The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-02-08
W We ,o,.s.I,'nn are psrlnIs ;s,iHlrs Mrs. Watson.

inc intarsstino Mrs. Watson.
Watson has written to~iish the fo,,o
Tionests Methodist Episcol-~ a
School:
LAMIsoN, ALA, Feb. ], 1gf.l
MY DEAR CLAss:-I will at least con-
vince you of the fact that have not for
gotten you, even though 1 am away down
here in Alabama. have been here now
about two weeks and have enjoyed every
minute of the time since came, as it is
somewhat like getting out of the world
up there with its snow and cold and liv-
ing in land that is sunny every day, al
case ever since got here and can hard
ly conceive what the really warm wealth
or is like when it does get warm in the
summer.
way between Birmingham and Mobile
and about one hundred miles north Of
the latter place. This section is in the
"black belt," and this immediate local.
or "piney woods" 1t is the greatest cot
ton producing section in the south, al
though it still makes the old time cane
'lasses and the other end of the combina-
tion, which to a negro is life ITSELF
Eaters. The place has about one hundred
and fifty people, more or less. About one
hundred OF these are colored. Almost all
of the white population work at the mill,
other town people. We'hsve six stores, a
little drug store, cotton gin, and with
the mill make it quite busy little place.
The colored people have their own part
from the rest, and most of them work on
the mill. There are only three white
men (all northern men) on the mill. All
the rest are colored. No matter how
place, you will always see the customary
white man to boss them, for it is such a
well-known fact without him there will
will be no work. Speaking about your
people that are perfectly contented, the
Alabama negro is the living example of
this person. 1t does not matter to him
what any conditions are, just give him
his accustomed 'lasses and 'taters and a
place to sleep and you will find him well
contented. He is just as happy with fifty
cents day as he is with three dollars and
get along just as well, seemingly. You
will find about one in fifty that can read
and in every case he is the 'bad" Mig
ger of the bunch.
They still realize that the white man is
superior to them and are very respectful
to him at all times. Some of the old
slavery time negroes, and there are some
here that can remember that time, will
always lift their hat to white man un-
less he is working man, and then they
do not think much of him. Every Satur-
day night they have their "frolics," as
they always have done, and you can hear
the same old baDjos as 1 imagine they
sounded before the war.
They have a small church here and
have growing Sunday School, and have
preaching every two weeks and prayer
meeting on odd nights. The Presbyter-
isns and Methodists share the one church,
but the former are now trying to build
one of their own.
Mr.. Watson and myself are starting for
Arcadia, Florida, today, to be gone a
month, This is where Mr., Whittekin is
located. We will see the Doutts while
there and Mr.. Watson is thinking of TAX
ing in the Panama Canal while near it.
Give my best regards to Mr.. Felt and
the rest of the school, and with my best
wishes for my own class,
am sincerely,
MpS n II w WArSoN