The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-04
The Modern Virginia Negro.

The second generation, grown up since
the war, is not without education, but it
wholly lacks discipline and sense of re-
sponsibility. Naturally, having escaped
out of slavery, it regards liberty, which
is often interpreted license, as the chief
good, and it is very slow to learn habits
of industry and thrift. Idle and ill-clad
negroes about the streets are common
sight; perhaps the women are more in
dustrious; they certainly develop fond.
ness for dress and cheap jewelry, but
their morals are not recognizable
quality among the assets of C. aracter.
The negroes-and it is the same where
they like to live in town, to huddle
together in close neighborhoods and
good many in q tenement. Many
Of them own little places and
cheap houses of their own, but their pres
ent ambition does not go beyond q hand
to.mouIh existence. A good many
of the girls go to the White Sulphur and
other watering places in the summer and
pick up enough in one way and another
to keep them during the winter. Some
who are single or have become 80 by the
loss of their husbands, frankly say that
they prefer to remain alone rather than
undertake the support of an idle darkey
too many "good-for- nothing niggers"
around seems to be thsir point OF view.
The long and short of it is that the col
ored brother likes to enjoy himself with
as little exertion as possible, and he
has equal delight in religion, balls and
dancing, and larking around in the
night generally. His religion has no
relation to morals-it is something to be
enjoyed for its own sake. The question
of domestic service is very serious one
in Virginia just now. The negro has
monopoly Of this labor market and he
likes to show his independence. No SER
wants, men or women, live in the
houses where they are employed, not
even in the hotels. They come in the
morning, when it suits their convent
ence, get through the work of the day as
easily as they can, and then go home,
the consequence of this that there is no
control and no discipline. 1t is the gen.
eral complaint that only the elders who
were slaves before the war are of much
account as servants. They are not on
hand in the evening, and they come
around in the morning to get breakfast
at such an hour as suits their convent
ence or the pleasures of the night. 1t is
also a common complaint that both
house and field laborers slight their
work, and that it is impossible to give
them q realizing sense of the eighth
commandment. They see no reason why
they should not help themselves to what
ever they want from the larder or the
field, or take articles convenient to wear.
curious ANNOYANCE / heard much
spoken of. Articles sent to the washer
woman are apt to DO worn by her and
her friends for some days before they
ARE sent home. 1t must be owned that
the virginians endure this anomalous
condition of affairs with more good
humor than northerners would. and pa
tiently hope that education and time will
change them. But education thus far
does not appear to teach industry, thrift
or morality, and I fancy that the best
thing that could happen to the negroes
would be some competition in the labor
field.