Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-18
THE SOUTHERN BLACKS.
Queer Notions They Entertain-Tall So
oiety Names.


The average capacity OF the colored
students is, 10 say the least, fully equal
TO that Of the white pupils in Northern
common schools, and often seems to
exceed Il when the immense difference In
their starting points Is considered. Their
almost entire want of any capital of gem
eral information is disadvantage difh-
cult to estimate. They have, indeed,
picked up broken bits OF knowledge
behind their masters chairs, and one Is
constantly surprised both by what they
know and what they do not know. For
example, after hearing bright boy in
your reading class express the opinion
that the first Napoleon was an Indian
chief, and Shakespeare Russian general,
1t is somewhat startling o find Kim init
mate with the oracle Of Delphi, and able
TO tell what Is meant by Fabian policy.
found II difficult to explain or remove a
general impression that the British fought
us In the Revolution to abolish slavery.
Washington is regarded with suspicion
because he was a Shareholder and In
strong confirmation of their distrust |
was repeatedly assured that all bis statues
represent him stretching his hand south
ward, and saying, In the inscription
beneath, I" Send all the negroes so nth"
! did what could for the Father of his
Country, but never attempted the ungra.
cious aud futile task OF shaking the faith,
inspired by gratitude, in the sanity virtues
Of General Butler.
Ae a people, the negroes are fond OF
social organization and combination, and
without the most general enlightenment
this peculiarity will place them aud the
whole South at the mercy OF unprincipled
leaders. Not to tell too many tales out
Of school, can fiud no more amusing
illustration Of this fonduess, and, at the
same time, OF their curious Ignorance of
English, and delight In Its largest words,
than In the books Of the Freedman's
Bank Of Norfolk. Two hundred societies
of freedmen have deposited money there,
some Of them having excellent objects OF
mutual benefit. But perhaps the very
"intelligent reader" will 1nd the names
sufficiently descriptive, aud will give a
few. Among the two hundred are the
Wandering Pilgrims, Noble Cons OF Israel,
Rising Stars of Jerusalem, EntprprlsiHg
Daughters Of Galilee, Sons of Simeon,
Benevolent Daughters OF Noah, Evening
Star Tabenacles, Corinthidn Travelling
Sons aud Daughters Of Colenia Laboring
/
" dovee'- Jelag old Of SIXTY bnsf
summers), Loving Sons of Levi, Rising
Daughters OF Italian, Humble Sons OF
God, Love Lodge of Good samaritaus,
Independent Sons and Daughters Of 81.
Paul, Sons ard Daughters Of the silver
Keys, Seven Wise Men OF Portsmouth,
Female lsraelites Of Portsmouth, Wrest-
ling Sons and Daughters of Jacob.
One Of the most striking signs Of the
students progress in the rapid modera-
tiOn of such extravagances as these,
which they regard as the clinging rags OF
slavery, and put of as soon as possible.
The pupils in Northern seminaries might
often take a lesson from the pains witt
which these colored students correct theiI
own rough speech, and put into imme
diate use the lessons of the classroom.
Hslsn =. LudloV, in HdrpSr's AdgGfiH'
for October.