The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-04-18
DAPHNE,s STORY.
BIZ MRS. =. b.. aAeE.

General of one of the Southern divisions,
as he sat with his right foot over his left
knee. his left thumb in the arm hole of his
vest, his right hand busy combing out his
tangled whiskers. 1.-THE Yankees gulp
down the most improbable things, if only
there is Dinah or Judy in the case, and
sPrinkling of whipping-posts bloody backs.
and shrieking children. For my part I
think the whole thing perfectly disgusting
Slavery is an evil-we all admit that; but
| it is greater evil to the whites than to the
blacks, and therefore ought to be done away
with
''You and think alike said the smart
young widow, giving the General sharp
look through spectacles which, Of course,
were worn because she was near-sighted.
Il have spent months at the South, win
tered whole season with the planters in
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Flor
ida, Louisiana, Kentucky and Virginia, and
l never yet saw slave cruelty treated; on
the contrary, think them the happiest PEG.
pie in the world-Well housed, well fed and
well clothed"
Just my experience exactly" chimed in
the lady, as if she had won victory. Il
lived with rich planters in Alabama three
years and taught school; I never saw any
thing but kindness. The faces of the negroes
were always cheerful, and they laughed from
morn till night"
Such was the drift of conversation, in
large parlor of South Carolina, few even
ings since. and though there were dozen
persons present = generals and reverends.
ladies and gentlemen, young and old, and
every one from the free States. there was
not one sufficiently well posted to dare to
oppose this view of the mental and physi-
cal condition of the slave.
The interest created in the subject of
slavery is no ''morbid TASTE" IT'S the out
working desire to know the truth about an
institution that was sinking our country in
to lnfamy, and has brought upon US a war
that Is scathing our homes and hearths like
pestilence. "Tell us the truth !'' they cry.
"Give US the facts" is the demand. "Let
US have Negro talk, Negro music, Negro
quaintness, paint him as he is, that we may
know him and know what to do with him."
Daphne, our maid -of-all- work, has lived
with US nearly two months. She is large,
hale looking woman, of the true Congo race
-protruding mouth, heavy lips, and fiat
nose; and. to stranger, very stupid in ap-
pearance. Daphne was born on the estate
where she now is; but became at sixteen the
slave of a young mistress, the child of the
old owner of the place, on her marriage
with one of the far famed Rhett family of
Beaufort. Mistress Rhett travelled, went
North and South, and always took Daphne
as waiting maid, laundress, and seamstress;
and, stupid as she looks, she is excellent in
all.
This much we had learned of her history
when she came. Two months have con
WINGED US of her honesty and truth. We
have not quizzed her, and she is usually
reticent and extremely quiet. A night or
two since we waited for - to come to tea.
There bad been rumor that some of the
old masters were going to come in and pay
taxes and take possession of their lands.
Daphne talks better than most of her class.
do you think it's true about the secesh
coming % she asked, looking straight into
the fire, as she stirred the Goals.
''No, guess not" 1 replied.
81 hope not - she exclaimed with en-
phasis.
would you not be glad to see Mistress
Rhett?"
mo, never wants to see her again.
81 have heard she was very beautiful
and genLle lady, and should think after
living with her SO many years, you would
have loved her,
"No, doesn't love her. She is beau
tiful, very beautiful. and just as sweet to
white folks as can be; you would think in
the parlor she was an angel, but in the
kitchen she was" Daphne paused.
What % asked.
81 was going to say devil, but don't
think the devil can be SO bad as she''
"Why. Daphne, you surprise me; have
heard her talked of as pattern lady, and only |
few nights ago l heard Yankee ladies and
gentlemen say that they had lived South, |
and never saw house slaves ill-treated.''
Never let 'em know-of course not. |
Missis. Daphne forgets, when she is ex-
cited, that do not like to be called Missis |
i have seen this room full of company |
playing piano, and dancing, and Mistress |
so beautiful. and all singing sweet song and
so polite. And Mistress would come in |
that room there, and if things didn't go
right, cotch her cowhide and whip US over
the face and eyes, knock US on our mouths, |
or order US of down to the other yard, and /
have the overseer give US thirty, forty, or
City lashes, and back in half an hour
with our backs all cut up, and never a
frown on our faces; We must smile and look |
happy, and say nice things to the ladies. if
we was smarting all over, or we get it over
next day"
Ibid you ever get whipped 90
''Me !" and she looked up at me as if she |
felt was as hard as stone to ask her that.
81 have been whipped, Mrs. Gage, many
time, till l had no skin on my back, and |
then set in the stocks and made to do my
task. have set in the stocks six days. |