Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-07-10
Life at Oberlin.

\ correspondent of the CINCINNATI trdceIe
describes a recent visit to the quaint city of
Oberlin and its peculiar people
:. Scarcely had the conductor bawlcd out
UDerlin' and the roar and noise of the
wheels ceased, than the voice of u singer
rose high and clear the air. 1t was the
voice of a woman. who seated AT an open
window in a cottage near the depot, and who
was singing for dear life. Talk about earnest
ness the yehemence Of Phillips, the per-
sistence of Garrison, the pertinacitv of
Grant, or the effort Of Parepa-they were
as nothing. yapor. when compared with the
lofty purpose OF that singer. Baricd i'll the
business of that pious song, oblivious Of
the outside world, she sang it through to tie
last letter. as We have never heard Il song
sung. We hope the fair singer VIII pardon
US for the notoriety we are giving her, but
truth compels as to say that she had an awful
voice-such one. perhaps, as John heard,
or as shook the rivers of Babylon.
= W nile We We're listening TO the singer Z
little boy took Us by the hand, and mildly
asked if we would walk or ride Now.
this little boy was not like most little bows
usually met with at depots. He did not ask
us to walk OF ride for the sake of getting
quarter out of us he was no beggar. bat
nice little hoy, wishing 70 accommodate as
and when we offered him quarter for car
rving our satchel he said Paw the = bus >
man. having no idea whatever that any
thing was due hlm for his service As We
stood by the bus door, two Young ladies,
who had evidently Just arrived on the train,
came up, and the horses hayi started for-
ward little and drawn the bus a yard
from the platform. one OF them kindly offered
us her hand TO help her in; then she placed
her checks in hand with as much con-
dence as if We're her brother, and Ger
tainly we would like 10 be the brother, Of
50 polite young lady, If We We're nybody's
brother at all.
:. W hen arrived q the hotel, Ne handed
the bus man half dollar. and were about
to walk of. when he laid his hand sole mnlv
on our arm and detained US until he returned
IL q quarter. Carefully he lowered our
enormous trunk. and handled it as steadily
a. ii it contained glassware depositinE il
on the steps of the hotel, he made pro
found bow. and silently departed. " hat
contrast with our modern has men
= vt the hotel we found nobody. land
lord. clerks. cooks. all were missing. and we
began to suspect that the hour of labor
having passed, they were engaged in intel
lectual pursuits. when pale young man
entered with book in his hand and in
formed us the proprietor would be with
presently ; further deponent said not. but
WIN u DEOiOuiil lfN FtiiifQ W = loOhtl
about rs little. until the landlord should
come. and found we were in what seemed to
be an ordinary private residence of consider
able size. Ii was surrounded bv stately elIns,
and had ample grounds, which were embel
lished with rose bushes. eyergreenS and
grapevine bowers. Entering the Office we
saw none Of the modern evidences of hotel
keeping there were no lottery schemes,
patent medicine or horse doctors adg gertise-
ments to he seen but modest posters ad-
vised the traveller 10 seek his lovely Jesus.
There was no bar. and consequently no loaf
ers On sort of altar AT one end of the
room lay the hotel register. and beside it
pile Of tracts bearing such omin0us titles as
Are Nou Saved Turn. Sinner, Turn.
A placard on the wall invited Us To take
one which we did, and have read it through.
finding it a well-written and very interest
Ing little book.
= While we were taking an inventory Of
our surroundings the landlord entered. and
makinga bow hoped he had NOT kept Us wait
in@ until We We're impatient. lie assured
u he had been down twice that morning
with bad head. and felt indeed quite an
WELL but added with great resignation. the
Lord sometimes aiiiicts Us Having learned
our intention te stay he took wheelbarrow
and went down the hag-stone walk to the
saw 4 landlord like ours, nor did any one
else except those who have been fortunate
enough to visit the Traveller Home
There is no liquor sold in the city, not
even Il drop OF ale or beer Smoking ON the
streets Is discountenanced, and any student
found using tobacco IA any form will be
instantly expelled. 1t seems odd to be in a
city. and YET hear 80 night brawlers. see no
drunken men, cigars or tobacco juice.
sc About one thousand students are NJ pres
ent attending the institution. of which some
four hundred are ladies One-third. we
should think. are black Some of the finest
looking girls here are black, or rather yellow
They would make the eyes and teeth of
kentuekiau water 10 look at them. and hc
. would give a thousan' IN hard money 70
have one Of these wenches Cor colorcd ladies,
as they are called here, in his clutches
Little or No amalgamation takes place.
as the result of social equality. We believe
one or two instances have occurred of white
men and colorei women intermarrving but
in ali such cases the ladies are said 10 have
been nearly white; very handsome. highly
educated and wealthy
- One of the pecularities OF Ohtrlin soci-
ETY. is. that every man is emphatically mas
ter OF his own house All intercourse with
the outside world ceases at the threshold Of
his door. He invites in whom he wishes,
and keeps out whom he chooses If citizens
give parties or entertainments. some will
allow the attendance of negroes. and others
viii not, while with the negroes il is the
same toward the whites The largest liberty
in selecting ones society is allowed, and held
duty and privilege one has Il right
to complain OF. If you are not invited t.
gentleman house you are to stay away,
and there is an end of the matter If peo-
pie do not wish to associate with you they
Will give yon to understand 50, and YOU can
not complain, for you Yourself have the
same right.
= The social problem Is pretty well worked
out in Oberlin, and we confess we like it.
The influences for good at work here cannot
fail TO affect any man who lives under them.
We feel we have already been made better
man by coming here -