The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-16

Washington, d. c., Dec. 13.-By
.,ms self-appointed philanthropists
on, mountain people are represented
a = strange race, apart and foreign
to all other Americans and newly dis
covered by these explorers.
The mountaineer, as his needs"
arc exploited to the pecuniary bene-
nit Of the exploiters, the generous,
pl~blic-spirited. well-to-do but guilt
bic citizen of the North, gives money
"for the civilization Of the mountain
whites" Men and women calling
themselves missionaries" come, as
sumo superior airs, speak conde-
scendingly Of these people, go I'M
invited into private homes, advise. |
and correct. They return to their |
desks. write romances suggested by |
isolated cases. add bright local
COLOR send it to the world with a
plea for more money.
recently visited the Southern In
dustrial Association" here. 1 had
heard thai / could see the work Of
our girls in the Vale Crucis linus
trial SchOol. There happened to be
nothing from them. but there was a
large collection or woven articles
from the loom OF q Watauga lady.
Though amply able to live without it.
she rightly sends her beautiful handi-
craft into the world. She is an in
telligent omar a notable house
wife, h has preserved with the old
family looms the arts Of spinning
and weaving. For many years she
has had more orders than she can
dill for these beautiful towels, rugs,
carpets and other articles. She and
her people hay maintaine comfort
able homes and we'll titled farms and
orchards, have educated their chill
dren. and have been independent,
God-fearing people since their for
hundred years ago. In her neighbor-
hood she is typical. though the good
people working to civilize the noun
tain whites say" She is o wonder
fui exception, and hat the other
mountsineers sit in darkness in the
shadow of (civic) death.
\ Libel on the MOuntaineers
There are on the walls Of this asso-
citation room, photographs of shanties
In all stages Of dirt and decay. called
mountain homes. The hunter for
thes specimens had to travel weary
miles 10 pick and choose" for the
homes Of today up there are not OF
that kind.
Among them is a card Of which
hbii' are u1St(lDutcO, cdItcO q
typical mountain cabin" 1t shows
a hut whose long sides and stick
ch'tuney are tottering. In front is 9
llne or wretches-a man, a woman
SIX children. and perhaps. some dog:
All looking hungry and dirty.
In connection with this picture wa!
told a CHASTITY story, how this mar
uecoys young girls to the thickets OF
the mountain, keeps them till h
works his will upon them, then send
them adrift. 1t was gravely ASSERTED
taat such men are common in tn
mountains, that girls OF fifteen usu
ally have children. but no husbands
ana that there are no teachers VIII
could pass beyond the fourth grad
in Il town school.
| asked why his card was distrib
uted when its falsity could be easil
proven. The reply was: That car
h4S brought us thousands OF dollars.
Al mat time a package was bein
>ent 10 Boston.
After the Dollars.
L is this sort OF information
watch gives the world the prevailin
impression Of our people. All me
ieVe a new thing and such fable
tnout mountain life relieve men an
women OF too much time and of
piethoric purse.
\ young lady a few days ago look
Cd upon me with interest when toll
th1t | came from the mountains {
North Carolina. She asked that
would tell her about those people.
one had heard So much about them
said: I'VE are like other peopl
diHering in kin and degree, as q
those Of this and Of every place
nut they are SO innocent, she sal
tearing to hurt the feelings of me
Them. Her idea Of innocence ";
that they don't know about tn
tters and things"
such philanthropy has caused o.
people to hate the word missionary
IN Watauga some deny their childrt
the blessings OF a course in the Val
tFacis Industrial School. because
haa been called the Mission. o.
Mother said: We are not heathe
l don't want my children taught
read and write il the teacher tai
''out doing missionary work.
Love For Real Workers.