Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-03
TIE NEGROES OF NEW YORK
Their Habits -Enferss1Ing Char
aeter-SoeiaI Position Of
Ehe Race.

II
He says:
The colered people in this city form
very peculiar feature in our social body.
We believe that they differ from all
other elements in society in this one re-
speet, that they are chiefly Of city origin.
We hear very little Of any emigration
from the country though there has
been some from the South. Most of
them are Of the old Dutch stock, and are
descended from the attaches Of the an
cient families whose names once figured
in Knickerboekcr history They were
originally slaves, and from their here
ditary attachment clung around these
families as long as vestige was left of
them. In this way one may find some
of the old Dutch titles popularized
among the colOred people who rejoice in
such names as Tie5out, Ten Eyek, Van
Tassell, etc., which they derived from
their former masters. New York con-
tains a colored population numbering
from FIVE to ten thousand, all Of whom
with 4 very small exception live by ser
vile labor. They herd together in diff
ferent localities, which, as a matter Of
course, are in the lowest parts Of the
city, since it is very difficult for any
colored family to get rooms in what are
called respectable streets The vieinage
Of eolored family impairs the rents Of
all adjacent dwellings. We once Obser-
Ved a difference Of about S100 on the
rents Of localities only separated by one
block, and on inquiring of the agent the
reason, the significant but rude reply was
given, There's some nigger house close
by" One Of the finest downtown
business theroughiares is John street.
Who of the present day would think
that this was once a negro quarter? and
yet such was the case less than thirty
years ago. We well remember when
the cOlored people were driven out of
this street By the increase of business,
and the miserable tenements gave place
to stately stores. The colored folk then
took possessession Of Church street and
its vicinity, a loc Ity abounding in
houses of such bad character that it
could not suffer any loss Of caste. Here
for a long time were to be found great
numbers of bOot-blacks, BARRIERS, white
washers, walters, etc, and here was or
ganized a lodge Of colored Odd Fellows,
holding connection with the Manchester
Unity Of England. At the corner of
Church and Leonard streets stood a
framed edifce known as Zion church,
which swa:med on Sabbath with a swari
congregation of the Methodist order.
Near by, in Anthony street, was col
ored Baptist Church, and the abode Of
this Uisss seemed almost iT-~-lnanentlv in
this spot But at last trade began 70
move in, and the inhabitants we're forced
to seek new quarters. These once
wretched streets are now filed with
wholesale stores, and on a spot once
Overfowing with eolOred people now
stands the colossal warehouse of II. B. |
Clafin & Co. Driven from this vicinity, |
their next emigration vas to a range Of
streets about half a mile dis |
tant, and occupied by the lowest class.
This locality includes Sullivan, Laurens.
Thompson and other streets, but busi-
ness has now threatened the c0lored peO-
pie again, and they will have to seek a
new home in some other part of the
city.
The colored people are, as a general
thing, addicted to church going to a
very large degree, and variety Of de-
are found among them, such
as Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian,
and especially MethOdists. They are,
however, seldom united, and are much
by jealousies and division, and
the Shiloh church has recently been
closed in consequence of internal
As the eOlorsd people live up
on the luxuries or wants Of the whites,
we find them busy in the winter assist.
ing at balls and parties, in which they
are very expert. A good man waiter
will command SIS for a night while a
woman will receive So. These parties
will keep them busy during the winter,
and in the spring house-cleaning will
give them employment. The use of the
brush as a trade is almost
confined to this class, and they reap a
good harvest out of the troubles of
others. The hot-corn trade is another
field which is almost entirely
monopOlized by the eOlored people, and
in addition to this they are largely en-
ployed in nursing the sick. Having
occasion lately to need some one to take
care of sick friend, we made inquiries
in an extensive negro quarter, and soon
the object of our search. The
paw demanded is about S25 per week,
and as there are on an average five thou
sand ''sick families" in this city, there is
great demand for such kind of help
In this manner the oolored population Of
his city exc out living. They are as
l community poor, and live from hand
% mouth, and yet one seldom finds any
IF them begging or seek a home in the
llmshouse. They continue to escape
hese evils and thus set 4 good example
o the whites. Occasionally some one
If them gets rich like the Downing re-
erred to. but these instances are few,
md we doubt if there be dozen similar /.
.ases. If, however, they were as econ J
,mical as the Germans, the result would
,e very different, for they handle pro-
,ortionately much more money. One
f the vices which curses the colored
,eople is the passion for gambling in {
ottery tickets, Or playing policy, as
t is commonly termed. One will 6nd
mong the abOdes Of the poor fre- {
iuently recurring sign, exchange Office. q
t indicates place where lottery tickets {
an be purchased, and although during {
he day ne one may be seen to enter, yet l
S soon as night drops her friendly cur i
ain the shop is thronged Among the !
motley gathering of the victims of this ]
the colored people form a large {
lement. The system is arranged in {
so as to meet their condi- '
ion, and shares in tickets can be bought {
t prices ranging from twenty-five cents c
Ipwards. In this manner the earnings s
f vast multitude are wasted. These
Dtteries draw every Saturday, and on
hose occasions groups of anxious dark
IS may be seen waiting to hear the re-
ort. each one excited with the hope that 2
is may be the lucky number. This !
efarious trade makes a few men get :
immensely rieh while thousands are kept