, clans and oysters free. The nearest forest and the shores Of the river and bay furnish fuel. But there are many there who live on even less than s6o in cash per year; these hunt and fish throughout the year, find a bed in some other mans cabin, pay | fa,, ,,a Ix q J wear some white mans cast-off cloth ing.
 It is worth while to see them drive into one of the villages, say on a Sat urday, when the country people are gathering to do their shopping. One willsee many an old negro come driv- ing in snails pace clad in ill-fittine garments too big or too little, of any color or no color, ragged and patched He slouches on the seat of his tumble down wagon as if it were too much to sit erect, or as if he were about to fal over into the bottom of the vehicle and go to sleep. His steed is mule small bony, starved looking. wabblins in gait, very caricature of his kind One expects him every moment to stoI and go to feeding on the grass that grows near the gutter The wagon rat ties from afar; every bolt and screw is loose. the wheels seem about to fal entirely off; the sideboards sway. anc the seat moves from side to side, ap- parently at the peril of the occupant The harness is composed largely ol rope and twine; the lines are innocent of all accusation of being leather Ont would be willing to risk his life on z venture that such a team would never get down the street to the hitchins place by the pump, but the zizzag jour ney Is safely made with no sign of an xiety on the part of the driver. And ht halls his lounging comrades on th' pavement with a guffaw that can b heard a mile; the voices of the ill-claC 7 but happy group sound mellow ant sweet and good-natured as they chaf each other These voices are the yer. expression of the appy-go-lucky idle easy, careless life of these people, to' J indo1ent to sound all the syllableS O