The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-10-10

With feyerish haste ! made ready for
my departure. Packing up a few
things and putting my writing mate
rails in my grip where | could the
more easily get at them. | started for
what J still looked upon as the enc
my's country.
AS | sped south the possibilities of a
brilliant future arose before me-. When
l reached Baltimore | looked down
from the window of the car and re-
called the scene enacted there, when
my father was one of those stoned
while OF their way to the defense of
their country. The day grew rapidly
on. and as the train pulled into Wash
ington the lofty dome of the capitol,
bathed in the fresh light Of an April
morning. dispelled my resentful
thoughts and led them back to the
beautiful scene which were always
uppermost in my fathers memory
whenever he talked Of the south and
of the friends he had made there after
the bitter days of the campaign were
over. After leaving Washington every
station became of interest. and there
was no detail from which | did not
draw some moral. had determined to
pierce the border states and seek for
the information | desired from the
land where the palmetto. the pine and
the live oak live side by side. The
windows of the car had been raised
and through them came the bracing
winds from the Blue Ridge. and | could
catch occasionally the strange minor
notes Of the negroes at work In the
fields. | was alive to every impress
sion, and | took out my notebook TO
chain In my memory some of the pass
ing scenes.
That evening | finished my first let
ter and mailed it from the train.
When | reached Atlanta | made in
quiry as to the best means Of reach
ing some of the outlying counties,
where | could study the social and
educational conditions OF this people
out Of the beaten tracks and away
from the thriving centers through
which | had passed. and which. ac-
cording to my preconceived opinions.
were the result Of northern capital or
New England energy. ! remained in
the vicinity of this city for several
days, making journeys into the cOun-
try and taking notes OF the field hands
and making inquiry as to the ages
paid and the amount of labor perform
ed by the average hand. My zeal was
undated. and | was on the point of
putting all my figures into n letter
when my enthusiasm received a check
that came near causing me to throw
up my assignment, which | would have
done without hesitation had | not fear
ed II would mean n summary dismis
sal from the paper as well. On com
ing in from The factory district one aft
ernOon ! found a letter from the man
aging editor. II said
We want facts Your letter mailed on
the train found useless and has been
thrown in the wastebasket. II true, 1t
was a very good editorial. but We do not
want editorials from you II you still
have my order read IL over and you will
find in it nothing about the racial ques-
~ VI 80 ''' 1888 ~
white people. especially the families Of
the old regime. and bear In mind always
that whatever you write Will be copied
there. Your letters. therefore. should be
Just and truthful. whatever else there
may be. II you were an artist with the
brush | should say paint a picture Of some
old colonial homesteads and antebellum
plantations Since you can't paint. write
OF them as they are Bring the scenes In
Georgia wildly before the people OF Bos-
ton. They can draw their own conclu-
sions. Let your pictures be OF people and
places only as you see them.
That was all. but 1t was sufficient TO
shatter my hopes and discourage all
further attempts to make sure OF the
electoral vote of New England. Dis
consulate and with a vague sense OF
my own ignorance. I boarded a train
that night bound somewhere In 6
s%outherly direction-l did not know
and ! did not care where.
When | awoke the next morning tho
odor which filled every crevice Of tho
car told me that | had entered the pine
belt of Georgia during my sleep. J.
threw up my window and inhaled great
dra fits Of fresh mir. felt irvtgornt'
I'd and ready to carry out my assign