Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-20
Life Among the Nashville .TNerroe 8


Life Among the Nashville. Negroes
The Nashville correspondent of the
Chicago Times writes to that paper:
Perhaps One-fifth of the population of
Nashville is composed Of colored people, a
portion Of whom are industrious and
thrifty, but the majority are not. The lat
ter have passiOnfor figuring in the courts,
and the police court will have a dozen Ne
gro cases to pass judgment upon to one
where a white man or woman is the de-
PENDANT. The lower classes of negroes
quarrel Unfortunately, and thele is loose
ness among them as to the Observance Of
the seventh commandment which leads to
a great deal of family trouble, and the lille
Ultimate use of the razors-for a razor is a
darkey's favorite weapon, and it would be
safe to say that three-fourths Of the men
have one Of those keen-edged weapons con-
cealed about their person. The better
class of darkeys find their dissipation and
excitement at their churches, Of
which there are half a dozen in the
city, and at some of them religious ser
vices are held every night of the year. Here
they will sing their wild, plaintive melodies
by the hour until far into the night, when
the leaders give up through sheer exhaus-
ton, men, women and children frequently
throwing themselves upon the floor in a
perfect frenzy Of excitement, screaming at
the top Of their vOiceS-Which demOnStra-
| ton, however, attracts no attention what
| ever from the remainder Of the congrega-
| tion. l looked in at one of their churches
about midnight, some weeks since, and
/ found the members in the midst Of a ter
rible uproar, singing in a loud tone, swing
! ing themselves back and forth, keeping
| time TO the music, and one young girl Tas
| rushing wildly about the room, up and
/ down the aisles, with eyes rolling and
mouth foaming. Finally, just as she was
| passing the pulpit, she gave shrlll scream,
| threw up her hands, and dropped 10 the
| floor in a swOon. A gOurd full Of water
was dashed upon her by some kind sister,
| but beyond this no notice whatever was
taken Of the girl.
| One day this week l was in the office Of
a magistrate, when frOwsy-headed cOlOreC
| girl about sixteen years Of age sided in
| Judge" said she, ''yOu know you told me
yes'day if dat gal done anything wild he
baby to let you know. Well she gone an
| done sOmefin wild it,
whats she done?" inquired the Judge.
| II LClA fOu al 91ONL ~ JAA5Ns e1-A'
brung her young un to my house yes'day
an told her l wouldn't have none O he
kind o. fOOlin' round me, so she must TAX
her young Un an git out. Las night sh,
took a cup O mighty black coffee an pu
somethin' kinder yeller like in it. Del
she held de baby's mOuf open an mad
him swaller il, an den she went out an
GOT drunk, an ! didn't see muffin more o
her til dis mornin'. De baby he went 3
sleep an didn't wake up no more, an whe
she come in dis mOrnin' l told her she don
kill dat baby. She didn't say nothin', bu
Just went out an got drunk agin, an
said Use bOun' 10 60 an tell YOU an hav
dat gal 'dicted, cause l don't want to q
into no trouble bout dat young I'M"
ssThis freedom will be the ruin Of 20
al" commented the judge, when the gil
had concluded her story.
"What freedOm?n she asked.
"This freedom you all enjoy"
sShaw, [ don't Joy no freedom.
works fur what | gets, " responded the otht
quickly.
a messenger was sent for to the corOne
and when that officer came, he was directe
bv the Judge to 90 with the girl, hold a
inquest over the dead body, taking out i
stomach if necessary, TO prove that II
child had been poisoned, aud to at once a
rest the mother. do not know what II
corOner's examination resulted in.