The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-12-04

IL Is a typlCdl cOtLOn uelQ Wltn us
vast acres of evenly spaced rows,
crowned by veritable snow-cap of
the unpicked staple on one side, and
a brownish black void of emptiness
left by the pickers on the other.
Here is an army of negroes slowly
vending it's way between the rows,
picking and singing at their task. A
negro boy is scurrying up a middle
with a bucket of water on his head,
stopping now and then for picker
to drink from large gourd dipper.
He exchanges repartee with the
pickers who take him to task for his
alleged slothfulness, always giving as
good as is sent, or paying little heeo
to what is said or done except pos
sibly to dodge a green boil that is
hurled at him by a more playful
brother.
The Strangers Question.
A stranger is seen slowly makine
his way from the public road far
across the field on the side that is
yet to be picked. In his derby hat,
frock coat, and stiff shirt he presents
strong contrast to the pickers i'll
their homemade trousers, check
jumpers and frayed hats, contrast
that is made more obvious by the
heavy walking stick the stranger car
ries.
Occasionally he plucks lock from
the burr, pulls the lint away ana
places the seed to his lips. The
owner of the field who is in the act
of departing for another part of the
plantation, gazes at the stranger and
marvels at his peculiar movements,
as he awaits the arrival and object of
the unusual visitor.
"Good afternoon" says the strang-
er as he approaches.
"Howdy, Sir" replied the planter.
The visitor takes his handkerchief
from his pocket and swabs the inte.
rior of his mouth to remove the cot
ton seed taste and the green stain
which is apparent.
Funny thing, the cotton seed,"
ventures the stranger
"Yes,' replies the planter, "No
good at all except to plant and too
many for that"
"Why, exclaimed the stranger, "I
was just thinking what beastly food
they must make for your negroes! I
have understood that the negroes act
ually ate them!"
1t is said that the planter was so
indignant at the thought of eating
cottonseed that he ordered the we'll
dressed stranger off his farm.
That was little more than half a
century ago, yet behold what time
hath wrought!
The Inventors Brain.
Great progress had been made in
the cotton and cotton manufacturing
industries prior to this by many
years. In fact, John Kay, an English
man, had invented the flying shuttle
in weaving in 1888, thus greatly ex-
pediting the manufacture of cotton
cloth, which was, by the way, very
expensive and precious cloth at the
time; James Hargreaves, also an Eng
lishman had invented the spinning
jenny in 1868; James Watt the steam
engine in 1882; James Cartwright
the power loom in 1855.
This colony of "Jameses" were all
of the British Isles, where but little
if any cotton was grown, but where
the majority of it was manufactured.
They created a demand for cotton
oy furnishing equipment for it's cheap
er manufacture, but still the process
of removing the lint from the seed
was a slow and expensive one at best,
this fine task being done by hand by
women and children who were paid
by the pound and who frequently
worked far into the night to increase
their days earnings.
Eli Whitney was an American and
Southerner who knew from observa-
tion and experience the need for me-
chanical means for removing the cot
ton seed. So, in 1898, when he in
vented the cotton gin the world was
quite ready to give him an attractive
ear and a helping hand.
The Gin Was Crude.
The gin, or "engine," as it was at
first called, was crude when it came
from the hands of Whitney, the
sch hoolmaster. It was improved from
year to year, however, and served
good purpose
Through the influence of this ma