Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-07-20
Negro Civilization.

I NVE ENNytAAhANb OIILVuh - NO
PERCEPTlBLE ADVANCEMENT IN FIVE
YEARS.
Correspondence OF the y. Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, July al have had a
look at the negro of late, in eight Of the
Southern States, and have endeavored
TO learn as much about his condition as
was possible in rapid passages
from town to town. Five years ago
traversed the same sections of the
country, and by comparing my recent
observations with those made then,
have had an opportunity Of forming an
opinion as to whether he has made any
real progress in civilization during
half decade. The opinion is not ia.
vorable to him. With q strong desire
TO discover evidences that he is making
some substantial advances In intelli-
gence, independence, and ply steal com
fort, am forced to say that | have
been unable 10 find them. There are,
Of course, exceptional cases here aud
there-a few perhaps In every large
town-of colored men who have &C.
cumulated property, and who live as
well as their middle-class white neigh
bors, but the great mass OF the black
people appear 10 be at q stand-still.
Indeed, 1t is not easy 10 resist
the conclusion that the negroes on
the large cotton plantations have
actually retrograded toward barbarism.
Their dwellings are the cabins built
for them in The old slave times, very
much dilapidated by age and want OF
repair, or II a new one has been erected
it is usually Of the Old pattern and
materials, only little less roomy and
weather.tight than its prototypes. A
glazed window in plantation csbin
might be sought in vain from Virginia
to Texas. The most comfortable dwell
ings for field hands are found on the
large sugar estates In Louisiana. They
usually stand in two long rows upon q
shaded street, are neatly whilewashed,
or painted, and the cleanliness of inte.
riors and surroundings is insured By
strict regulations enforced BY the plan
ter. The ordinary negro cabin, such as
one sees all over the Southern States,
Is q small hut of pine logs or rough
boards, rooted with shingles split out
with an Ak. 1t contains only one room
with rude fire place that terminates
in a sticE-and.mud chimney;a door in
front, and another in the rear, and one
or two square holes for windows,
closed at night and in cold weather
with wooden shutters. A cheaper,
uglier. or poorer dwelling can
not be found in any civilized
country. The novels OF the Irish peas
autry are luxurious compared with It,
Ms WAYS At HOME.
Aad yet In such q hut the negro
lives year after year, in entire con-
tentment, without any desie c 10 obtain
for himself, by his exerlionS, q more
decent and comfortable habitalion. IT.
keeps out the sun aud rain, and that
Is enough. If he has a hundred dol
lars in his pocket he will spend 1t for
useless tlnery or luxuries to eat, be.
'ore be will think OF buying glass for
lis window, or building an extra
'oOm for kitchen. His clothes are |
he cast-off garments Of his employer,
,r his white neighbors, patched and |
iarned, until there remains scarcely q
'emaiDder Of the original fabric. He |
was much better clad when, "a q slave, |
le received two suits of Jeans or ker.
ley a yesr. His wife's costume Is a |
cotton handkerchief tied about the
lead, aud calico gown, and his child.
zen are black accretions Of rags and |
lirt. His food Is the corn meal and
bran which he gets as ra'ions from his
supplemented occasionally
BY potatoes or cabbages from his own |
patch, and a chicken, sometimes honest
y raised, but oftener stolen. The field |
hand Is, from necessity, very poor, for
lis wages, or his share Of the crop, is
seldom more than enough for him |
% live upon In the plainest
ashton; but If be had any ambi. |
ion to mount a round or two |
above the foot Of the latter of civiliza. |
ion he could easily do II by working
)n his Saturday hali-holidays 10 i'm. |
prove Is cabin so 1t would look like
home tor human beings instead Of a
tall for animals. Although be does
lot appear TO have SO many physical
comforts as in the days Of slavery, It
would be folly TO suppose that the field
land would be glad TO return 10 the
I'D condition. He prizes his freedom
'bove everything, and enjoys to the
ull the numerous holidays be takes to
70 to town, the idle hours spent loung-
ng in the shade when he ought to be
It work, the highly emotional per-
ormances at his little log church in
he woods, where no white man inter.
eres, and in general the sense of being
lis own master Tie /. the most con.
enled creatue /! iAr wU"la-far too
in tsC'. Tor H.. own good,
\ o matter low many OF the Ten Com.
he may break, there is one
ujuaction otS"ipure which h. obeys
o the Ielter-Ge lakes no thought OF
lie morrow. Living In rags and dirt,
With blr"'y CROUCH hog and hominy"
y snb'i. tuo'. - = the most careless
I'd h}P! hl,rcy In the world.
Norhrra people, who Judge tie ne
70 race by the few specimens OF intel
gent colored BARRIERS and walters they
ee at home, always have their theories
: 10 the condili2n and capabilities Of