Connecticut western news., 1875-07-16


 .friends of the deceased. only a plain white ] board, bearing name. company and regi- ment, marks the resting place of each but nearly half of all buried here have but one word - 'Unknown.' Recently l walked above the sleeping dead, knowing that un- derneath each of those simple inscriptions was hidden the history of a life. history brought suddenly 10 close when that life was yielded up in defence of oui country. Surely this memory should be immortal.
 One very prominent and highly colored feature of the South is the freedman. Rest ing under his own vine and fig tree with bis wife and little ones, he is seemingly contented and happy. am frequently made willing listener while old Nanny Hagar, Aunt Dinah or Uncle Henry have to go over the wonderful story of how De Tanks come down wid Gineral Sherman an we all done go free Again and again have put the question: Would you rath- CT be free and have to take care of your self, or live az you did before the war ? The answer in substance is invariably the same. They all 'd radder be free One said-'I used to tink heap O missus she alters good to me; but den somehow I'd radder do as likes''
 They use only one gender, and that is masculine. Everybody and everything is :he, man, woman or inanimate object. A certain charitable young lady whom I will call Miss N--,and who is anxious to help the poor and needy, not long since con ceiyed the idea of teaching one of her col ored fraternity. . preacher of the Gospel, that part of grammar relating 10 gender. For an hour or more she labored with com mendable zeal, explaining and expounding. and at the end of that time wishing to see how matters were progressing, I sauntered leisurely into the room. Miss N. was say ing, Now what gender is Susan? p
 Her anxious pupil looked down, scratched his head awhile, then answered, Female gender
 Mo- said Miss N, feminine gender
 So he repeated 1t after her: Feminine gender, feminine gender
 'Why ? asked Miss N.
 After little more thought he answered, Cause he's a woman.'
 Now what gender is man?'
 'Man-man-let me see; why, man Is masculine gender
 That's right why?'
 A few more scratches, bringing all his in. | tellectual powers to bear upon the subject, and the answer came triumphant'y, Cause he's female
 This was too much. The would-be teacher lost her dignity, and l was found missing from the apartment.
 The mass of the colored people are igno- rant and superstitious. aud, judging from the present prospect of things some gene rations must pass ere they, as a race, can be considered on an equal footing with civ ilized and enlightened na,ions. There are schools of low grade kept up for their benefit by the state, and some supported by charitable institutions at the North, and there arc many churches. On these latter, the colored people are regular in their at tendance and they are strict in observing the Sabbath but there is not one that will hesitate to break the eighth commandment. and should be escape detection will con- graduate bimself on living 'schemy.' Im- mediatelY afterward you will find him at praise meeting shouting and singing:- Blew Gabriel, blow Gabriel, blow de righ- teous hoin; 1 belong to de band Hallelah. Perhaps they would account for this strange inconsistency in the way that the colored woman did who stole the goose, and being about to enter the house of God, was asked by her mistress If she ex pected to partake of the sacrament after stealing that goose.
 She replied, Dye think I'm Gwine to de. ny my Lord for an old goose?
 What the colored people call shouting is a peculiar kind of dance accompanied with singing and clapping of the hands. This they enact at the close of their praise. pray CT and class meetings. When one is seek ing religion he wears narrow white band. age over his forehead and around his head, and must never be seen to smile until he has obtained peace. Funerals are conducted on the following plan: A person dies and word Is sent far and near, that all may be ready for the sit ting up. At about eight o'clock in the evening the people commence to gather, and soon the cabin is filled to ovelflowing. Here with the mourners, and in the same room with the dead body, they remain till break of day, singing and praying. Should tho body be kept from burial another night, the same thing is repeated. The people march in procession to the grave, singing as they go, while two flags are borne In front. Arriving there. these flags are planted, one at the head and the other at the foot of the grave. A chapter is read from the Bible; hymn sung and prayer offered, all kneeling upon the soft turf, af. ter which the body is consigned to its last resting place. While the minister repeats the words: Earth to earth, ashes to ash es and dust to dust each relative of the do. ceased gathers handful of earth and casts it into the open grave, thus symbolizing his reconciliation to Gods will.
 The weddings of the colored people are original and unique. A short account of one will suffice. It was soaspnized on 2 Sabbath evening at tlie close of 6 nrayes meeting in one of the cabins. Then the signal was given that all was ready, the parties most deeply interested marched in from the outer door, heralded by three bridesmaids and groomsmen. The ofacia' ting clergyman struck up au anthem of welcome: