The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-16
The Negroes and whites or virginia

Correspondence of the New YORK lribuneJ
Abingdon. February L. Many
curious traits appear in the negro character,
under the influence Of the new conditions
OF his life, or survive a products OF the old
order not yet Ouigr0wn. They are exceed.
ngIy superstitious. Most Of them have a
great horror OF being "tricked," as they
call ii--that Is. OF having an evil spei', a
supernatural, Irresistible malien Influence
fastened upon them by an enemy. They
believe that il a bottle OF water is buried
i'm The ground, with certain incantalion
pronounced over il, as the water dries up
the flesh and life Of The person for whom
the spell or trick is intended will waste
away, and be will expire when the last drop
is gone. A nail driven into The ground In
certain way is supposed to produce like
fatal effect, and there are many other similar
means OF "coDjuriDe" or "tricking
people. / saw well OF excellent water re-
Gently which was believed by the cOlored
p(ople near IL to have been "tricked," and
they could not be induced to use the water
for any purpose. but carried across long
field ell that they required. The negroes
have made many amusing changes in their
names. by way Of meeting the requirements
OF their new condition OF freedom, appa-
rently as tribute 10 the new dignilies with
which they feel themselves invested. Thus,
Romeo Jones Of the old time now sigUs bis
name Romev o. Jones, Pericles Smith
writes himself down Perry Clees Smith, and
q boy who was always known as Polly's
Jim, having learned TO read the New Tesla
ment, is now Mr.. Apollos James. They
still feel great pride in having belonged TO
rich and important families when they were
slaves. One might as well give southern
white man the lie as TO accuse a negro Of
having been the slave OF slow down" or
common" white people. "Neyer bad
noihin' 10 do with po' white folks" is the
universal asseyeraton.
Two Young negroes IN one OF the larger
southern cities were quarrelling not long
ago, and when passion rose TO its highest
pitch one asserted that the man TO whom the
other had belonged was "only a half
stranah "a half-strainer being man not
OF full blood or social rank, an inferior per-
son, kind Of social half breed, merely hang
ipg on TO the skirts Of the true aristocracy.
This was mortal Insult, and ii was an
swered by q stab, meant TO be death blow.
The wound was serious one, and things
looked very dark for the champion OF his
former masters dignity. But the gentleman
heard OF il, and came from distant part of
the State TO assist the negro, and by employ
ing able counsel, and eXerling himself in
many ways, succeeded In having the culprit
let off with very moderate punishment. Ii
Is almost impossible TO find q negro who
will admit that he ever belonged 10 an un-
kind or cruel master. Here they univer-
sally speak OF their former owners in most
afiectionate terms; and, reciprocaliy, all
the white people whom have seen speak
kindly, iorbearinely, apd, as it seems
to me, generously, OF the colOred people.
have not found a trace OF resentment or
hatred between the races thus FAR, nor OF
any aniagonistic feeling except few in
stances OF dissatisfaction on the part OF
colofed people with their treatment at
places Of public entertainment. and the re-
cognition on The pant Of poor white men OF
the competition OF the colored working
men. This competition lowers the price Of
all kinds OF labor to which it eXtends-that
is. of all work that the negro can do.