The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-18

| bright open sunshine Oh TIE 1dfHi
| there you will see him welding ar
axe, or shouting to his mules as the
| plow turns up the fresh earth, OF
| singing as he drives the hummine
reaper, rejoicing that he has strength
| and opportunity to work. But with
| it all he is nothing more than plain,
| honest. Woodworking negro, respectful
where respect is due, realizing the
proper limitations as we'll as the OPP
portunities of his condition. What he
is any other negro of ordinary sense
by adopting like methods can become.
His name is Lee Woodruff. He was
born Al years ago on a farm in Davie
County, and on farm he was raised
entirely except for six years of his
life. These six years were spent in
Winston where he was a teamster to
a plug tobacco factory. In this en-
ployment, too, he was successful but
at the end of his six years expert
ence he was glad to return to his en-
ployer's large farm of which he wa,
made the manager. He does not hes
itate to say that the farm is better
place for men of his race than the
town. Nineteen years ago he married
a woman who believed in his theories
and was willing to give them a trial,
They have nine children. and these
they have always kept on the farm.
Nav suh,' he said. 81 don't want
my chilluns to go to no town. Farm s
best place for EN- and on the farm
they staid and worked, learning the
practical side of Lees theories
Lee is a successful farmer. He has
just harvested the finest wheat crof.
raised this year in Davie County, and
he is as proud as q king. He sowe1
67 acres, from which he reaped a
trifle over 1900 bushels. a yield of q
fraction less than Is bushels to the
acre. He las claimed 1t to be the best
crop raised in the county, and so far
his claim has not been disputed. Tn
addition to this his oat crop of &c
acres yielded ass bushels, Fraction,
under s bushels to the acre. He has
too. "a acres in corn which promises
to harvest one of the finest yields in
his career as a farmer This means
much in view of the fact that his last
years crop from II acres harvested
$50 bushels: but still more in view
of the fact that he has harvested as
much as 500 bushels from II acres,
He has acres in cotton which is in.
an entirely satisfactory condition. Al
together he has had under cultiva-
ton this year III acres of land every
foot of which has been tended with
care, industry and intelligence.
In addition to the live stock belong
ing to the estate which are exclusively
under his care, Lee has one yearling,
ten hogs and horse. all his own pri-
vate property. One of his most strik-
ing characteristics is his love for and
care of cattle ana horses. His arc
always in good condition, fat, clean
and sleek. There used to be on the
place too large spirited mules Lee'i
special pets. They were a trifie wild,
and Lee was the only person who
could so into their stables. He moved
about them with perfect fearlessness
and safety. They We're we'll fed, we'll
cared for and well treated, ana at
recent sale this care was turned into
dollars, the pair bringing no less than
1878. Not long ago Lee had on tha
farm a pair of large, powerful graz
mares. In these animals he lived and
moved and had his being. Nothing.
thought Lee, was too good for them.
One afternoon one of them failed TO
come uD from the pasture at the sup
per hour. Lee went in search of her.
he found her lying in the branch with
a broken leg. She had fallen from
the bridge, wet and slippery from .sn
afternoon shower. Lees heart sank
within him. veterinary surgeon was
nurriedly summoned. but his only adj
vice was that the mare be shot. Lee
refused fatty to do the cruelly-necas-
sary deed why, it was like shooting
q friend. The shot was fired for a fee
of one dollar by white neighbor.
Lee is truly a man mercifui to his
beasts.
This care shown to the dumb crea-
lures under his charge is likewise
in the management of the
barn lot and stables. These are al
ways kept in good condition, free from
dampness and filth with fresh clean
straw scattered plentifully about. His
buggies, wagons, plows and other
utensils of the farm show evidence of
like care. These thin~s are his pride
and laudable pride it is.
One of the most generally depre-
Gated vices characteristic of the negro
race, is improyidence. The average
negro lives to-day as if there We're no
tomorrow. From this vice, too, Lea
is comparatively free. When 1 saw him
last he was negotiating for q house ano
lot in Mocksville and for another in
Advance. You see." said he, "some
day me and my old oman is goin' 70
git old an we may want someers to
go"
But Lees interest is not confined to
He is interested in the Meth
odist church of which he is a member.
to pile his extensive family into
covered wagon TO bring them to
preaching over five miles of one of tho
toughest roads in North Carolina.
Then too he is member of the schocl
board of his district. sends his chill
dren to school and is interested ia
the right kind Of education for them
the kind that teaches them to work.
With great pride-pardonab / think
he mentioned the fact that his credit
is good all over the county. His sue
cess has not spoiled him; he looks to
the interests of his employees as to
his own, realizing that there can be 40
division of interests between them. He
has earned the reputation of a trust
worthy, honest, upright man and he
regards this reputation as his most
Jaluable possession.
Taken ali in all. it seems to me,
that he is concrete Twins example OF
the possibilities OF the negro race. He
is not a theory; he is a fact. AS
have said before, what he is the race
can become. Booker Washington il
no more type of the negro race than
Theodore Roosevelt is of the white
race. He is not a solution, but somc-
times ! fear an ENHANCEMENT OF the
problem. But Lee Woodruff is a he
gro of different kind. He is wha>
the average negro can be and must
De if the race is to amount to any