Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-09-01

NORTHERN NEGRO LIFE AS SEEN THROUGH A
SOLTuERN SLAVES SPECTACLE

SOUTHERN SLAVES SPECTACLE
We have been not little entertained with the pc
rusa of letter un Aubann negro, s9journing with
his master at Sharon Springs. New York, has been
writing 10 some cuOrcd brethren ut hlS az home. The
document appears in the Mobile Herald. aud has an
editorial endorsement for is Gcnainenc-s he name
of the writer is Allen Foster: lie says he is sick ui
the North, and Northern people, and wants to get
home. He has seen enough OF freedom, among both
blacks and whites 10 last him for e-tlme-s So he
says. But there is part OF the story Allan should
be lot tell in his own words-thus:
ave spent few days in the city of New York be-
fore came to Sharon. In my strols of three days
through that city saw more evidences of dcstiuton
-nure ragged, half.clad miserable, begSnred look
ing people than ever in Virginia and Alabama.
| met bcggars and loaters nj every corner, and,
strange us you nny regard it, il is fact, that cent
is as GLADLY rercived by these poor creatures ms II
dollar would be by any servant in the city of Mobile"
1 often ask these poor creatures "why they
don't go to work" Their answer invariably is,
that "thcy get nothing 10 d" aud have 10
friends to help them get into business" Those
who are more fortunate, and succeed i'll prncurin"
employment, arc paid from nothing up to cgh dol
lars per munththe former relying upon the lbtrali-
~ OF guests for the means OF support. The CHAM
bermads in the hotel at which are TOW lodged,
get 81 per month and regret that the shortncss Of
the season (which s about three monthsl will soon
again throw them upon the world without hope OF
again being so pleasantly and sn proii'aby employed
until the return at another crsilnmcr nd only n"ws
formed, arc five time cold Ours The porter at
this loul Ia white with wifr and two childrcnl
and myself, have become quite intimate He is Il
most extraordinary man OF his claSSis certainly the
bes: porter ever 1t would nstoush you To see
the amount of labor he performs every day and night
reckon there nrc nm average Of 2iH guests at the
hotel. They are coming and going almost hourly,
and each guest has one more trunks, weighing,
suppose from % Ia 4iD pounds. This lnnn receives
and disburses it n, often climbing story utter story
un.l.r fhuya hpUN. hpr Nhunn ntbn
employed during the day he trims lamps--itsef no
trite in an establishment like ths. But this is not
all At the approach Of rests appropriate hour, when
you and /, and u southern servants sumbcring
at our ease this poor mans lonely and most tedious
task commences.
This picture of Northern life, in some'sG.iis lower
phases, is by no means OverCuurCd, us every body's
observation and experience will attest. But our CO.
lurcd friend after ALL had only glimpse nf the sicr
realities. If be wanted 10 see the FREQ nero or his
brother pale face even, in condition indesCribubly
worse than those Of them employed NJ ;e city hotels.
he should have taken n ramblr at midday, or mid
night through the Five Points, West broadway, or
Church street. y walk along the North end Eust Ri
whurves, alsu might enlarge his experiences to
the misery, vice. and general wrcchcdness Of the free
negro portion Of onr population. Fortunate slave lie
saw OF these things. But the little he did see. ii
seems, was enough to prompt him to write thus:
ain the portcr's room this morning, me: with ono
of the brush and errand waters, boy about fifteen
counting his moncy-the earnings of, know not.
how many days. He had seventy.fyc cents, which
seemed to he un object. asked him what he did
with the money, to which he replied that he gave it to
his aged parents, who were mainly dependent on his
e1ertions for support. At these hotels are>ohers
employed to perform the more nenial Offices OF the
establishment, whose faces are never seen by the
guests of the house. They the thiest, measest,
most woc-brgone bipeds ever behold, and work abso
utely for less than Mr.. s. gives the per month
for sweeping his room, SC, which you know docs
not take fifteen minutes a-day. Talk about Southern
slavery and Southern poverty! declare that have
fore in all my life. Some people wonder that should
90 back to Alabama, aud deem it very strange that
do not avail myself Of the offer of what they call free
dom. On the other hand, have hosts Of acquant-
ances who envy my fortune in life, aid at this ho-
tel, there are over dozen who arc anxious to 70
with me to Mobile
III would not exchange condition with them for all
the bribes and charms which Aboonism could offer