Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-06-14

"a c"SNb pNilulliC Sah
For we who stood once heart 10 heart,
Have dritted now so far apart.
ASPECTS OF a NEGRO LIFE.
NEWTON LANDING, WARREN COUNTY,
Miss, May l6, lS79.-There is some
thing almost pathetic in the recent ludi-
crous manifestations Of negro ignorance
and credulity. The simplicity of the
mass of negroes is hardly to be credited.
Just below here is camp of negroes
who have squattcd on the Louisiana
bank of the Mississippi, waiting for
some boat TO take them to Kansas. The
boat people say that it would be cruel
to take these miserable people to Saint
Louis and leave them there to starrc.
Some Of these negroes were well-to do
fellows, owning little stock. One man
sold new wagon, for which he paid
s75, for 50, so as to raise money to so
to Kansas.
Another chap sold two good horses
for S25 each, and know of cows hav-
ing been sold for Sc by these reckless
and improvident people. a mule worth
Sl50 was got rid of tor $40. The dar-
KEYS believe that in their Kansas para
disc they will receive $50 acres OF land,
a mule, farming tools and subsistence
for year-all from the generous hand
of the United States Government.
Cotton" said one old darkey, gravely,
"cotton grows better in Kansas than
here"
"Whar is Kansas" asked another.
Il recken it's days ride from hcah,
replied another geographically ignorant
fellow.
Under shabby tent on the levee I
noticed singular pair, bird octoge
marian negro and his wife, an enormous
woman, weighing 800 pounds if an
ounce. She would require turn table
to face her about Says the old man,
"Ise had vision from de Lord, and
He tells me to 20 to dis yur Kausss,
and shall get back my sight" "Dat
is de truf," says the old fat woman ccr-
roboratingly.
"Why, auntic, you can work; you nc
too fat, one exclaims.
"Wcl, de Lord has called, us, and
lie will pervide," she replies.
One day the camp is greatly excited.
A negro with news has arrived: "Jeff
Davis has taken Memphis with 10000
troops and four gunboats, and is goin
to send back to slavery ebery darkey
who tries 10 60 up de riber.
There is CONSERVATION until equally
Trustworthy news is brought IN by a
special and selfcommssioned courier of
sable hue.
"Dere is good news" lie says, "Gen.
Grant has got ter Vicksburg with 600
troops and heap OF gunboats, and is
goin' to take us all up de riber.'
Many Of these waiting negroes daily
expect that mythical government steam
er is going to take them free Of expense
TO their l80 acres and mule in Kansas.
Recently some white scoundrels have
gone through the northern Louisiana
parishes selling the credulous and easily
duped darkeys tickets to Kansas-price
S. each. The negroes have gone to the
levee and tried TO board the boats,
showing their tickets. And then did
they learn that they had been "sold.
BY this time the white rascals had "lit
ont of the country" rs the phrase is.
One of the meanest games played
upon the negroes was on the part OF
some white men from the North, who
travelled through these parishes carry
ing trunks filed with tiny American
flags, such as sell in Boston toy stores
for penny apiece. The negroes were
told that, if they bought these flags and
planted them in the ground, the Gov
ernment would in the fall give them the
land. The negroes bought the flags at
prices ranging from 81 to s. apiece
When the planters heard OF this scoun-
drelly transaction, they endeavored TO
secure the persons of these rascals, but
they had skipped.
You will often hear a Kansas bound
darkey say: "Gen. Grant has ordered
US TO 90 20 Kansas, and he will take
care OF US.
| listened to the conversation Of the
stoker on the steamer Natchez for
half hour. kansas was the topic. A
big negro, busily loading mp one of the
furnaces with cottonwood, was the cold
water thrower, and not at all popular
with his companions. ''Go TO Kansas,
said this chap, ego there and starve.
It's fearful cold there; heaps OK snow.
A young negro answered 81 knows
better. Caut we stand de cold ? Golly
it was cold 'nuff' in ole Virginny; cant
be any colder in Kansas, reckon
Ard here added another "Well, we
we might as well stsrve in Kansas as
starye here We amt any OF US get
ting rich. Yahl yah yabI'
Said an old darkey: awe can git
a living in Kansas just as well as get il
heah. A mans got to work anywhere.
Here is grey wooled negro, his
much younger wife, and three pickanin-
MES; wretched children, all sleepy with
the drowsiness of childhood. Here they
sit or lie on the hard deck, pillowing
their little woolly heads on their pndgy
arms. They wake up stiff and sorc, and
cry for "mammy." A young negro man
takes of his coat, goes up 10 toddler