The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-09-05
Negro MELODIES.

To the present prevalence OF negro songs,
none can deny, is attributable much of the slang
andlow breeding found even among circles
where better might be hoped. Said 9 gentle.
tnah Of fine taste to. the writer, speaking OF a
lady who had frequented one Of the Ethiopian
exhibitions during fortnight of consecutive
evenings, "Why, Miss - has gone SO often
that she is nearly black. ." A significant and
just criticism. There exists in every one
enough of the faculty Of imitation to enable
him to adopt any manner, styleor habit which
may chance to impress his fancy or chime in
with his momeutary mood; and, as in this pre-
sent fallen state of being, enr nature is by far
moro ready to copy evil than good, we are,
consequently, especially susceptible Of bad in.
fuences The negro minstrelsy, setting on this
foible, Is, therefore, exercising more extensive
aid injurious influence upon society at large
.tSan many would imagine, not only as regards
tie progress of musical science, but also of
morals and religion. ~
= 1t is true it receives no countenance from
persons Of natural refinement, nor from those
whose tastes have become 80 through judicious
education and elevating associations; but tits
dangerously alluring to q far more important,
because q more numerous class--the thought.
less and the very, young, who are attracted by
anything mirthful, and which demands no toll
from the intellect. Through the medium of
amusement pernicious lessons may be convey
ed with double facility. Here is an extract
;ffom new version of the History of the Cre-
alton, taken from the music book Of young
lady: -
sDey first made the earth, and den dey made the sky
Ind den dey hung it up above and LEFT 1t dar to dry;
Den dey made the stars out of niger wenches eyes
To give little light when the moon don't rise.p
: lnstill this elegant lyric into the memory of
q chiId-and suchslike are every day learned
by little children before they have been taught
the name of God. or the first line of nursery
hymn, to the extreme delight of those who for
get their respectabiity at the great tribunal
and sacred truths will henceforth be associated
Il, his mind with low burlesque. First impress
sions never wear off, and the stain thus imprint
ed on the soul is inefacoable. A lady of the
writer's acquaintance once forcibly illustrated
this fact She had attended on Saturday night
a negro concert, and been much entertained
with choice naoreeau, the burden of which ran
somewhat thus: ~
."Dar's no use knocking at de door any more" (
On the ensuing Sabbath she went as usual
to church, where the Rev. Dr.. -- preached
a most impressive sermon upon the subject of
the Final Judgment and of the eternal misery
of the wicked, who shall be bsnished from the
Divine Presence. In the course of his remarks
he happened to say, Sand then, my brethren,
there will be no use knocking at the door any
more, "tor words to the same effect, which so
revived the absurd scenes Of the previous even
ing, that her gravity was entirely overcome,
and the solemn address turned into farce
There is another rhyme now, abroad about
"Jortan," casting mockery upon that most aw.
fal oftruths, the mysterious transitmoment Of
the soul from time into eternity, symbolized BY
the rverJordan. The author O perhaps intend,
ed n. profanity y-liothing but ignorance Of the
saeredness Of the subject could be an apology.
: q. Home Journal. "a
LovE.-How bright and beautiful is slove"
in IFS hour Of purity and innocenoe-how mys-
terisusly it herealizes eteyery feeling, and con.
eaptrafos .avaru uiId ond hauil dar;no ;ronuloo