Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-01-24
PLANTATION SKETCHES.
How the Colored People Enjoyed Their
First Taste Of Freedom.

First Taste of Freedom.
When | first honored the state Of
Florida with my presence some twelve
years ago, the negro was a constant
source of amusement to me, says a
writer in The Detroit Free Press. His
ways were so different, his actions so
childlike and bland, his idea of freedom
SO extraordinary, his ignorance 80
grotesquo and appalling, that it was
better than a circus to watch him in
his goings to and fro. Freedom made
q striking revolution in the colored
race socially; they tried at once to drop
all their former catch-words of famili-
arity, and adopted the most extrayagant
and elaborate forms of courtesy.
Among themselves it was "lady"
and gentlemen, Mr." and Mrs, :"
and all the ceremonies and genufexions
in use among the former slaveholding
aristocracy were at once adopted as
their own, without any regard to the
eternal fitness of things.
Twas riding through the streets of
Tallahassee one beautiful morning
with ex-United States Senator Conover,
who was then state treasurer and
owner of a fine plantation q few miles
from town, when a scene occurred that
has never faded from my memory.
1t had somehow became town talk
that Dr.. Conover was looking out for
hands to assist him in wasting seed on
his plantation, and when we got oppo-
site the postoffice we were halted by an
old colored auntie with: ''Oh, DR..
Cenover! Oh, DIR. Conover! stop a
minute, please, sah!' -
BY her side was a most dilapidated
specimen of colored humanity in state
Of looped and windowed raggedness.
In fact, any respectable WESTERN corn
field scarecrow would have indignantly
. refused to exchange garments with him
without heavy boot. The old auntie
had him by the hand, and as we drew
mp to the sidewalk she said: "Dr.
Conover, / done heerd We wanted tc
get some gentlemen to wuk on yeI
place, and done sent for dish yel
gentleman to come to town SOS yt
could get him. After a little con
yersation the contract was made and
the gentleman went out to the planta
ton to pick cotton and steal corn with
the rest Of the gentlemen.
The negroes, male and female, were
passionately fond of fine clothing
and tinery of every description, anc
would invest all the money they coalc
earn IN articles Of personal adornment
was told by one OF the city milliners
that the finest and most expensive bon
nets she brought to the city were pur
chased by the negro women. The
white ladies were satisfied to dress
more in consonance with the reduced
state of their finances, but hei
colored sister was content, II she had
a gorgeous head-gear, to let the rest o.
her graceful person 90 arrayed in pie
beian calico. A lot of colored ladiet
congregatcd at some street corner
would exhibit dazzling assortment O
ribbons, laces, feathers, and brigh
colors., With them freedom meant K
step at once from the monotony of tn
cottonfeld to the dressing-room of th'
petted darlings of society and fashion
and foot apparently eighteen inche
in length would often coyly peep on
from beneath brilliant blue sill
| dress.
One Sunday morning was ridin,
out on the road toward Bellair, when
met a gentleman of the colored persua
sion on his way to church.
He was clothed in a glossy dress sui
of black such as the Hebrew childrel
love to pass of on the unsophisticate,
African as genuine broadcloth, an
fitting like the paper on the wall" F"
His neck was encircled by Ca
Wagner collar and flaming crimso
scarf, high silk hat crowned his nobl
brow, and to cap the climax, he wa
barefooted.
His money had evidently given ou
before he got to his feet but this occs
stoned him not the slightest embar
rassment, and he strobe along the roa
in dignified composure, a true child {
freedom.
The strong point Of the negro ha
been his religion, and one Of their old
fashioned reVivals is calculated 70 full
discourage the devil and all his impl
After usual evening service the pasto
leaves his pulpit, md, surrounded b
his staff, prepares to battle with th
evil one. The mourners crowd aroun
the altar, praying, grooming, On
shrieklng; higher and higher rises th
singing and exhorting, the bodies {
sinners sway in rhythm with the music
hands are patted and feet stamp tn
floor. Suddenly there is wild shrief
and one Of the female mourners Leap
into the circle, all her sins are washe
away, and she is SO violently happ
that she wants to 20 right straight up t
heaven. Some fall as if in 9 trance
the voice OF the exhorter takes on
sterner tone, and the excitement b
comes more intense. Then succeed
a calm; nearly all are converted. an
are exhausted As finale they strik
up something like the following: