The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
mccnligbt Cotton Picking "~ on an Hldbdmd Plantation

I diversions full of gladness frequently l claim their idle hours after nightfall | Had not old Pleaz been wise enough to l obtain the cooperation of Napoleon
 Swindler. to offer his cabin for a i break down." they would hardly have
 considered his invitation. His level
 head foresaw all the necessary induce l ments. The assurance of heaps of
 good vittelcs" and shaking dey feet"
 across the road. was irresistible to l these children of nature. But for the l forethought of the good-natured Pleaz
 the men would likely have been off to | the woods hunting coons and 'possums
 before the moons bright face name out
 to send light to flicker through the | dense woodland, and fall upon the hid | ing place of MT 'Possum and rouse him
 In time to get the upper hand of the huntsman The negro women, may be, would have been off to "'tater
 roastin' or attending a neighborly | 'auiltin."
 Presently. Uncle PleaZ" gave the or
 der to 'mov' on to de cotton patch" In lew moments the rollicking night workers were raising a mighty dust in the big road as they hurried to the not distant field The snowy cotton fields whiteness was enhanced to weird ghostliness by the silver-white moon- OOdhS pidylHB nlue ana seek over the land. The squad was rapidly dispers- ed. at regulation distance, by the mas ter of ceremonies. He took particular paints to put congenial pickers in talking distance of one another. At the beginning of the rows assigned to each was an empty cotton basket to catch the overflow of the sacks.
 The laborers were totally oblivious to the charming picture they presented to an appreciative audience on horseback. eagerly watching their every move ment
 The negro woman of the country at all times presents fantastic appear ance Her love of brilliant colors causes her to bedecks herself in com binations of startling hues, that in the day time lend a charm to her appear ance and additional picturesueness to the cotton fields, that white labor could never give. Their usual costume Is a gally hgured, or striped calico. or con spicuously plaided cotton homespun dress, ornamented most freouently with broad bands of yellow or red calico, Sometimes upon a blue homespun is seen bands alternating red, yellow and green. The skirts are cut full inst escaping the instep showing a large pair of feet protected by broad-toed thick -soled. brogan shoes. laced m with the wearers faVorite color. The waists are generally ght-itting basoues. cut by "dey eye" meaning there is an ab- sence of side bories. or under-arm gores. and probably one dart in tbn front giving to the figure of voung women rather square. sturdy appear- ance' The front of the skirt is often halfhidden by a white or brilliantly colored apron.
 If her hair Is short and "kinky." she is pretty apt to hide it from view bv white head rag" or bandanna head handkerchief. It Is folded "three-cor- nered," tied about the head, and the knotted ends left to form rabbit ears" on the crown of the wearer. Those who have locks long enough for them to catch a good hold" discard the head 'kerchief and the hair in red, white. yellow or green strings.
 The way the average dusky damsel parts off her suit of hair makes me think she has endeavored tol lay off the map of the United States onIthe top or her cranium. The wanderiGg "wrops"