Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-07-28
Negro Progress and Negro Politeness

Negro Progress and Negro Politeness.
The 4th of July, last past, was marked, in
lEdgefeld, by naught save an examination and
picnic AMONG the negroes DA If, in the course
of time, Southern States shall again take their
! legitimate place in the American Union, then
will Southern white people, in all probability,
once more celebrate the 1th with honor and
rejoicing; ut present, however, the day can
bring little else than sad and bitter memories
AS long ns our political status remains so de-
grading as now, it were best for lis to observe
| the 4th Of July as Dean Swift did his birth
day,aftcr he had reached thrty--alonc in
garnet. with fasting and prayer.
The negro school in EdgeGcld is presided
over by Lawrence Cain, young man Of
two ty-onc or two, formerly slave Of Major
Xack Carwilc; he is white in complexion, gen
tccl in manners and since becoming .sciti-
zen" has dcportrd himself in way which
proves that he has both good sense and good
feelings lie has some ffty-odd scholars, of
all agcs between sixteen and seven, and of all
colors, or shades rather, between cbon black
| and lily white. And this puts us in mind Of
the lannon's and delightful ancctote Of old Par
son Danclly preaching in Charleston, aud be.
ing very much struck with the handsome and
wrll-dresscd mulatt"cs in the gallery Ad
| lrcssing the white congregation, and pointing
| to tie gallery, the terrible and pl"in spoken
old rarson said "What sort of people are
those Where did they come from I'm sure
God never made any such" Lawrence Cain
has been teaching NEST of these pupils for
six months past, and on Wednesday last he
gathered them together, in the pleasant grove
| around Mrs. Sihcrpard's spring, that their at
anments might bcrut to the proof. The pa
rents OF the scholars and the negro comnuni
ty generally, provided combined barbecue
and picnic on the occasion, and the whole af
fair proved to be one of real and peculiar in
tcrcst.
With good Judgment and good feeling that
docs equal credit to their heads and hearts.
the negroes invited the whites to be present at
their examination and pie nic--or rather, we
| should say sufficiently large number of gen.
tlcmcn TO represent the white community
And these in their turn attended, cvncin~
an interest in the progress of tho scholars
and Il kindlincss towards their old servants
generally, very gratifying to every right-n,ind.
cd man.
But the whites were not invited to be mere
lockers on; separate table was spread for
them and each and all partook of rs delightful
barbccucd meats, aud as nicely prepared sau-
ces, vegetables, cakes, pies, lcmona,lcs and
fruits as could reasonably be wished for.
Two long and literally provided tables were
also spread for the blacks. We are not very
sure however, but that the blacks, in their
comm"nd.blc exercise of hospitality towards
the whites, practiccd considerable self denial.
And we are sure that tho latter, with their
greater abundance of means, ought not to for
get to return, in some proper and becoming
manner, this gratuitous and wcll-mcant hospi.
tally.
AS to the examination, it revealed wonders
| Boys and girls, as VIC have said before, from
seven to sixteen, who six or eight months ago,
knew not y lcttcrin the book, srclt in four
aud five syllahlcs and pronounced, and read
and answered questions in Arithmetic, and
said their multiplication table, with uncrrng
readiness and precision,
| The young man who has taught these
young colorcd folks deserves great deal of
credit, and we earnestly hope the means will
be provided him of still further fitting him
self for the pusin,s5 he is pursuing so COM
mcndably.
! Had some of the Radicals been present on
the OCCASION of which we speak, they would
not have believed their senses to sec the per
tccty good feeling and good understanding
between the negroes and their former owners
Avaunt, yc Aboitionists and Frccdmens I}u
reau men! Your work in the South is to poi
son the milk Of human kindness in the breasts
of both black and white. For the black mans
sake, leave him alone; for when left alone, he
knows very well who is his true friend.
E0g.trM .davcrtiScr.
Starving.
In Pto1,r A