The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-19
Spirit of the Press.
ANOTHER IGNORAMUS.

ANOIHER lGNORAMUS.
Charity and Children.
Somebody kindly sent us a copy of The
Pilgrim, a rather attractive magazine
published in Michigan. We were especial
ly amused and entertained in reading an
article by one Mr.. Langdon knight, I'M
der the title THE Women of the Mica
Country" The mica country is supposed
to be Western North Carolina. and the
immediate section referred to by Mr..
Knight, the territory lying between Mar
ion and Bakersville, in Mcdowell and
Mitchell county. In the first place, Mr..
Knight gets tangled as to the geography
of the State He says the mica country
is a comprehensive term to designate a
large area of indefinite boundaries sit
uated in the northern part of the State
of North Carolina. He says it is region
of lofty, rugged mountains, of tumultous
streams, whipping their waters into white
foam as they descend to the lowlands,
and that is wild country where beasts
of prey love to roam and where thriftless
men live on the earnings of their wives
and children. This is the same old story
they all send back to their papers,
though intelligent men know that this
very selection gave to the world Zebu-
lon B. Vance, Thomas l.. Clingman and
David L. Swain. Mr.. Knight is a little
more amusing than the average tourist,
however, because of his bald ignorance
which he does not try to conceal He
says the people are ''shorn of ambition,
barren of purpose, self satisfied, incred-
IDLY ignorant, moribund. Now isn't that
dainty dish to set before the king?
how oil M Il nic ;,ofn
waiting world of the stupidity of a fam
lily whose hospitality he shared. He says
the mans name was Jordan. and he had
a wife, two sons and eight daughters, not
one of whom could either read or write,
and "Mr. Jordan and his family were de-
cidedly superior in point of general in
telligence to most of their neighbors -
One of the young men, Mr.. Langdon
Knight admits, knew there was a COVER
nor of the State, but supposed him to be
General Vance, who has been dead many
years. eve suppose Mr.. Knight has ref
erence to Senator Vance, who was never
a generaD. Mr.. knight goes on to de-
scribe the mica industry and gives his
futile imagination plenty of rope. He
explains that the poor benighted women
support their husbands by gathering
mica, and to make the matter perfectly
plain he prints picture of a mica mill
near Bakersville, which is in reality an
old saw mill in the town of Waynesville,
but which was torn down long ago and
was replaced by a Touring mill This
| mica mill, Mr.. LangdoD knight dis
plays to enforce his able argument was
recognized at once by former resident
| of Waynesville. but who is now with the
Orphanage, and whose name is n 3.
Moore, the foreman in the office of Char
ity and Children. Thus our Northern
friends are fed with the lurid literature
of adventures who think it no wrong to
Islander their betters. Nobody denies
| that there is plenty of stupid ignorance
in Western North Carolina, but so there
J is in Michigan. Neither of these sections
of our beloved country ought to be brand
ed, however, because of these dark places
| that are found everywhere. But we hon
estly hold no grudge against Mr.. Lang
don Knight. He appears to hold that
when man tells a lie he might as well
tell whopper The fact is, Mr.. knight
is daiSY