Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-31
The Coiored People at tho South.


With no training in the way Of selfreli
ance---aIways dependent upon others,
and only taught to obey ordcrs-the sud
den change from slavery to freedom was
one well calculated TO result in anarchy
aud untold distress. But the colored peo.
pie are peculiarly constituted, and they
have taken the wonderful change in their
condition philosoplIicnlly. They have
shown qualities which clearly indicate
that, under proper training and develop.
ment, the African race must eventually be-
come power in this country. We hear
much concerning the worst features OF col.
ored society at the South, and but very lit.
tie respecting the great and solid foundn-
tions which are forming for future useful
ness. For that reason we take pleasure in
transferring to these columns the following
extracts from letter published in last Sat-
urday's Detroit Free hress, from the pen Of
Mrs. MARY w, EARLY, Of Lynchburg.
Virginia:
The course pursued ly negroes IN Nr.
ginia, since the war, has been. on the whole,
remarkable and commenduble believe
history scarcely furnishes parallel in
stance of race so numerous being sud-
denly freed, and vet pursuing so quietly
the even tenor OF their way" This was,
doubtless, owing in a measure to the fact
that slavery was mildly administered in
| Virginia Except IN few rare instnnccs),
and thus its abolition did not produce any
very startling revolution in the condition
Of the negroes,
never knew anything TO equal the
aplome with which they received the boon
OF freedom. 1t was truly high bred and
decorous. When asked what he thought
of freenom, an African philosopher saga
cionsly replied: Well sir, freedom is n
mighty fine thing, but | can't eat freedom,
and can't wear freedom, and now Use got
to export myself"
They scarcely showed any symptoms of
being elated by the change in ther condi-
| ton, nor did they exhibit Il disposition to
be unruly. In the few eco lsions that
have occurred or threatened to occur be-
tween the whites and negroes since the
war, | believe the tier have been the
tools OF others. Their course has, with
scarcely an exception, been quiet, orderly
and friendly in Virginia.
They seemed to feel unsettled for several
months after Lees surrender, and during
this time roved about considerably, but by
the autumn most Of them had settled down
into quiet and moderately hard working
citizens. At first they took up the idea
that the government was going to dstrib-
ute a mule and forty acres of land TO each
one of them end they were not little
dashed when they found that this expecta-
tion was groundless. When they realized
this fact, they quickly hired them
ovi,eo uut furin lanOrers or rented
small places to work for themsel YES.
In most instances and especially in or near
cities, where their wits are sharpened by
| contact with others, negroes have shown
more energy and foresight than had ex-
pected. In many cases, they have made
comfortable little homes for themselves.
| have been especially struck with this
fact in the vicinity of Lynchburg In the
country, they all show desire to accumu.
late stock and nearly all of them have a
COW and an ox-frequently a pair Of the
latter. They make extensive use of oxen,
ploughing with them, sending TO mill on
them, etc. / have even seen negroes ma =
chine wheat with OK power and the oxen,
though slower than horses, accomplished
the task equally as well, in other respects.
The negro passion for societies and pro-
cessions has burst forth into full develop-
ment since their liberation. In the differ
ent towns and cities they have various So
cieties, and they never neglect any pretext
for having procession. They have mill
tary companies nicely drilled and uni
formed, which make very good show.
| Funerals nrA above all things thew f"-o";i~ .
pastime. In Richmond they have u soci
ETY. in which each one contributes a sum
for funerals in case of The death of any of
the members, In short, it is what may be
termed cooperative system OF burial and
itenab les the survivors to give very snowy
| funeral to each deceased member. Ii is
strange to see what delight negroes take in
draping themselves in Grape and other
mourning habiliments when we reflect on
the fact that nature has already condemned
them to perpetual suit of sable.
Since the war; negroes have been exces-
Sive ly scrupulous about applyin the titles
lady" and gentleman to each other.
They would deem it rude to speak of each
other MS imam or woman" So far do
they carry this principle that at n negro
wedding at which was present, a few years
| ago, the clergyman asked the ebony groom,
Dost thou take this lady to be thy welded
wife, TO love, honor and obey her and to
! live with her in accordance with the holy
audience Of matrimony?" Then turning
to the bride, he asked her, "Dost thou
take this gentleman TO he thy welded hus-
band" etc. lady of my acquaintance
being unprovided with cook, was making
efforts to obtain one when her housemuid
asked her, "Would you rather get IL lady
or gentleman TO cook for you, ma'am p"
Neither" retorted the mistress, g.
want u servant"
Another point of phraseology about
which negroes have become very careful,
is to teach their young ones to say "mam.
ma and papa or "mother" and "fath-
er," instead OF the old fashioned "mam-
my" and daddy" have even known a
"prightly young negro girl Hho had picked
mp some scraps of French to call her father
"pere," which reminds me Of an amusing
incident recently told me about some young
| ladies who, on their return from boarding
school, commenced calling their elder
brother " "Frere." The negroes living on
the place soon caught up the word and
| addressed him as Nurse Frere" Within
the asst ten years free schools have been
established IN Virginia, and one of the
h'o h"'iSS"ole le"tuTeS ABOUT negroes II
their eagelness for their children to get an
education, scarcely second to their desire
to get religion" ~ they term it. Negro
children, At the outset, learn very rapidly.
They all have an ear for music, which en-.
ables them 10 quickly master the sound Of
letters, hence they surpass white children,
rs general thing, in the rapidity with
which they learn 10 read Speaking of the
education OF negroes suggests to our minds
the Hampton Normal and Agricultural In
stitnIe for negroes, which combines manual
labor with menla training, and has proved
highly useful and satisfactory. II is situ.
ated on Hampton River, two miles above
Fortress Monroe, and was founded chiefly
through the insirumentaiity Of Gen. s. c.
Armstrong, phllanthropist at once benev-
olenl and wise. Being stationed on this spot
in 1867 al Superintendent OF a department
of the ErOedmnu'H Ruranu Con Arn,s,,,,,,,,