The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-02-13

CINCINNATI Februsry, 1852
[wfteu for the Cincinnati Daily Times.l
Inklings Of the Queen City.
NUMBER XXI.
BUCK TOWN.
BY JUNIUs.
few years since, Cincinnati rejoiced in two
distinct localities, to which the name, Bucktown
might have been applied. But one has yielded
to the spiritof western advancement; its quon.
dam Vestiges have almost entirely disappeared;
and the other, single and alone, remains in its
glory, to perpetuate the classic name.
The p resent and proper BucktOwn occupies
most of the space between Sixth and Seventh
and Broadway and CulveFt streets-a re.
gion whose geography is little known, and hence
proper subject for our pen. Though the child.
rem Of the sunny Sonth dwell in diverse quar-
ters Of the city; yet, here they principally re.
side and here their fathers lived before them -
To Bucktowu have the Locals often stood in
debted for an item; Bucktown has gained con-
siderable notoriety in the annals of the West,
apart from its peculiarities; and, therefore, in a
sketching of the Queen, her dark subjects
must not be overlooked.
The negroes must be remarkably conservative
in their notions, if we can form an opinion from
the style Of architecture, predominant in their
town. Their buildings seldom receive any i'm
provement or even repairs; bat present to the
passer, by the exterior of aquarter of century
ago. The sinking roof is propped up Temporal
rily; the broken glass replaced by an old hat;
the hiugeless door BY cOmmodious blanket, uu-
til their diapidated tenements present the ap.
pearsnce Of an inhabited Palmyra without It's
splendor. 1t is oHly when their houses abso-
lutely refuse the means Of shelter that they
seek another abode-a fact evideBcing powerful
attachments to their Penates. A tornado might,
we imagine, sweep over their we'll loved homes;
but, so it left place of egress and iugress, no
change would ensue. They cling TO their prim-
tive abodcs with wonderful tenacity, like
drowning sailors to the last aad smallest plank
There is no portion of the city, of which we are
cognizant, save this, where one would be ire
sstibly led to the conclusion, that the race Of
mechanics had become extinct Their services
are never employed in BucktowD; they are here
a useless class.
Nothing but large conflagration could de-
stroy the present appearance Of BucktOwn. Its
inhabitants. not having su ficient energy to re-
build would then become scattered, like the
tribes of Israel, and Bucktown would no longer
be. For years they have batted against cir
cnmstances and time aud men. The elements
alone. 1t seems, VIII dlsp2rse them from their
time halOwed habltat0us Not a great while
ago, Sixth street was dug down, so that it now
hCs some fifteen or twenty feet below tire house,,
that once bordered it. Though the street went
down, the houses did not. Their occupants
erected lengthy stalr-cases, and now look down
from their windows upon the pedestrian in the
descended thOrOughfare. Thus are they afford.
ed an elevated view and short removal from
the din Of city life.
One wonId suppose the negro population to be
larger Iu Cincinnati than it is There are not
more than thirty-two or three hundred in the
city though their number appears twice as great.
This arises from the difference in color. Every
negro you notice, while dozen whites nigh!
pass unobseryed As many as twenty-five hun
dred, We should suppose, were resident, Of
BuCktOwn; though from a cursory glance. you
would not think five hundred domiciled ia the
vicinity. Ihe reason is it is impossible to see
where they do live, until after close examina.
tJOn. Ia cellars, garrets, out-houses, and in
places you would least susI ect they eat, sleep
and die, nnknowing and unknown. They do
not suffer, but are often careless as to appear
ances, when their physical department is pro-
ylded tOr. What matters it to them, they sleep
on the ground floor, if they have Just dned
peutifullY on pork aud beans; or that their
walls are upholstered, if cheerful fire blazgo
on the hearth2
There is wit aud instruction in every thing,
says Sterne, or somebody else; and Bucktown
comes under the rule. Take aunt through
the precincts upon some pleasant occasion, when
the warm sun has drawn out the darkies and
mark il the observation be not true. You will
find all shades and ages basking in old Soils
rays-those Just tnged with the Ethiopian, and
Others with Countenances almost blue with
blackness; de ladders pride and mudders
JOY playing in the gutter, and the venerable,
gray-hared Sambo doing on the door-siIl. The
bellies Of Bucktown, old and young - and
far, we were about to say, hang grace
fully ont Of the windows, and chat vivaciously
with Clem Green aud Bill Jonsing. We are
not much given to cheerfulness; but if any one
Illustrate at least lip smile while viewing the
antics OF de colored population, he is even
more sombre than we. The apparel, particu-
larly Of the bucks, is as paculiar as their con-
versatou. They all have an irresistible desire
to be dandies. Esch strives to outshine the
other; and the more extaavagautly he is dressed
the nearer, in his opinion he approaches perfec-
tion.
We have seen ralfunny things in our lit
tie lifetime, and a negro exquisite is one Of
them. 1t is matter Of entire mpracticabilty,
it appears, for gentleman from Africa 70 dress
himself completely. Give him power to select
without limit from all the tailors in the city,
aud he would be sure to get something on
wrong. II he succeeded in investing himself 10
tasteful suit, he would crown the whole with
horrible hat whose appearance might sanction
the bell I it had been employed "tc expel the
winters flaw for an unknown term Of years
Or II nothing else were wanting to complete
his external beauty, pair Of gigantic boots
made it would seem, before blacking was in.
vented, would be painfully visible. Indeed
he might as we'll essay to translate the Lusiad o.