Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-16

CONFORM, KING GEORGE COUNTY.
VA, November 15.-(SpeciaD.--T rapid
rate at which the colored people of this
section have been dying for several years
past has been subject Of deep concern
to that race, and of very general COM
ment among the whites; and the fact
that the death rate among them has
been larger during the past eight months
than at any former period, and perhaps
more than twice as large as that Of
the white people, is now regarded as very
significant.
When this unusual death rate began to
attract public attention it was generally
supposed that the class of ante-bellum
darkies. who had reached a good old age,
were dying of purely natural causes: but
recent inquiries have revealed the fact
that the young and middle-aGed are
passing away much more rapidly than the
old folks Undertaken j. w. Walker, of
this place. has buried as many as four
In one week. since midsummer, and states
that a large majority of those buried are
young people.
Lung Troubles Kill Them.
It has been ascertained that very large
percentage of the deaths that have oc-
Cured in recent years have been due to
lung troubles Of one kind or another.
Many of the young and apparently ro-
bust negroes of this section who seek en-
ployment and temporary homes in large
cities and northern States every spring.
return here in the fall in broken-dcwn
health a number of them dying severa!
months later.
This state of affairs is believed to be
due to two things-first that majority
of the colored people pay no attention to
the sanitary conditions about their homes.
Their premises are not as cleanly as they
should be- and they are not careful. as a
rule, about the springs and wells which
supply them with drinking-water. Sec
ond, they do not wear thick, comfortable
clothing during the winter months. Many
of them dress we'll as far as appearances
go, but their apparel is, as suitable for
summer as 1t is for nidwinter weather.
In addition to this. colored people expose
themselves by keeping late hours at night.
Many Of them are out. regardless Of
weather conditions. at least half of every
night during the winter.
Lilac and Potatoes IN Bloom.
One Of the f" wonderful sights to be
seen here Just now Is cluster of :ilac
bushes in full bloom. presenting real
spr!ng-i;ke appearance. No one here can
recall the blooming of ilacs In autumn.
The lilac is about the first flower that
blooms in early spring-time, and 1t was
never before known to blossom after the
first warm spell of weather in March or
April. Some Of our farmers have lately
been exhibiting curiosity in the way
of sweet-potato vines in full bloom. claim
ing that MS crop never bloomed before.
TO say the least. sweet-potato patch.
bedecited with lu1uriant crop CT huge
Movers resembling the 'mornins-glory.'
is a very rare spectacle here,
Cross Roads Stores.
For some years past there has been
such q craze for merchandising thai
great many of our young men lost taste
for farming and other pursuits. and In
vested their means In merchandise. and
now there are so many small stores cot
ted about over the county that there Is
scarcely sufficient patronage to support
them. Every cross-road and fork IN the
county has .. store, and it is said that
some must close for want of patronage.
According to the latest reports from the
neirhborhood, there is no elue to the
burning OF the $3.50 barn at Washington
this county, more than week ago. y