Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-19

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. l was alive 10 every impress
sion, and | took out my notebook TO
chain in my memory some OF the pass
ing scenes.
That evening finished my crst let
ter and mailed IT from the train.
When 1 reached Atlanta | made in
qUiry as 10 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 sway
from the thriving Centers through
which | had passed. and which. &C
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
aud making inquiry as to the wages
paid and the amount of labor perform
ed by the average hand MY zeal was
una bated. and | was on the point of
putting all my figures into a letter
when my enthusiasm received a check
II at came near causing me TO throw
up my assignment, which | would have
done without hesitation had not fear
ed IL would mean a summary dismis-
sal from the paper as well. On com
ing in from the factory district one aft
eruOOn | 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 wsstebasket II true 1t
was a very good editorial but We do not
want editorials from you II you still
. have my order read II over and you will
find in II nothing about the racial ques-
ton or political problems Study the
. 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 we're an artist with the
brush should say paint picture Of some
old colonial hOmesteads and sntebellum
plantations Since you can't paint. write
or 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 ana 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, / boarded n train
that night bound somewhere In q
sOutherly direcion-l did not know
and | did not care where
When awoke the next morning the
odor which filled every crevice OF the
car told me that had entered the pine
belt OF Georgia during my sleep
threw up my window and Inhaled great
drafts OF fresh air. felt invigorst [,
ed ana ready TO carry out my assign.
Ueut no matter vince u ed me. the
farther into CIe pine forests and out
Of the reach Of managing editors.
thought tie better. Later in the day
left the main road and took the mar
row gauge line which I was told fol-
lowed the bed Of the Savannah river
ard passed through several Of the
most historic counties Of the state. rich
IN memories OF the past and peopled
mostly by remnants Of the Old colonial
and antebellum families. who had in
the past made them the most infuen-
tial centers Of the state
The railroad wendell its way through
6 beautiful rolling country studded
with pines and cedars. The wild how-
ers grew up TO the very tracks. and
the earth seemed carpeted with soft.
velvety moss. Through the pines |
caught glimpses occasionally OF state
! ly Old residences. with their gardens
uukempt and the weeds growing in
wild profusiOn- Where the fences had
fallen they had been left TO decay. but
the fields were plowed and showed
signs Of cultivation at q cost Of great
labOr
We STOPPED ar several stations. ana
around each there was an air Of happy