Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-05-25

generally SO lever CnaC the current is
not strong enough to wash the red clay
soil, which is about the color. of brick
dust.
The one thing noticeable above all
others to the Northerner is the strict
difference observed here between the
white and colored people. The white
man considers it beneath his dignity to
raise his hat to colored lady and under
no circumstances would a white person
ride in the same seat on train with
a darby. In fact the law prohibits it.
Every street car is placarded
| %White" at the front and ''colored"
at the rear and no darky ventures very
far front and you may be sure no white
person sits in the rear seats and on
steam cars altogether separate apart
ments are provided and each station
has "white'' and colored" waiting
room, instead of ladies and gentle
men S waiting rooms. This is called
the Jim Grow, car law in Virginia
and many southern states have similar
laws, but in the District of Columbia
there is no such law. and this brings
about another peculiar thing. Enter
Virginia suburban electric car in
Washington with whites and colored
and as soon as the Virginia line is
crossed the conductor puts up his
white" and "colored" placards and
invites any negro who may be in the
front or middle Of the car to the rear.
Should he refuse to go the law gives
the conductor the right to compel him
to go to the rear Of the car behind the
white people. In going from Virginia
into the District the placards are taken
down on crossing the line, for the
railroad company is liable to a fine for
placarding a car within the District,
One day l saw conductor helping the
ladies from street car. In the crowd
was colored lady and when the con-
ductor observed her he turned on his
heel and let her climb down without
help, and then again proceeded to help
the others out.
Another thing very noticeable to me
is the lack of energy displayed by the
average Southerner and reflected in
the towns and villages. Falls Church,
as have stated, has about the same
population as Barton village, but it
has no water system, no lighting
system and no up-to-date sidewalks.
There is much OF interest here that
one can see, such as old landmarks of
the war, breastWorks etc., but these
are delicate subjects to touch upon
here.
Only few days. ago l saw an airship
sailing above Washington and learned
that the government was experiment
ing with wireless telegraphy to and
from the balloon. Since starting this
letter troop of cavalry, with field
pieces, supply wagons etc, passed in
the street on some maneuvers.
A few days ago l heard the president
speak. He touched upon race suicide
and some of his other hobby subjects.
and | also saw the greatest ovation ever
witnessed by me when he arose to
speak. The audience rose as one man,
shouted, stamped their feet and threw
their hats into the air, and one man
shouted 'the greatest man on earth, -
another, 'the next president, 'and still
another, ''bless his old heart;'' and
then three cheers and a tiger for Roose-
welt. All of which the president
seemed to enjoy, as he bowed, grinned
his customary grin that displays a
noUthful of nice teeth, and began
his speech.
Probably Washington is as antagon-
istic to Roosevelt as any city or place
in the country, yet the opinion prevails
here that unless Taft is nominated or
the first ballot, which his managers say
he positively will De, Roosevelt will
be the nominee of the Chicago conven.
ton, and many here expect his return
to the White House even in the face OF
9 what he often repeats about refusing
a nomination or election.
h What more | may have to say is con.
y corning Vermont's representative ir
+ Washington as viewed from Washing
- ton. With the coming senatorial ane
g representative fights in Vermont thi:
~ subject is of absorbing interest ane
. cannot be weighed too carefully.
v may boast of an exceptional opportuni
:, ty Of knowing exactly how Vernon
u and her members in Congress ar,
- looked upon, owing to the fortunat,
- fact that have some friends Of influ
:, ence connected with some Of the sen
ate and house commissions and through
- their influence have on this visit i,
= Washington and at. other times met an,
80 talked with several influential mem
= bars Of the senate and house. To b