The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-05-31
Plantation Negroes.

Iwilmsngtea N. (, Corr. ITO, Times
 Plantation negroes are. to those who sec them for the hrss tune. the most miserable specimens of men and brothers If they are to be judged by ther external appearance. They are usually vep black ln color, w.,h pro. nonnced negro features. and ignos ant In some eases they are bar tes degrees above the animals. They live cal, in the present. know nor care nothing fct the future, and seem Q regard freedom A only the means ot deciding for them whether they ~tli woIk CT remain tile, and. as ma, he supposed. fl bacon and corn bread could be had without the labor, IS sste 10 say they woald remain idle. l was told. however, despite lhetr dsiected. work-a-dAy look. they are A very happy and eon,ensed people. and they are treated sIih much consideration and kindness on the tso plantations visited being alio.el 70 build hes> and ea, ali their hfe~oos on the lands and in illness cared for either by the overseer or owner :, ~ho employs a physician in urgent eAses
 These plantations have also stores spon the grounds ~herein the hands can buy a, make, rates all the necessaries of ,he,t lives. food. clothing and shoes n fact n,ihlns that can be had a, the usual or general country store" And thus has been done III order to keep the planta- ton hands Al home. for If dnung the plantation season the hands can get of "a ,o~h after A pay day there IS aa chance oi ;helr ve aIn until al Chen money ls spent And eitaer work ot starvation siAfes them in the lace And as most paanta- ton hands arc born and ral>ed III the sSrA they NnJw no other 0c .sloaAl!y a more ambitious of intelligent one ~ilI aspire to iearn to be a barber" and leave hts n.,Ise heath. but Il ls s..iti that thes do not as A rule take Ia educ A. ton. aad, pFetet to remsin ignorant Aad ~osk by a..s. and ,f they can dance snsi ffei,s by nigh, they are conten, wish hie as they md ii Then domestic relations and nioial life is better leis unaues,loned ] Tn many Case,. although the tas compeis marriage. i IS ot en honosed in the breach only, but they have the enihusi. assit feligseas restsAis and then colored pI.af hers are ever on the plAnta. tons and hold services in their church al 0ftoa for ;he reiigiousiy inc aned
 o1me ot the women seem dispoxed ta thlnk tha, the hves cd house servants ! are more enviAble than thcir own. wotk. ing AS they do |. the bot fields. but |, is not an energet,c longing and insolves tod much thought 10 be put into active execu
 ton. One father btigh,.looking young woman, to .hom ] spoke, asked me fl though, could se; her "plAee" as d cook at the north. l asked her whs, wages she earned AS held-hand and she sad e Mostly per seek, but they ss,
 could gei ; t, for a month .s cook
 Her mental arithmetic vas hille of
 but she ~AS m earnest told her dtd not think that she sould like nolthsft sIatss, | was much colder, and shs laughed aad sar That's what they as say mss u.ebbe would not Free
 dom meaDs to thIs class oi people oni, he ability to earn money and pTosIc. Tor ;hemseiyes. instead oi having ever,
 ihlns pros.dcd Jor them. and |, ~ill be j long long tmc beiofr they are eiesates or edut aie- SuiiIeiently to unders'an how much h.ss been aoae for them.