USA > North Carolina > Macon County > A brief history of Macon County, North Carolina > Part 2
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to be a sort of ovation when they | public affairs, and there can be little could meet and conserve the public interest. But the last third of a cen- tury has developed new ideas and methods for the public service. In- deed it may be said of this genera- tion as Robert Burns said of the Scotch youth in his day :
"That beardless laddies Should think they better were inform'd Thau their auld daddies."
doubt that it has been a potent agent in weakening public virtne. It has, indeed, been a fruitful source of the perjury and bribery that now disgra- ces our civilization-that corrupts our public officials-that defeats the administration of justice and threat- ens the permaneney of our noble prin. ciples of government. It had its be- ginning in little matters but has grown to dangerous proportions, and the end is not yet. Perhaps the rea-
Losing that patriotie spirit which prompted their nobile fathers to the performance of a public ser- der will consider this an unpardona- vice without a pecuniary reward, ble digression. While I admit that they commenced to murmur about it is not narrative I claim that it is the hardships of the public ser- nevertheless history and as such com- mende itself to the sober considera- tion of all. vice without a per diem compensation .! Nor did they cease this howl for : paltry sum until they secured the Little as mankind may think about coveted mize. Then of course came it one generation impresses itself up- taxation in order to raise the funds: on another. And singularly enough, to meet the demand. It presents, in the further removed, as a general fact, the odd spectacle of a people rule, each generation is from the taxing themselves that they might original stock the feebler becomes the get it back in a draft upon the coun- ty treasury. It is the necessity of this self imposed new order of things that makes the difference between the taxes of the present and sixty two years ago. It has created and
impression of the original type. This is the history of nations and com- monwealths. I mean this to apply, not to mere conditions of Insury and style under which lie a vast amount vi moral obliquity, but to those no- fostered n mercenary spirit in the bler traits of heart and brain which conduct of all public affairs, than constitute real worth of character which there is no greater hane to all and qualify men to bear up the pil- civil and political purity. This mer- lars of good government and a sound cenary spirit is a poison that works public morality. Let the candid rea- imperceptibly but none the less sure- der compare the prevalent disincli- nation of the populace of to-day to Iv. It has cost kings their crowns and repriblies their liberty and per- ! perform any public service only from petnity. ft is especially insidious in | mercenary considerations-the gen-
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eral spirit of insubordination to law | but with a view to awakening the pub- and authority whenever it conflicts lic mind to a sense of a prevalent evil, and with a hope thereby to induce a return to healthier methods and a more loyal and patriotic course in the conduet of public affairs. Should this result in stirring up a spirit of em- with their private prejudices and personal whims, with the ready and cheerful compliance with the public demands for the public good, ren- dered by our fathers of sixty years ago, and he must be convinced of the ulation of the noble men who subdu- truth of this axiom. This chapter is ed the wilds of Macon county to the written not in a spirit of vindictive- arts of Christian civilization, I will ness of the mere love of complaint, have gained the coveted reward.
PART IV.
The manners and customs of a ; of nonsense and deception amongst people usually form a fair index to those people. There were no dukes nor princes to dehide the giddy and foolish with high sounding titles without merit, and less capacity for conjugal happiness. Merit then con- sisted in sound native brains, honest, industry, sobriety and frugality. Whatever of goodness and usefulness there is in the present generation has come from such source. What- over education teaches or results in idleness, deteriorates manhood and womanhood. The old classic adage is as true of woman as it it is of man: "An idle man's brain is the devil's work-shop." Nor does refinement, so called, alter or modify this verdict. their leading traits of character. By this rule I propose to speak of some of the customs of the people of Ma- con county from sixty to seventy years ago. While the customs of so- ciety were not then so airish as now there was among the more proni- nent families a quiet nnobtrusive na- tive dignity and sense of propriety expressive of true man and, woman- hood upon which the arts of fashion have not made any 'improvement. The matter of courting among young people was done in different style from the present, yet it had the mer- it of being honest and straight. And although, incidents in some of the It was the custom in those early days not to rely for help exclusively upon hired labor. In harvesting small grain crops the sickle was mostly used. When a crop was ripe the neighbors were notified and gathered courtships of those days furnished matter for amusement and laughter, the resulting marriages were usually happy and prosperous. A regular dude could not have got in his work
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in to reap and shock up the crop. lived in peace and good will ne to- ward another. There was then Bons selfishness and cold formality than now. This difference is not for the want of any natural disposition or good impulses, but as a result of the force of custom and habit. Indeed our social and moral tempers are very much the result of our habits and customs. Any method which discards the habit of neighborly in- terchange of good deeds and mutual ishness. This leads legitimately to The manner was for a dozen or more uien to ent through the field, then hang their sichles over their shoul- ders and bind back. The boys gath- ered the sheaves together and the old men shocked them up The corn crops were usually gathered in and thrown in great heaps alongside of the cribs. The neighbors were invi- ted and whole days and into the nights were often spent in busking out a single crop. I have seen as helpfulness, breeds and fosters self- many as eighty of ninety men at a time around my father's corn heap. the withdraw d of each family into . If a house or barn or stabje was to sort of community of its own, uncoa be raised the neighbors were on hand and the building was soon under roof. Likewise if a man had a heavy
corned for the comfort and welfile of others. This, in its turn, affects the manners of a people. It freczes clearing, it was no trouble to have out that warmth and good cheer so an ample force to handle and put in characteristic of our fathers of bel- heaps the heaviest loge It was no enty years ago, and brings upon the untenal thing for a man to need one stage a set of cavaliers in deport- or two thousand rails For fencing. ment whose good offices are rendered
All he had to do was to proclaim that he would have a "ruil mauling".
on the basis of pecuniary benefit
Such is the change from the primi-
on a given day, and bright and car- tive customs here referred to, to the ly the neighbors were on the ground new methods, and I leave the candid and the rails were made before sun- reader to judge of the result. I am down. This custom of mutual aid, free to admit that there has been im- cultivate I a feeling of mutual depen- provement along some lines, such for dence and brotherhood, and resulted instance as that of education, the in the most friendly and neighborly | building of church bouses, style of intercourse. Indeed, , each man !dress ete .. but I am sure that there has seemed to be on the lookout for his been none in the sterner traits of neighbors' comfort and welfare as character, generosity, manliness, pa- well as his own. It made a comma- triotism, integrity and public spirit. nity of broad, liberal minded people, who despite the tonghe of gossip and an occasional fisticuff in hot blood.
There was another custom in those bygone days which to the present generation somras extremely primitive
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and rude, but which when analyzed all sorts of boasts and banters. The shows a strong sense of honor and truth is he had come to carry off the belt for manhood. The very boys in the street were roused to hot blood in behalf of what they regarded as the honor of their county and state. One of our first Board of Magistrates, Edward L. Poindexter, was known to be a man of great physical powers. He was a North Carolinean of the old type, and no doubt, partly prompt- ed by state pride, he made up his I mind to tackle the Tennessee bully. hand-to-band tussel between local; The result was that after a long and manly struggle the Tennessean went away next day all bruised and sore with his game feathers fallen and drooping all around him. This cus- tom illustrates the times, and I have introduced it more for the sake of contrast than a desire to parade it before the public. manliness of character. To settle minor disputes and differences wheth- or for imaginary or real personal wrongs there were occasional fisti- cuffs. Then it sometimes occurred in affairs of this kind that whole neighborhoods and communities took an interest. I have known county arrayed against county, and state against state, for the belt in champi- onship, for manhood and skill in a bullies. When these contests took place, the custom was for the parties to go into the ring. The crowd of spectators demanded fairness and honor. If any one was disposed to show foul play he was withheld or in the attempt promptly chastised by some bystander. Then again, if ci- ther party in the fight resorted to any How marked the difference be- weapon whatever other than his tween then and now, The custom physical appendages, he was at once : now is to fight with all kinds of dead- branded and denounced as a coward, ly weapons, knives, razors, pistols, and was avoided by his former asso- and in fact with any and every kind ciates. While this custom was bru- of weapons that comes to hand. From the mere stripling who is a who has grown gray in iniquity, a tal in its practice there was a bold outeropping of character in it, for [ novice in crime to the old offender such affairs were conducted upon the most punctilious points of honor,' large number of men now carry pis- Remember this, young man, to the tols. In defense of the habit, it is day of your death. I remember that i usual to plead personal protection on one occasion, I think it was a and changed conditions. Analysis of the real cause for this habit, to- gether with a long series of observa- tions, shows that it grows out of about three conditions, viz; coward- ice, a thirst for blood, or a conscious- court week, a man by the name of Kean came from Tennessee to Frank- lin. He had quite a reputation in his state as a local bully. He parad- ed up and down the street making
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ness of guilt for some offence and den times used to carry boat louis consequent fear of arrest and panish- of flour, bacon and iron down to Giun- went for it. The most common of I po three specifications is, no doubt, . dice. The young man, espe- cially, who stuffs a pistol into his pocket betrays a sinister purpose not to observe the proprieties of a gentle- man, and not to confine himself to good company, and his cowardice prompts him to arm himself with a pistol. As a rule it is the coward who first uses his pistol and is almost uniformly first to shoot. Conscious of having violated the proprieties of a gentleman, or of having wronged n fellow being, with the first intima- tion that he will be required to ac- count for it, and prompted by a era- ven spirit he whips out his pistol and commencez shooting. It would per- haps be a great mercy to a certain class of young men, were they sent to the penitentiary for the act of carrying a pistol before their coward- ly souls are stained with innocent blood.
ter's Landing in Alabama. Ho would anchor bis boat and spend a month or two in selling out his car- go to the newly settled people. It happened, that one night he went ont to a country frolic. Being a live- ly old buck he took a full band with them. There was one girl in the crowd who was a little better dressed than the others, having a big flounce or ruffle around the skirt of her dress. She had not taken any part in the dance. So my friend B. concluded to bring her out. She had a large roasted potato in her hand at the time, and stepping in front of her with a very low and courteous bow, he said ; "Miss, won't you be so very kind as to take a reel with me?" She whirled about and said : "Here mainy, hold my 'tater till I dance with this fellow." Dashing into the center of the room with arms swinging right and left and tossing her head into the air with a gyration of the neck, she shouted ; "Clear the way here you common sort and let border-tail come ont!" And my friend B. said he found the'most ample test for his powers for endurance. Now, here is a portraiture of the young man of this class with a pistol in his pocket, and when I meet one of them I al- ways think of my old friend B. and his Alabama girl: and, as for that matter I find a great many places for the application. Before dismiss-
There is another class - a sort of nondescript - who carry pistols. They can give no valid reason why they carry them other than a mere desire to do so. This class is most- ly of small mental caliber. They possess a strange sort of vanity-are dened with the idea that they are " " objects of both fear and admira- tion among timid people. I can best illustrate this senseless vanity by relating an incident in the life of an East Tennessean, who in the ol- ling this class let me tell you a secret
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upon them. The very presence of a pistol in the pocket of one of them creates a desire to use it. The more he thinks about it the stronger the desire becomes, until it deadens the moral sensibilities and as a final re- sult developes a new fledged criminal. Young man, if you should ever have a lucid moment of reason, I beg of you to throw your pistol into the mill pond and be a man among men. There is also the blood thirsty villian who by nature or habit is insensible to all the nobler impulses of our common humanity, and to whom nothing is sweeter than human gore. When he is armed with a pistol he becomes a very scourge to society. He seeks every possible pretext to satiate his cormorant appetite for blood, and that too without regard to age or condition. And as to the old hardened criminal from whose goal and heart crime has obliterated all sympathy for the good elements Now cast up in your mind the im- mense destruction of human life in which the pistol has been the most potent instrument -- the woe and an- guish that have settled down upor the innocent and helplees on its ac- connt-the sad weeds of widowhood and orphanage, with which the once of human society and deadened every tie that binds man to his fellow man it is not so strange that he carries a revolver, because he expects to meet at every turn either the stern hand of justice or retribution and conse- quently he prepares to sell his life at the dearest possible price. What happy domestic altar has been think you of the contrast between shrouded, and the many school-house the past and the present ?
It is, dear reader, an open ques -! against helpless orphans, and tell me tion as to whether Colt, Wesson and others with their patented inventions and manufacture of pistols have not heen the greatest national scourge of
the age. With the pistol has come an avalanche-an inundation of rob- bers. They bear the ear-marks of pistol paternity. It is the revolver that arrests the railway train, goes through the express and mail cars, appropriating their contents, and ri- fles the pockets of innocent passen- gers without regard to age, sex, or condition. It is the chief reliance of the assassin. It steals into the apart- ments of decrepitude and old age at the still hour of midnight and leaves them stripped of their valuables and ocenpied by death. The imprints of Colt and Wesson figure in most ca- | ses of suicide. By the way, the pis- tol age is the age of suicides. Sin- gnlarly enough the presence of the pistol begets in the human mind all manner of evil thoughts and intent. Indeed, it seems to be a fruitful source of the mania for self-destrne- tion. Nor does it regard age or sex.
doors which have been thereby closed what this infant industry has done for the nation. It seems to me that a little prohibition along this line might do the nation some good.
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