Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-01-20
THOROUGHLY DEMOCRATIC.
Such Are the People Of Middle
Georgia.
Among Whom Exists n Condition of
Affairs Which Is Highly Condu-
Give to the Common Pub
lie Good.

For years, says Joel Chandler Harris,
reviewing a pamphlet by Richard Nal
colin Johnston, have been trying to
convince everybody that the only genu-
inc democracy known to this country
was to be found in middle Georgia,
where the remnants of it continue to
maintain q most beautiful existence.
Col. Johnston gives a very clear explana.
ton of it. He says that the youth OF
both sexes, whatever might be their
pecuniary circumstances, were required
TO spend part of their time in work.
Even where the family was compare
lively wealthy, the children, when not
at school, worked as regularly as the
negroes, the boys working side by side
with the negroes, going to the fields and
returning with them, and eating the
same rations. Tho white boys had more
HOLIDAYS. but when at work were re-
ouired TO do as much according to age
and experience as the negroes. Mere
money getting was neither q profession
nor a pastime. Money was valued for
what it would buy, and the mere posses
sion of money lifted man no higher In
the estimation of his neighbors than
his character and conduct warranted.
The young people were made to work,
not as o. matter of economy, for that
was rarely thought Of, but for the
wholesome discipline that work well
done entails on all who perform. The
basis of this middle Georgia society
was industry and honesty.
While the boys were engaged in learn
ing,to handle the hoe, the plow, the AK
and other plantation tools, the girls
were busy with the cotton cards, the
spinning wheel, the loom or the needle
Having said this much, 1 may now stand
aside and permit the reader to enjoy the
delightful "reminiscences Of Col. john
ston. How did the youngsters spend
their evenings2 Here is Col. Johnston's
report:
'The interval between supper and
bedtime was spent by the whole family
together. If lessons were not already
conned. children studied by a table,
rendering and receiving assistance
when needed. This seldom occupied all
the space, as the lessons were not I'M
reasonable. Afterwards, If it was in
summer, they sat together on the piaz-
"a, until the hour of evening family
PRAYER, that was seldom omitted If the
father was a church member. a Bible
chapter was read, a hymn sung, and
then the prayer on Bonded knees, some
times the latter seeming rather long
to children, and such Of the servants
as accepted invitation to be present;
this was evinced when at the close they
were yet on the floor, being overcome by
sleep. In winter girls assisted their
mothers in sewing and knitting for the
family, white and black, and the boys
helped the father in rolling into balls
from brooches the thread spun during
the day and reeling the balls into hanks.
In times before the cotton gin, all
picked apart the seed and the lint. So
long used to this habit some became,
that even after the gin was introduced
some planters, when satisfied
reading, kept it up during the eve2sHs,
unwilling to be entirely idle during any
portion of their working time. Dur
ing the hours of sleep doors oftener
than otherwise were left unlocked and
windows unbarred. A mans own ne
groes were trusted as his children. Do
nestle police, as in patriarchal times,
was in the family, and it was not very
far from perfect. Children when at
lone were often allowed to play with
much freedom with their coevils among
the negroes; but only boys with boys,
and girls with girls, and the latter only
in daylight. In such plays the humber
INDUCED as much freedom as the high
err, and the admission of defeat was as
honest in the one case as in the Other,
although upon disputed points there
was the same sort of wrangling or what
was common to either race while con-
tending apart. Elderly negroes who
happened to be passing by took the
same liberty as parents used in warning
against eXtravagances Of any sort, and
white child's heedlessness to such in
reference, especially if attended with
disrespectful words, was reported to
the white house. whittier the giver was
called and made to render account
These persons were usually addressed
as uncle or taunt'-titles destined to
last throughout life.
1.-THE freedom of intercourse between
children of both races, within limita-
tons known to be prudent regarding
the best welfare of all, led to benign
consequences. Many of the most af-
fectionate, long-enduring friendships
existing in the south were between
white men and their slaves, which be-
gan in childhood under supervision of
the parents of both. 1t was quite COM
mon for two children, white and
black, TO become so attached, that the
humber grew up with hope of becom-
ing that young masters or that young
miss slave when the time should come
for the former to marry and go away
with allotted portions of the estate.
Not only they, but their families wished
them to follow the fortunes of those
who had been so long and so well be-
loved. To the world outside such sep
arations seemed hard. Far more often
than not they were in accordance with
ong-cherished hopes, and they served
TO enhance yet more the happiness of
that naturally thankful and affection
ate race."-Atlanta Constitution.