The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-09-24
NEGRO pEcuLlARIrIEs.
Uhquestionable Delight of the CoIored
People In Participating In Funerals.

When we consider that for so many years
the negro race has been, comparatively
speaking, very closely associated with the
whites, It is matter of surprise and con-
lecture that they should cling so tenacicusly
to their peculiar characteristics, especially
those connected with their religious ideas,
ceremonies and superstitions.
1t may seem an oyerdrawn statement. vet
1t is strictly true one, that the genuine
darkey is never happier or more truly in
his element than when under the excitement
Of first-class funeral A relative, friend
d companion may be ill for weeks and
perhaps suffer for needed attentions from
their own color, but ,he'moment it is known
that the sick creature is dying, men, women
and children flock in and around the cabin
and set up perfect BABEL of walls.
prayers and lamentations, adding to the
horrors of the deathbed and intensifyinp
the grief and ~1citemerS OF the AFFLICTED
household.
For while whom the grave-decked figure
lies motionless with its folded hands, NUT
fled jaws and immense plate of salt on the
body to keep down the swelliug,p there
is hush and calm on the dusly crowd and
light footballs and whispered words betoken
the solemnity of the hour; but this is only
a smothered hull, q sure harbinger of the
excitement to come.
Could there possibly be more fitting
time for moral lesson on the great mys.
tery?" And 1t is seldom indeed that our
coiored friends allow such opportunities to
escape them. As some aged seer of the
plantation stands with folded arms and
bowed head and gazes reverently at. the
still figure there is look of hushed expect
ancy on the sable faces of the gathered
crowd. Nor are they to be disappointed,
for tenderly covering out of sight the rigid
features of the dead the old man wipes
aside few stray tears and solemnly begins.
| When you see the dusky wards of our
nation at sitting up" with dead per
son of distinction among their own race you
zee them in all their pomp and glory. The
entire night is passed in prayers, singing
and shouting interspersed with violent
kindred friends. The more bitter the grief
the greater the delight of the assembly, and
If at the burial the bereaved mourners should
be so overcome with grief and excitement as
| 70 lose consciousness the satisfaction is COM
plete, and big, little, young and old will
affirm that " dat was shure fine funeral, u
and that " Mr.. or Mrs. (somebody) would
shures rest good in his or her grade, kase de
funeral passed of so hans1m.n
can conceive OF no greater trial than
for q house servant to be denied the grsat
privilege of attending a funeral. and the
expressed sympathy of those more fortunate
ones who witnessed the ceremonies.is genu
Inc indeed.
shure is sorry you couldn't go, kas,
dat wus pinted good funeral. De folk
wus site to behold, and dey acted as fin
as ladies and gemmen coutd ack. Da
youngest gal jis tainted plum. away and j
tuck two Of do hreddefs to hobs her sister
i ssasefto goodness, you couldn't tie m
down in de white folks house when da
wus such big funeral a-gwine on" an
The grieyed looks of your help" will 70
days reproach you for your cruelty.
So for the sake of "sweet peace" whel
there is to be funeral of consequence,
make very strenuous efforts to SO arrange M
domestic affairs that "my Dora can TAX
in the enjoyment from beginning to end
and am usually rewarded by a very beamin,
,ountenance aud the assurance that SIN
shure did have o fine time"