The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1902-06-07
An Old Johnny Reb. "

We enjoy what happens when some
newspaper scrlbber gets to gushing
about tthe New South" and boasting
about Yankee energy. One of these
unreconstructed fellows in an article
ia the Alexandria Town Talk wades
into a wise chap in these terms, to-
wit:
"Capt. e. in his interview with the
Omaha HBee,' rehashes the same
old story of Southern people not
working? This ought to be set to
music SO it could be sung by north
ern people? Captain, l beg you to
leave your good ham and egg job
and work fifteen acres in cotton and
five in corn, the usual crop, and on
shares, and then tell us what you
think about work. A man who works
shares gives three-quarters OF his la-
hor to land owners and if crop con-
ditions were not favorable, starvation
would be the result. Ask some leg
achy farmer in this country what he
thinks about work? All very well
for fat and well fed people to think
people don't work in this country.
Henry George defines the brutaling
influence of poverty, and the labor
conditions existing here is food for
the thoughtful. The coming condi-
tion of the laboring class, with the
gradual rise in cost of living commo-
ditfes, is one of sad contemplation.
He speaks of want of enterprise in
the South and cites the fact that all
enterprises South are headed by
northern and western men. Hi,there
YOU! Five, sixths OF all enterprises
SoHth are headed by Southern talent
! and boards Of directors most all na
tive Southerners. Alabama, Georgia,
North Carolina and Texas show as
great progress and all directed by
southern people as any northern state.
Since slavery went out different
vent to their energies are given. The
same IDEA prevailed among northern
people till the affair ct Bull Run
came eff and people crowded out of
Washington City in vehicles laden
with wines and ready prepared din
ners for the grand feast after the bat
tie, but General Beauregard with his
southern bloods put your shoemaISers,
money changers and counter hoppers
on the dead run.
Dr.. Cutter of Boston read a paper
before the American Public Health
Association in which he stated that
had it not been for the ninety thous-
and men enlisted from Piedmont Sec
tion and put in the Federal army, the
north never would have conquered
the south and it is so. They came
in at Shiloh and the tide turned. The
3rd Louisiana Infantry, fought I
think it was, the 116th Iowa. 1t was
an Iowa Regiment, any way, three
times face to face in different battles.
He says Southern people are the
most hospitable people he ever saw.
Now, that kind of talk is all right,
Remember, oar children are not
born wanting everything they see, as
our northern neighbors are. Speak
ing of hospitality, L sojourned once
in the State Of Illinois Tor my health
Ito keep out Of parish prison in New
Orleans for political offeuses commit
ted in Louisiana and remember
people would put off dinner three
weeks rather than extend courtesies
to you by feeding you. One place in
Gallatin county, | went with another
man to farmers house and remain
ed till past noon. He bad sham fit
to get rid of as, sent this other man
for the doctor and the writer for mus
tard. I'm still cropping around for
that mustard and it has been thirty
years ago.
Man becomes gradually adapted to
the climate which he inhabits. Ma
ture is kinder to us here in one sense
and we don't have to contend with
the hostilities of nature as in some
countries. The sky of brass and
earth of iron as in Kansas, Nebraska