Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-06-03
HAYT1EN SOCIETY AND CUSTOMS.

The N. Y. Ey. Post is publishing a series Of
interesting letters from Hayt, from one Of which
we extract the followingi
Though the hour fixed for the company 10 as
semble was four o'clock, was dasured, that il /
arrived at five would be in ample tifffs and so il
proved. Not half of the company had assembled
before six, aud the ceremony did not take place
till yet later period. When we entered there
were not more then a dozen in the rooms, and but
one or two women. Our host and hostess were
both quite black. Elsine-I name her first because
she was the head Of the house--was widc-awake,
intelligent, amable and well conditioned black wo-
man, apparently about forty years Of age; Emil
lien her faithful consor was not near as intelli-
gent nor quite as fat nor quite as tall, quite as
dignihed as Elsine; but he was much blacker,
his face had much higher polish and his teeth
and eyes showed great deal more white than hers.
His whole heart evidently in the gaiety of the
OCCASION and his whole dependence for his enjoy
ment Of it. seemed to repose apon the administra-
tive talents Of his better half. Their relations 10
each other and the public, though not peculiar
here, need brief explanation, to be intelligent to
American readers She is the capitalist Of the
concern, owns all the property and does all the
business. He he's no more to do with the direction
Of affairs, in or out Of the house, than IL he were
her child. She is worth from fifteen to twenty
thousand dollars, all Of which she has made as
dealer in provisions
Elsine began her commercial career in the mar
ket without any money; by gradual accumulations
she got some capital ahead, and now buys from the
commission merchants in large quantities and sells
on credit TO retail dcaers--mostly qirls whom abe
has trained, and upon whose business she keeps a
carefuleye Her monthly purchases, I understand,
average about s., 600 month, and though neither
she nor her husband car read or write a line, she
has an unlimited credit-that is, any merchant in
Port au Prince would be glad TO trust her ell they
could induce her TO buy. ] mention this fact for
nf
The importers rarely deem ii safe 10 trust the mar
ket people much, il any, beyond tho amount Of
their average weekly sales; ynd tho reason given
me, was that they are always ignorant, kept no
written accounts, and when they get an unusual
large stock hand, and, as a natural consequence
find an unusual amount Of money comm in from
the sales, they lose sight Of the larger payments
they have 10 make, and think they are rich that
all their extraordinary receipts are clear profit
The momnet this idea enters their heads, they gave
dance, at which they spend the excess. and never
discover their mistake till payday arrives. The
experienced merchants know this failing so we'll
that they never give credit beyond the ciphering
capabilities Of their customers. Elsine is almost
tho only one who is trusted without limitation and
yet, what is really extraordinary, though all her
sales are made on credit, and toa very large num-
Der Of parties, in small quantities. and though she
owns and leases large number Of houses, she
keeps no account or memorandum, except, in her
memory for, rs have already stated she cannot
read or write single word, The mental vigor of
which this is evidence, rare among her race, ex-
plains her great success, and why in commercial
circles she is made an exception TO her class.
am thus full with these particulars, because
this woman is type Of the entire commercial class
OF native Iaytiens Most Of their business is done
by women, and Elsine is at the head Of them.
| found the house to be baptiscd, two stories
and an attic, about thirty feetsquare, with double
piazza in front, like most Of the better class Of
L.. - L., I.xl. II.