New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-06

wretcbed n the extreme, and exhibited that most
deplorable consequence Of ignorance and an sb'
iect condition, the inability OF the inhabitants TO
secure and improve even such pitiful comfort
as might be achieved by them Instead OF
the order neatness and ingenuity, which might con-
vert even these miserable novels into toerable res
licences, there the careless, reckless, hhy In
dolence, which even the brutes do not exhibit IN
their lairs and nests and which seemed incapable OF
APPLYING TO the uses Of existence the few miserable
mems Of comfort yet within their reach. flrewood
and sbsvipgs lay Uttered about the foors wDle 'he
half naked children were covering rouno tWo or
three smoldering cinders. The moss win wmcn 'he
chnks and crannies of their ill-protecting dwellings,
mil sht have been stuffed trailing in dirt and dust
about the ground, while the back door Of the hnts
opening upon most uusightly ditch, was left vice
open for the fowls and ducks, which they are
allowed to rsise to travel in and out, le
flth Of the cabin by what tley brought aud ei' Ia
every direction. In the midst Of the floor, or squat
ting round the cold hearth, would be four or nVe
little children from four 10 ten years Old the I'Ier
all with babies their arms, the care OF tne infants
being taken from the mothers (who are driven sLeid
as coon as they recover from chila iapo'', anu e
volved upon these poor little nurses, as they are
called whose business il is TO watch the infant, ana
carry il TO its mother Whenever II may require nOur
ishment. To these hardly human hllle beings ad,
dressed nv circumstances about the blth, colo, ana
unnecessary wretchedness OF their room, piuuipg
the elder boys and girls kindle up the fire. sweep The
floor, aud eI pei the poultry. For long time my
yery words seeu ed uuintegble to them, I'LL, when
l began TO sweep and make up the fire, etc., they
first fell to laughing, and then initiating me. Inc
ncruststons OF dirt on their bands, iee ana iacos
were my next object OF attack, and the stu ID negro
practice (by-tbe-by, but short time since nearly
uni, ersal in enlightened Europe) OF keeping the
babies with their feet bare, and their heads esdy
well capped by nature with their woOlly hMr,
wrapped III half dozen hot, filthy coverings.
Thus travelled down the "ttreet," in every cwtll-
;pr opIa N a n Iercpl'lOf-'nht
of misunderstanding, ~ went, over The futhty
of my own exertions, for how can slaves be ini'
proved Natbless, thought j, let what eau he
done; for il may be that, the two beng incompa-
ible Improvement may yet expei slavery anl 20 II
might, and surely would, IT, instead Of beginning a
the end, could but begin at the beginning oil NJ
tack. II the miud and soul were awakened, irsteAd
of mere physical good attempted, The physical good
would result and the great curse vanish away Dn'
my hands are tied fast and this corner Of the WORK
is all that may do Yet IL cannot be but, from ny
words and actions some revelations should rehoh
these poor people, and going in and ont among then
perpetuay shall teach, aud they learn inNoiunts-
rily q thousand things " deepest import lhey
must learn and who can tell the fruit of That know
edge alone that there beings IN the world even
with skins of different color from their own who
have sympsthy for their msfortunes, love Tor thsr
virtues, and respect for their commtn nlture-bnt
oh my heart is full almost TO bursting as l WAX
among these most poor creatures.
But if such are the lodgings Of people in
health. what shall be said Of the acoommoda.
tous provided for The sick slavel
The Infrmary is large two-story building, ter
minating the broad orange-plan,ed space between
the two row. of houses which form the fret settle
ment; it is built OF whiiewashed wood, and con
tains four large-sized rooms. But bow shall de-
scribe 10 you the spectacle which was presented 10
rns on entering the first Of there But half tie case
~ fksra axlY
these were obscured with dirt amos. ~ much NJ
the other windowess ones were darkened by the ain
gy shutters which the shverDg inmates had netened
10 in order 10 protect themseves IRON the cold In
the enormous chimney glimmered the poweriess en-
bers Of q few sucks OF wood round which how
ever ~ many Of the slck women as could approach
were covering, come on wooden seltl's, most oil
them on the gTonnd excluding those who were too
i'll TO rise and here last poor wretehee lay ToFn'e
on the foor without bed mattress, or pillow, buried
in taitorod and filthy blankets WI irh hnffl"d ronnd
them as they lay strcwed about left hardly space TO
move upon the floor. And here, IN uoir tour OF
sickness and suffering lay those whOie tcalth and
strength spent IN uDrequted labor for us-ihc'e
w no, perhaps even yesterday, were being urgei on
to their unpaid tast-thOse hose husbands ishers.
brothers, and sons were even Al that hour swea'n4
over the earth whose produce vns 10 bug FOR o. all
the luxures which beath can Tevol IL, all the COM
forts which can alleviate sickuess i stood IN 'he
ridsi OF them perfectly unable " sposk, tho tears
pouring from my eyes at this sad spectacle Of their
misery myself and my emotion alike strange ano IN
comprehensible 10 them. Here Law women expecting
every hour the errors and agoues OF childbirth, OBJ
err rho had lust brought their doomed offspring g. tie
world, others WHO were grooming over the angui'h
aud bitter appointment OF miscarris Retherc lav
sOrne burning with fever Others chilled with cold
aud aching with rheumatism, upon The nard cold
grouud the draughts and dsmpncs OF the atmosphere
Increasing their sutcrngs, and dirt, noI,e, end
stencil, and every lPgravalion Of which rcknt.Tt
sfot.- u. LOO lac
Ike brute beasts absorbed in ply steal suffering un-
visited by any Of those Divine Influences which may
ennobe the dlspensHons OF pam and iness 'oFaken,
as 1t .eemed to mo. OF AL good; md yet, y Goi,
Thou surely hadst not ioTsaken them ! Now pray
take notice tLGt tbs Is tie hospital Of GA estaic
where the ow psis are supposed 10 be humane the
overseer efcieut aud knd, aud the negroes remark
ably well cared for and comfortable. As soon ss
/ recovered iiom my dlsmay, sddTesstd old Eose,
the midwife, who had Charge OF this room, bidding
her open the shutters OF tuch windows as were
glazed, and let VI the hght. next proceeded to
make up tbs hTe; but upon my hitting a log for
that purpose, there wa one universal Ouiory Of
horror, and old Rose, attempting 10 snatch II from
ne, exclaimed, " Let alone, mistis-let be- what
for you lit wood you have niger enough rnissis,
70 DO 1t IL l hereupOn had TO explain 10 them my
view of tue purposes for which hands aud arms
were appended 10 our bCdos and forthwith began
makipg Rose tidy up the miserable apartment, re-
moving all the filth ana rIbbi,h from the floor tha,
could be removed folding np IN piles The blankets
Of tie patienis who were not using them, And
placing IN rather more sheltered and comfortable
positions, those who unable TO rise. IL was
all that could do, and having enforced upon them
all my earnest desire that they should keep their
room swept. and 10 tidy as poesble, passed Oh 10
the other room on The ground hoor and to The two
above. ono Of which is appropriated 10 the use Of
the men who Gre Ill. 1hey were all In the ssrne
deporable condition, the upper rooms being rather
tie more miserable, inasmuch an none Of the win
dows were glazed at ALL aud they had, therefore
only the alternative Of utter darkness, or killing
draughts Of cir from the unsheltered easements. In
all, fltb, dtorder, and misery hbounded; the floor
was the only boo, and scanty, begrined rage Of