Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-24
MTSCEGENATEO
On a Scientific Basis n New Jersey
A strange COmmuBfty-TEeir Pc
cullArfties OF Habit, Edu-
cation and Religious
Belief-GOuld's
Sifc.

Philadelphia Record: "a colony of inter-
married blacks and whites Is located about
eight miles from Milville, in New Jersey.
The place is known as Goudtown, and was
settled about eighty years ago by John Gould,
after whom the place is named. Now it
numbers about five hundred inhabitants.
These are scattered, however, and the land
occupied by them covers within IN area of
about six miles. The town Is so near Bridge
town, which is few miles further south,
that nearly all the dealings of the place &C.
cur there. Ga this account there is scarcely
d sign of life about the place, and were il
not for a tollgate and its charges the passing
stranger would hardly know that the place
was inhabited. Gould was a colored
man, and before founding Gouldtown was
IN love with young white girl. This Is
supposed to have induced the remarkable
theory which he evolved. Gould at the
time of this love affair was residing in Cam
deu, where he married the girl and where
he started to inaugurate his theory of equeli-
ty. He soon found other negroes who had
similar designs upon females of the white
color, and when they were consumated
Gould and few others, friendless and PEN
nlless, started to dig a livelihood out of
South Jersey land. The place they selected
was indeed Jersey Sahara. Whether they
paid for the land is not known. From time
to time the settlement increased by the ad-
dltlon OF negroes who had taken uato them
selves white women as wives. The offspring
of these people were, of course, mulattoes,
some of whom remained at GouldtoWr and
iBtermarried, and others sought matches
elsewhere; so that IN the fruition of time
white men joined IN wedlock with muattoes
and mulattoes Joined in wedlock with white
women. This state Of affairs passed on IN
til to day the colony presents mixed condi-
ton OF society. The dwellings, are all frame,
some aspiring to architectural style, while
kt,n -, - H. Il.
on the railroad Toulouse. Two painted
signs are visible, one announcing the loca-
ton of the postoffice and the other desenat-
ing the schoolhouse; but these are so nearly
effaced by the wear IF time as to be in keep
ing with the hfeless aspect Of the village
The church Is the most artistic building in
the place, and its pastor is the ruler of the
town. The women of Gouldtown are white
and their husbands are negroes. Men or
women who are not willing to comply with
these conditions of marriage cannot live in
the village with ease or comfort, for the
Gouldtowners will have no one about but
those in sympathy with their notions.
This was the request of the toun-
der when he passed away. And this
request their descendants are determined to
carry out. Gould's intention in founding the
place was to develop his theory of the equality |
OF the negro in his right to marry into the white
race, The young people of the town are very
light IN color, but there Is no difficulty in dis
the negro blood in the features of |
the hghtest. The men are mostly strong, |
healthy looking and the girls are handsome. |
Their hair grows long and thickiy and is |
worn after the old style of making a top |
knot on the back of the head They are /
tidy and simple in their dress, and polite and |
attentive in manner and particularly co rte
ous to the stranger who may pass through.
their lonely settlement. there are two ex<
hnu Et.ao Al
girls. While the majority are beautiful in
ACE, Of medium height and symmetrical in
there are others who are repul-
,ive to the gaze. These are the results of
marriage between close relatives. Their off
SPRING are diminutive and crippled in form,
with withered and hard, bony faces, small
heads and smaller and useless brains, sunken
eyes, with a vacant expression-a human
beings, harmless and useless, and altogether
leplorable specimens o. humanity. Honesty
5 one of their strongest characteristics; in
act, dishonesty hardly known among
hem. During school hours basket of can
lies is LETT 10 the corridor of the schoolhouse
~ woman peddler, who brings it from
3ndgeton. She marks the price of the can
ly and other knick- knacks in the basket, and
hen goes back to town. About the close
If school time she returns, and always finds
n the bottom of the basket an equivalent ID
money for the candies taken. In the school |
Is much attention is paid to the incubation
If good moral principles as is devoted to that
# books. Most of the children learn readily,
Iud some at the age of twelve are studying
ATTN. On Sunday every member of the vii
age. big and little, unless prevented by sick
less. must attend church, The forms of reli-
ZION are as simple as their habits. They sub
ist by tilling their soil, and manage to grow
enough to support them comfortably with
yery little left for exchange purposes. Among
he pecuharihes of these people is their fond
less for long and distinguished names, such
IS George Washington Jackson Buchanan,
Is will be seen, all historic. The father of a
arge family boasts Of the name, Daniel
Webster Clay, and recently attached Charles
Summer to it. This attachment was accom-
,lished In a novel way. The fathers IN the
own were called together by means of little
FOSTERS pasted on the fences, and the man
whose name ended with Clay announced cffi-
ialg that henceforth he would be known as
}. w. C. Sumner After this announcement
hey were all permitted to drink glass of
water from a silver cup, handed down from
he time of John Gould, and this legalized
he change" /.