The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-01-09

c. y. Armstrong; Experience III North
CaroIina-AnSWcrS ".he North

To the Editor: / recently read
with much interest, an article in your
York" in which you quote the New
York Evening Post as saying, from
all accounts the lot of a strenuous
N]ortherner in a Southern town is
often a most unhappy one How
do southern people really treat i
stranger who comes to live in their
midst? | will answer the question as
briefly as possible by relating my per
SOnal experience. / was born in Mel
bourne, Australia, about forty-seven
years ago. All the age Of twelve |
ran away from home; was a sailor
-four years. worked at anything and
almost everything about three years.
About seven years | fought the battle
of life in a cold world. Although /
found plenty of kind, g~ood-hearted
people and can recall many, many
Kind acts; still, on the whole, tire
treatment | received was far from
being such as to bring out the better
part of my nature; in fact quite the
contrary. I had, at the age of nine
teen, become hard cynical. |
had almost reached (ne conclusion
that Christianity was q myth. and that
the milk of human kindness had about
dried up. But q revelation awaited
me. 7 was hired by a Mining Com
pany to go South. I was instructed
to take a horse and buggy to the mine
in montgomery county, this State. |
shipped the horse and buggy from
Philadelphia to Portsmouth, Va, and
on a bright morning drove out of that
town headed for Montgomery county.
The kind treatment that ] received
during 10y drive through Il portion of
Virginia and North Carolina was a
pleasant surprise. | had never ex-
periencad such kindness, hospitality
anl orc nina ion 11;pncc n .iu aI
at Troy, Montgomery county about
twenty light years agO a poor, friend-
less, homeless boy. 1t was just before
Christmas. The season, my arrival in
a strange land. thoughts of home and
happy holidays spent there, made me
very sad; my heart hungered for kind
| words and friendship-and [ have no
doubt that my face fully reflected my
feelings. The first words Of comfort
and cheer were spoken to me by my
old friend, since deceased, Mr.. Jesse
Smitherman, who took me by the
hand and spoke these words: boy,
| you look blue. Cheer up. This
country and the people ma look a
little rough to you. but if you stay
with us and behave yourself YOU will
soon have plenty of friends" How
prophetically true We're those kind
and cheering words.
What has been the treatment ac-
corded me ever since? Kindness,
consideration, the right hand of fell
loWship, of brotherly and n~eiShbOrly
kindness eXtended on every side. |
was not asked where l was from, who
my father and r}Other We're, etc. Men
grasped me by the hand, looked me
square in the eye, and with 4 kind
ness and cordiaIity OF manner that
could not be Mistaken, invited me to
visit them-nOt at their offices, but
at their homes. into the family circle.
Not content with ~shoWering upon me
the kindnesseS which prompt the
hearts of a brave. generous people,
they finally elected me clerk of the
Superior court of their county.
montgomery. And l am now serv-
ing my second term. This Is the way
a stranger is treated in the South.
| thank zoo that my ines We're east
IN sue pleasant places, Have I
been successful in the South? | have
the confidence and respect of my
n~eighbors. l occupy a responsible
and honorable position. I have many.
many sincere friends. | have a low
ing, faithful wife, a southern woman
the truest, tenderest, purest and
sweetest type of Womanhood in the
world; three children (Southern born,
thank God n sweet girl and two boys.
If the possession of these things
means success then | haVe indeed.
been successful and a~bundantly bless
ed And all that l am and have I
I'VE to the kin treatment Of myself
by the braVest, kindest. most generous
hearted people in the world. God
bless them and their beautiful SOUTH
land will be one of my last prayers on
earth.
CHARLES A. ARMSTRONG.
Troy, n. c., Jan. 4, 1905.