The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-10
ODD BLUE RIDGE PEOPLE.
Rugged Like the Mountains in Midst Of
@ I'd Which they Live. @ M
/ J,gllscas b. Curtis, in shc Reoord-Herald.

taipeersI Of the Blue Ridge are arac
Of themeelves, in many respeots unlik'
all the other communities that max,
up this great Commonwealth. The,
partake Of the rugged and -sombr'
character of the mountains in which
they live, and have inherited the
habits and customs, as veil as tie
cabins, Of their ,grandfathers .anc
great-grandfathers, who got that far ir
the westward march of empire, bu,
could go no farther because their
teams were tired and the mountain
roads were impossible. There these
pioneers settled down, cleared little
spots of land in the forest and began
an unending struggle with nature,
which has been only partially success
full, and, continued from generation to
generation, has produced hardy peo-
pie who live comfortless lives Of labor
and privation, and yet are not unhap-
py. Their politics, religion, morals
and superstitions are Interchangeable
and of the severest kind. Their poll
Tics is based ON liberty. as their, re-
ligion is based on birthstone. Hei.
they are Moonshiners, haid-shell Bsp
lists and shouting Methodists. They
resist the revenue officers because
they Believe the Government is de-
priving them of their liberties. Their
preachers picture the torments of the
damned in lurid colors, because it re-
quires something strong to arouse
their emotions, and their mortal lives
are SO full Of misery that mild form
Of perdition would not seem an ade-
quate punishment for sin.
They are dull ;n book learning, but
tenacious Of memory. This is due to-
their empty minds, and their lack Of
knowledge and experience. They
have lived in stagnation. They"have
few events to remember and the i'm
pressions left by the triAing incidents
Of their lives and the little informa-
ton they gather are never effaced.
The mountaineers are illiteratc in
secular learning, but you seldom find
household that is not we'll posted in
Scripture history. While they may
not be able to read the text, they can
quote passages from tie Old and New
Testaments without number, are eager
for theological controversy, are power
full exhorters and fervent in,prayer.
Some Of the most effective preachers
can scarcely read or write. Their
language is rude, but inspired by deep
emotion. Northern people have told
me that the most eloquent prayers
they ever listened to were offered by
uncouth, unedpeated mountaineers.
This is matter Of rride with them.
Men who can pray .eloquently and car
~ on theological controversies with
credit are quite as highly esteemed as
those wEo esesl in the use Of ahe rifle
Or In athletic sports.
One deg boy who had been taken
up by charitable family to hsfed
and clothed and educated in proper
way was being discussed with some
visitors. Forgetting that the child
was present his benefactor described
the squalid home that he came from,
the poverty, the ignorance and the
privations Of his parents. The boy
was nos without pride and loyalty to
his own family, and, looking up with
determined spirit, he asked.
Mrs. Phillips, did yeu Il. aver
hear my father pray?"
NO." the lady answered in eur
prise; "does he pray well?''
"Well," replied the hoy con6deat-
ly, II reckon he can pray better d he |
can do anything else 4
There are few words in their vocabu-
lary because they do not. have many
ideas or much information to COM
nunicate. 1t is said that no civilized |.
people have SO barren language, bnt
their dialect is unique and philolo-
glSts find in it close relation to the
Scotch, which was the tongue Of their
ancestors. Perhaps their limited .vo-
cGaoulary Ca is part Of their poverty. |.
They may practice economy in lam
suage ,!,g as in the other necessities Of
me- but their virtues are equally CON
,splcuous aud they are famouslfor their
hospitality. No mounsaineer ever
,--ued q stranger from his door unless
he suspected him Of being q revenue
agent, and,then he followed him down
the road with shotgun.
They never look mp anything. They
ave nothing to steal, ard honesty I
|a,d recognition Of tho rights Of,
Others are the Fundamental nrinninlaa