The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-05-18
The "Schoolmarm' Abroad Civilization
and Refinement of the South.

years bewailed with bitter tears the Gig
noraIce" and "obstinacy" of the South
ern people, and while they turned their
eyes towards their Bostonian Heaven,
where every happy citizen halls from
"New England" and probably bears the
"MayAower" brand, they comf1rted them
selves with the reflection that the de-
scendants of the "crop-eared' Round
heads were mentally aud physically su-
perior to the degenerate scions of those
luckless cavaliers who had no better sense
than to prefer disinterested devotion to
God and king to the comfortable doc
trine of "help your neighbors and keep
your promises only when it is to your
advantage to do So"
Unfortunately, in our blindness we have
not been able to appreciate to the full
the disinterested philanthropy of Bosto-
MAN "Head Centre" and with uncharita-
Bile persistence have continued to believe
that in the New England vocabulary
"purity" meant "pocket," "glory" stood
for "greenback,' and that "charity" and
"chastity" were but other words for
"policy" and "convenience'
Such refnements of language and ex-
preston as the New Eng flanders have
trumpeted forth to the world we, unfor-
tunately, have appreciated at their proper
value. We could not consent to wrap the
legs Of our pianos and tables in garments
of choicest satin but we did remember
that to the impure no things are pure, and
resolved that now and forever we would
be loyal and true at heart, whatever con-
trary Interpretation might be ingeniously
placed upon our thoughts, words or ao-
tons. Such conduct as this was of
course but another proof of contumacy,
and shoals of "schoolmarms," on the look
out for husbands and scholars, pressed
eagerly forward to undertake the exalted
labor of outstanding the South in &C
cordance with the doctrines of the Bosto-
MAN Evangel. They came, they saw, and
felt that their occupation was gone.
A conclave was held, there was rust
ling Of stltfened muslins there was the
display of attenuated forms thrown with
energy into spasmodie angularity there
was talking and resolving; and, as con-
clusion, it was determined that their tai
ents and tolls, which were unequal to the
task of converting and evangeIizing the
white people Of the South, might be en-
ployed to advantage upon the "poor pros
ecuted" negro. "SamiHa simiH6us CT
rantur," spouted forth an enthusiastic fe-
male--at least, SO she seemed-s:and we,
with fellow feeling and common accord,
may be sure of finding in the negro the
same passions, prejudices and poverty of
new tangled ideas of proud purity, that
we enjoy in ourselves aud claim as our
OWN
This was the idle boast or threat, and
the "Schoolmarm," with nervous glance,
triangular visage, and feet which deal
destruction TO the crawling caterpillar and
harmless creeping insect, is regenerating
the negro as the surest way of regenera.
ting, through him, the "chivalry' of the
Southern States.
None would wish or dare to use one
word of scott or ridicule in speaking of
those who with generous heart and dis
interested feelings, are working earnest
ly to enlighten the ignorant, and teach
them that consistency of life and manner
which alone can bring them happiness or
content; but unhappily but few, very
few, Of this class are, to our knowledge,
in our midst.
The "Schoolmarm' genus care not for
truth or progress, as we understand them,
but teach their apt scholars that refine
ment Of phraseology which changes the
unadultel ated negro into the "colored
gentleman or free "American- African
citizen" The fruit crops out already, and
and on yesterday negro went into
store on Main street and asked for some
"rods of correction" There was puz-
cling, and disputing and confusion, but at
last the sable dame condesoended to ex-
plain that the phrase was "Boston" En-
glish for what in the South is called
birch or hickory.
This is the species of mongrel refine
ment and progress which the "School-
marin" wishes to introduce among the
negroes, and through them amongst US
Lord deliver us from our friends We
admire the "Schoolmarm" as we would
"talking seaP or "what-is-it 2" and
may we'll think that they and their 'col-
ored brethren" are new edition of the
Siamese twins, where there are two dis
tinct bodies, but the same hopes and
fears, feelings and appetites the death
of the one resulting infallibly in the death
of the other.
Hoeing, ploughing, spinning, and sew
ing are more necessary now to the negro
than the singing of emancipation" hymns
or the study of that multiplication table
and alphabet which are supposed to be the
panacea for all the ills that negro flesh is
heir to. The negro must work or starve,
and this be will eventually find out in
spite OF all the ''strong-minded females
in Yankeedom. "Schoolmarms" do not
yet understand negroes as we'll as We do,
and when the hot summer days come on,