Sunday, February 06, 2005
Country Living
Gene Weingarten's column today is excellent, but that's not really news.
The news is that his column includes a reference to beautiful Dade County, Ga. - just across the line from Chattanooga, and actually one of the areas served by the college where I work.
In pointing out interesting bits from the stacks of the National Archives, he comes across this gem from my dear region:
Not only is it great that that is there, but also great is that some National Archives employee knew about it to show Gene.
The news is that his column includes a reference to beautiful Dade County, Ga. - just across the line from Chattanooga, and actually one of the areas served by the college where I work.
In pointing out interesting bits from the stacks of the National Archives, he comes across this gem from my dear region:
A page from the census report for the inhabitants of Dade County, Ga., in 1850, lists each resident, his or her age, occupation and place of birth, and whether he or she is "deaf, dumb, blind, insane or idiotic." One page lists several farmers and their families, and four single women: Sarah and Mary Doyle, and Lucinda and Susan Killion. One may assume the census recorder did not approve of these women, or had a perverse sense of humor, or both. In a formal, flowery handwriting similar to that found on, say, the U.S. Constitution, all four women's occupations are listed as: "[F-word]ing."
Not only is it great that that is there, but also great is that some National Archives employee knew about it to show Gene.
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