The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-10-11
The Modern V;rc;n;o Norro

1he second generation. grown up
SINCE the war, is not without education,
put 1t wholly lacks discipline and sense
oi responsibility. Naturally, having
escaped out OF slavery, it regards liberty,
olIen interpreted license, as the chief
good' and it is very slow to learn habits
oI industry and thrift. Idle and ill-clad
negroes about the streets are common
slght. Perhaps the women are more
industrious; they certainly develop n
iohuness for dress and cheap jeweiry,
out their morals are not recognizable
quality among the assets of character.
The negroes-and it is the same wher-
ever went in the state-are gregarious;
they like to live in town, to huddle to-
gether in close neighborfcods and
good many in tenement. Many of
thom own little places and cheap houses
OF their own, but their present ambition
does not go beyond a hand-to-mouth
existence. A good many Of the girls 90
to 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 of them
who are single. or who have become SO
by the loss of ther 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 their point
OF view. The long and short of it is
that the colored brother likes to enjoy
himself with as little exertion as pos
sible, and he has equal delight in re-
ligion, balls and dancing, and larking
around in the night generally. His re-
liGion has no relation to morals-it is
something to be enjoyed for its own
sake. The question of domestic SER
vice is a serious one in Virginia just
now The negro has q monopoly of
this labor market, and he likes to show
his independence. No servants. 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 convenience, get through the
work of the day us. easily rs they can,
and then GO home. The consequence
of this is that there is no control and no
discipline. 1t is the general complaint
that only the elders who We're slaves
before the war are OF much account as
servants. They are not on hand in the
evening, and they como around in the
morning to get breakfast ut such an
hour as suits their convenience or pleas
ures of the night 1t is also a common
complaint that both house and field lab
orcrs slight their work, and it is impos-
sible TO give them realizing sense OF
the eighth Commandment. They see
no reason why they should not helE
themselves to whatever they want from
the larder or the field, or take articles
convenient to wear. A curious annoy.
ance heard spoken of: Articles sent tc
the washer woman are apt to be worn
by her and her friend some days before
they were sent home. 1t must be own,
ed that the Firginians endure the anon
alous condition OF affairs with more
| good humor than northerners would
and patiently hope that, education anc
time viii change them. But education
thus far does not appear to teach in
dustry, thrift or morality, and | fame,
that the best thing that could happen t,
the negroes would be some competition
in the labor field -ChnS. Dudley lKG3'
ner, IN Hartford CoaTaHt