New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-25
Negro Notions.

The average capacity Of the colored stu
dents j., to say the least, fully equal to that
of the white pupils in Northern common
schools, and often seems to exceed it when
the immense difference in their starting points
is considered. Their almost entire want Of
any capital Of general information is a disad.
vantage difficult to estimate. They have,
indeed, picked up broken bits of knowledge
behind their masters chairs, and one i con
stantly surprised both by what they know
and what they do not know. For example
after hearing a bright boy in your reading
class express the opinion that the first NapO-
leon was an Indian chief, and Shakespeare a
Russian general, it j. somewhat startling Ia
find him intimate with the oracle Of Delphi
and able to tell what is meant By Fitia,
policy. found it difficult to explain or re-
move a general impression that the British
fought Us in the Revolution to abolish slavery
Washington is regarded with suspicion be-
cause he was "a stakeholder; and 10 strong
confirmation of their dstrust was re peatedly
assured that all his statues represent him
stretching his hand southwark, and saving
in the inscription beneath, ''Send all the ne.
prOes south" | did what / could for the
Father Of his Country, but never attempted
the ungraciolis and futile task Of shaking the
faith, inspired by gratitude, in the sanity
virtues Of General Butler.
A. people the negroes are fond Of social
organization and combination, and without
the most general enlightenment this pecu-
liarity vii! place them aud the whole south
at the mercy Of unpnneipled leaders. Not
TO tell too many tales out Of school, | can
find no more amusing illustration Of this fond
ness, and, at the same time Of their curious
ignorance Of English, AMI delight Ia its iarg-
est words, than in the hooks Of the Freed
mans Bank of Norfolk Two hundred socie-
ties Of freedmen have deposited money there,
some OF them having excellent object. OF
mutual benefit But perhaps the very Intel
ligent reader" will find the names surficiently
descriptive, and | viii give few. Among
the two hundred are the Wandering Pilgrims
Noble Sons Of Israel, Rising stars Of Jerusa-
lem, Enterprising Daughters Of Galilee. sons
Of simeon, Benevolent Daughters OF Noah,
Evening. star Tabernacle, Coriahian Tracei-
ing Sons and Daughters # Coi,n,a' iabOring
sons Of Stars, Union Dove, (these doves
being old men Of sixty brie! summer,.J Loving
-0Ds If Levi. RLing Daughter 81 Italian,
Humble SDE- Of God, Love I1dPs ~ Good
>aHla9tan,, Independent son, ana Daughters
Of ST. Paul, sons and DanghtcTs Of the Silver
Keys, Seven Wise Men Of Portsmouth, Fe-
male Israeltes Of Portsmouth. Wrestling
Sons and Daughters 81 Jacob.
One of the most striking signs Of the stu-
dents progress j. the rapid moderation 81
such extravaganza az these, which they re-
gard az the eiin2ing rags % slavery, and put
of a. soon az possible. The pupils in North
ern -erninaIie. might often take a lesson from
the rains with which these coloEed students
correct their own rough speech, and I4li into
immediate use the ie-sons 0; the class room
Helen W. Ludlow. in HarPss's .gag'sI> fos
OctoteT.