TOUR


OF THE STATE.


stream. A rope stretched from bank to bank was our
means of passage. Just across tte river we found the
cabin of a cracker, and here we were to get dinner. After
a long delay, we were called in and told to set by" ; but,
although the table was heaped with food (alleged to be),
yet I couldn't eat of it: sweet-potatoes in two styles-
baked and fried in slices-but less than half cooked in either


shape


bread, merely chunks of yellow, hot, steamy dough,


incased ii
for being
fat pork.
pretense
boil a fe
from its


i burned crusts; muddy coffee (plenty of gr
muddy, if the reader will excuse the pun)
 There were eggs visible, however; so,
of not feeling well, I induced the cook to
w, and, having managed to strain off some
mud basis, worried through a luncheon.


housewife was of indolent, unI
slattern and unwholesome. S
them well, "That husband of
trip up in a mud-puddle, woul
lazy." And that loving wife re
"Yas, I 'spect that's so; he ar
like, sho' enuff, jes' no 'count.'
grinned as if a compliment had
 Such villainous, disgusting
the tables of the low whites o
equaled. The ignorance amonj
necessary art is frightful. Liv
most without solicitation, Natui
and best of fruits and garden-
seldom have any sauces or fruit


healthy, flabby appeal
aid the driver, who
yours, if he should


pounds
; and
under
soft-
coffee
 The
rance,
knew
 ever


d lie and die there, he is so
plied, with a shallow smile:
3 mos' dreflte, or'nary, lazy-
 SThe listening husband
 been paid him.
cooking as that found on
f this region is surely un-
g the women of this very
ing in a region where, al-
re provides all the daintiest
vegetables, yet their tables
of any kind, except occa-


sionally dried apple-sauce, bought at the store; or else some
wretchedly made guava-jelly. Vegetables are seldom seen
on any tables, except those of the land-owner class, or of
Northern settlers occupying homes in the neighborhood.
No wonder the "crackers" look so unhealthy, or ate so
stupid, or that the men take to whisky, and like to fight so