Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-28

Charles Dudley Warner IN tao Hartford
COurant.

Charles Dudley Warner il tic Hartford
COurdRt.
The second generation, grown up since
the war, is not without education, but it
wholly lacks discipline and sense of re-
spOnsibillty. 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 iII-clad ne
grOes about the streets are a common sight
perhaps the women are more industrious;
they certainly develop a fondness
for dress and cheap jewelry,
but their morals are not arecOgnizable
quality among the assets of character.
The negrOes-and it is the same wherever
| went in the State-are gregarious; they
like TO live in town, TO huddle together in
close neighbOrhoOds and a good many in
tenement. MANY of them 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 the White Sulphur and
other waterlng-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 be-
come so 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 HgOOd-fOr-
nothing nlggers" 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
possible, and he has equal delight in re-
hglon, balls and dancing, and larking
around in the night generally. His relig-
ion has no relation to morals-it is some
thing to be enjoyed for its own sake. The
question of domestic service is a very
serious one in Virginia just now.
The negro has 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 as easily as they can, and then 90
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
come around in the morning to get break
fast at such an hour as suits their con-
Venience or pleasures of the night. 1t is
also a common complaint that both house
and field laborers- slight their work. and II
is impossible to give them a realizing
sense of the eighth Commandment. They
see no reason why they should not helm
themselves to whatever they want from
the larder or the field. or take articles
convenient to wear. A curious annoy
ance l heard spoken of: Articles sent to
the washerwoman are apt to be worn by
her and her friends some DAYS before they
We're sent home. 1t must be owned that
the Nirginians endure the anomalous
condition Of affairs with more good humOr
than Northerners would, and patiently
hope that education and time will change
them. But education thus far does not
appear to teach industry, thrift or
morality, and fancy that the best thing
that could happen to the negroes would
be some competition in the labor field.