New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
From The Helena Herald.

From The Helena Herald.
That division of Maryland which is known as
tho Eastern Shore contains no vast extent
OF territory. and IT is peopted by no immense
muittudes; no great historical event mas DC.
CURED there it has not had the fierce Hsnt OF
nuhljcity turned upon every happening WITHIN
it's borders; ii is not STATE IL ID hot on
empire; it has no gold or silver or coal mines
no oil or gas wells, and it has no irnperial, pos
sbities 1t is not the centre OF the Worlu' ho
large metropolis exists upon H. ana none eNe
will exist there. .
Nevertheless il is a famous region; its local
name is known to most of the intelligent clti-
zens of the United States. and the place lnul-
Gated by the title is at once understood. IL mas
a greatness OF its own. and has claims upon
public attention. Its situation is interesting
it's population has a marked character; lts prou-
ucts are valuable, and are IN demand every
where in this land and In many places OUTSIDE
Of America; and its fame is great. because OF
the sensations il provides for the palateS OF
men No district in the ancient world was more
Justly celebrated for provisions for pleasing
the epicure than this territory which Is some
,i,nos thnrght of 40 q mere sandbar. The
grapes of Ephraim or the onions and garnc oi
Egypt were not more famous among the Jews
nor the wheatfelds Of Egypt among the no
mans nor the eel and the muiie' poilus ~
Iuclllus nor the wines of Falernia among the
same people than some of the products OF this
region are among moderns. .
The Eastern Shore produces more table deli,
cacies than any other region of equal area. ana
it is claimed that family may there ENJOY th5
luxuries of life cheaper than elsewhere ana
that the really poor man can live on the PENN
sula for less than anywhere else, save, per-
haps in parts of Asia. The poorest inhabitants
OF the peninsula are colOred people. me rurai
negro there probably averages annually tor MS
work less than 5000 in cash. and many earn
less than 500 a year. while others earn
less than 500 in cash. Nevertheless the negro
Of the peninsula is seldom without the means OF
appeasing his hunger and of clothing hlmseii
comfortably The winter is always short and
usually mild, while fuel is extremely cheap ana
in many parts to be had for the gathering 1t
has been estimated by those familiar with the
country and upon a basis OF the cost OF
slaves keep in the old days, that man may
supply his needs on the peninsula for about $50
year I quote an authority which states tha'
cabin and a little patch of ground can be
rented for SO a year. one thousand herring
can be bought for 30 cents. and cured and bar
relied for 80 cents more. making 81 in all one
hundred and eighty pounds of pork, at cents
a pound costs $40 80: 500 pounds of cornmeal
can be had for so; coffee, sugar and tobacco
can be supplied for 81. and clothing for Nl5;
total SG2 So The man also cutivates his patch
of vegetables and feeds his chickens. There is
many negro family living in just this fashion
The children provide wild berries as summer
luxuries, and in good years peaches may be had
for the asking. In summer the children wear
little clothing. and in winter the CASTOR rags
OF their parents suffice. II the family ives
along q 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 VINO I'VE on
even less than $50 in cash per year; these hunt
and fish throughout the year find bed in some
other mans cabin. pay for ii in proceeds of rod
and gun, and wear some white mans cast-on
clothing.
1t is worth while to them drive into one
OF the villages, say on Saturday, when the
country people are gathering to do their shop
ping. One will many old negro come
driving in at snals pace, clad in ill-fitting
garments too big or too little. of any color
no color, ragged and patched. He slouches on
the seat of his tumbledown wagon If IL were
too much trouble to sit erect. IL he
about to fall over into the bottom Of the vehi-
Gle and go TO sleep. His steed is a mule. small
bony starved looking. wabbng in gait. very
caricature OF his kind. One expects him every
moment to stop and go to feeding the grass
that grows near the gutter The wagon rattles
from affair; every bolt and is loose, the
wheels seem about TO fall entirely off: the side
boards sway and the seat moves from side TO
side. apparently at the peril Of the occupant.
The harness Is composed largely Of rope and
Irvine: the lines are innocent Of all accusation
OF being leather. one would be willing to risk
his life on venture that such team would
never get down the street to the hitching place
by the pump but the ZZZag journey is safely
made with no sign OF anxiety on the part of the
driver. And he halls his ounging comrades on
the pavement with a guffaw that can be- heard
a mile; the voices of the i'll clad but happy
group sound mellow and sweet and good nat
ured they chaff each other. These voices
the very expression OF the happy go lucky,
idle easy, careless life OF these people too in
dolent to sound al the syllables of their words