Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-06-05


Correspondence of tie Alexandria Gazatto. ]
HEWLETT's Juno 5.--lo almost every family
in Virginia in aute,bollrm days thero wore ne
gro slaves, reared and kept in c'oso association
with tho Tlito members CT tho family. who
were notorious for their industry roi!eness,
honesty aud genIiIiiy. 10 the females of this
class the children and household affairs were
entrusted with tho utmost coriiierc; to The
males tho keys CT tho barrs tho horses aud
cattic and tho general n Management OF tho farm
Wcro coutided with equal satisfaction. They
manifested tho deepest interest 10 tho welfare
OF the whites, nod sympstbized 81 with them 10
reverscs aud relo csd with them 10 their pros-
perlty. Thoy we're always addressed mcsi re-
spccduIlg snd aifectionately as "urcle' and
aunt" by tee children, aud werc esteemed and
reVerenccd By them stc)nd only to mother and
father. They were kid and atfeotiouate 10
dlsDosl ion. graceful aud quick 10 scion, tidy
IN dress, polite and respectful to all, and be-
loved and respected 10 turn By al who kew
them.
Sixty year, ago, en- the death Of such az one,
tho father Of the writer wrote, Anthony was
faithful servant aud friend" 10 those days
the best cstlers, dining room sNvants, chsmb,r
mstS, cooks, washers aId ironers, nurses and
servants the world ever saw, we're numerous 10
Old Virginia. ln mcst Instances tho old mas.
ter5 ard mlstrcsses have goro to their etsrra
homes, aud tito iaw remaining negro noblemcn
aud nobewomen sre scattered abroad, without
homo or comfortable shelter. aud TOO often
alGs | with scarcely suficiency of the nt c,sss-
lies OF lite to maintain q miserable existence,
Though feeble with ago, oppressed With want,
aud clothed IN rags, 20 ono acquainted with the
pss. can tail to distinguish them wherever he
meets them. Tho cid mer, with q plet slut
smile, raised hat ADD an humble, bat Rracs-
lul bow, while tho old womcp, with an iLimita.
bio courtesy and benignsut expression, always
grcot you, But age and want arc playing sad
havtcS with these grand old servants But
lew moro years and the last courtesy and grace,
rul bow will hs made, the last farewell will b,
uttered, and tho last cmaciated framo of this
honorcd and beloved rae, of other days, will
have passed away. Nor will our children and
chldren's chilcreD, Judging the past by the
present aud future, even be able to understand
aud appreciate thu strong attachments, the
warmth Ct lovo and the depth of affection,
which suhsiated between their ayen,s aud their
Old ''ut clss' aud ''autts, "mammas" aud
"daddirs" ct the NEGRO rsoo ir tho dy, of
their childhood. F1r, when VIC compare the
negro OF to day with lhc negro of tho past, we
are toic bly, reminded that tho old c'ass is pass
ing away, ard w!!h,ll mover sHo thei, like
aeaio.
EgtiP re, h.s soalo r7cdomiLaa; ciartc.er-
ishc. Trst Il Inc negro Is aplmallsm or So
sua!ity. Naturally, Imaginative, inpu'svo and
! "iFcciiooatc, thcso traits, uader tho impulse of
uar' ralced s.nsuaiity, bu. rerdor hin nole
daogerors aud less useful being. Whcn this
predominant characteristic, however. is kent
unlar rtstrbl1t, tho traits alcGo alluded to bu.
rcntes him moro happy, rc}i,blc and useful.
u0dCr tar restraint Ct slavery, Lis seusuality
| Vas kept uodcr vholesomo restraint, and the
higher aud nobler qualities of hi3 nature moro
Prominently developed, and he was corso!ya.
| tive, kind aud usciu'. The discipline of slavery
| cii21nscrbed his wants. concentrated bis mind
nron 'mmeGi,te routine Ct duti's supplied
him With 81 thu decided comforts Of life, and
| hence, a6st:aated Eia toughts irom self, and
g,Ve full sc,po for the exarcs, aud develop.
| moas ct the higher qualities oil his rature. Re-
! ceiVog s'l needed supplies from the generous
hand OF his legal guardians, in tho language of
Inspiration, his chief duty was 20 tleaso bis
m;s;tr.' Thus sbJ;racted from If, ho was
slpIemely ucs.lish, aul 10 the service of 9TH
trs, he cultivated the higher and nobler alali.
! iss OF bis naiu1e, und DEVELOPED character
| worthy ti il admiration. TITS development was
| dae to association With the ri led aud educu-
! cd, Es VT II as the IT rsiuis tf disciploe-the
ono without ,ho other, in cithof casa, would
! have been o mist rablo abortion, as tn, prcscat
status OF tho nCgio cl!ailY demonstrates.
That many OF tht II nre sbrjau smart, ant
| 10 learn, sDd capable Of ,nsidcrablo mental do.
v,l)puent,l readily eraot. Bu: those Ca lcitios
and qualifications, 10 large m;jGrit9 OF casee,
are prcsiluted to soG,h and sensual OF! c's,
and 90 moral s,nlineat c.n restrsio them.
Within Tho pas. yoar there have probably been
| more cas,s OF rapo cjmmitttd by negroes ia
Virginia than wsto koown 10 half c,otury be,
fore ,he wsr. Now can it b, attributable to
the want nf proper moral and educational ad
vaotageS or tho it ilaenots of sc ocial caste, fer
instances of this same sort are ff,quenlly re-
ported ia tho r,f0td. enlightened. educated,
moral. religious aud social tq1llity North. where
there il scalc,ly one negro to ten thousand
whites. Nor is it even here c)p6ued to those
Who have not had educ ,l;oasl advantages Ma
turally sensual 10 high degree. .edC C sliou With.
ous the restraints Of wholesome. Ilcuar9 Dis :
cpline, is tu5sldised. and btc,mes factor 10
tho scum o! moral dcpraVity, which the free
negro is daily working out.
While here and there, all over the land. you
see really good. reliable, iadrs rlous, polite,
| chastc aud moral negro, an ornament to his or
her race, and vsoatlJ addition to society. the
great mass, and sa7 IL with modification and
| sorroW. Lut With o clear appreciation of the
| fvrc, Of tho laeg1aee use, arc full of envy,
| murder, deceit, oal2n.!y, lofDlcatloo, wicked.
ness, d siiseful, proud, boaserj, inventors Of
evil things, carra, sensual, deviish, knowing
that those who GO such things arc worthy OF
ic,th, not only d. the s:me. but take pleasure
10 lhose tha: do them" OF spch alss arc
som, who have recently been educated at The
tteoo gic.l schools IS abl,sbed by the generosi-
ty OF tic Northern Christians for the benefit of
tits class. With each returning season see .
marked delr, ciaion 10 the moral character Of
he rog,o, ard. though public school trustee.
Who has afforded them for eight years every
educational advantt G, the whites have etjoysd,
| nust confess that am almast persuaded that
my Iile and labor have been lost. and the peo.
pies mo1e7 thrown away. Alss !! Alas
| HANOVER.