The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-01-11
PLANTATION SKETCHES.
How the 0olored People Enjoyed Their
First Taste Of Freedom.

w uCu y MOI hViIOtCN StutC VI
Florida with my presence some twelve
years ago. the negro was constant
source Of amusement to me, says
writer in Tie Detroit Free Press His
WAYS were 50 different, his actions so
childlike and bland, his idea of freedom
30 extraordinary, his ignorance so
grotesque and appalling, that it was
better than . circus to watch him in
his goings to and fro. Freedom made
striking revolution in the cOlored
race socially; they tried at once to drop
oil their former catch-words of famili-
arity, and adopted the most extravaganza
and elaborate forms of courtesy.
Among themselves il was '.lady"
and gentlemen" .'Mr" and Mrs."
and all the ceremonies and genuflexions
in use among the former slaveholding
aristocracy were at once adopted as
their own, without any regard to the
eternal fitness Of things.
was riding through the streets of
Tallahassee one beautiful morning
with ex-United States Senator COnOver,
who was then state treasurer and
owner of tine plantation = few miles
from town, when scene occurred that
has never faded from my memory.
1t had somehow became town talk
that DR.. Conoyer was looking out for
hands to assist him in wasting seed on
his plantation. and when we got OppO-
site the postofiice We were halted by an
old colored auntie with: ''Oh, DR..
minute, please, sah!'
BY her side was most dilapidated
specimen Of colored humanity in estate
81 lOoped wnl siudowed aaggedaess.
In fact, any respectable western corn
field scarecrow would have Indignantly
refused 10 exchange garments with him
without heavy boot. The old auntie
had him by the hand. and rs we drew
up to the sidewalk she said: "Dr
COnover, l done heerd We wanted to
get some gentlemen to wuk on yer
place, and l done sent for dish yer
gentleman TO come to town SOS We
could get him." After little con-
versatiOn 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, We're
passionately fond Of fine clothing
and fInery of every description, and
would invest all the money they could
earn in articles Of personal adornment.
was told by one of tho 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 her
colored sister was content, if she had
. gorgeous head-gear, to let the rest OF
her graceful person 60 arrayed in pie
beian calico. A lot of colored ladies
congregatsd at some street corner
would exhibit dazzling assortment of
ribbons. laces, feathers. and bright
colors. With them freedom meant to
stop at once from the mOnotony OF the
cottonfeld to the dressing-roOm of the
petted darlings of society and fashion,
and foot apparently eighteen inches
In length would often coyly peep out
from beneath a brilliant blue silk
dress.
One Sunday morning l was riding
out on the road toward Bellair, when l
met 8 gentleman Of the cOlored persra-
sion on his way to church.
He.was clothed in a glossy dress suit
of black such rs the Hebrew children
love TO pass off on the unsophisticated
AFRICAN as genuine brOadcloth. and
fitting like the paper on the wall.
His neck was encircled by Cal
Wagner collar and flaming crimson
scarf, a high silk hat crowned his noble
brow, and to cap the climax, he was
barefooted.
His money had evidently given out
before he got to his feet but this Occa-
stoned him not the slightest embar-
rassment. and he strobe along the road
in dignified coInposure, true child of
freedom.
The strong point of the negro has
been his religion, and one of their old
fashioned revivals is calculated to fully
discourage the devil and all his imps.
After usual evening service The pastor
leaves his pulpit. and. surrounded by
his staff, prepares to battle with the
evil one. The mOurners crowd around
the altar. praying. grooming, and
shrieking; higher and higher rises the
singing and exhorting. the bodies of
sinners sway in rhythm with the music,
hands are patted and feet stamp the
floor. Suddenly there is a wild shrek,
and one of the female mourners leaps
into the circle, all her sins are washed
away, and she is so violently happy
that she wants to go right straight up to
heaven. Some fall as if in q trance.
the Voice of the exhOrter takes on q
sterner tone, and the excitement be-
comes more intense. Then succeeds
q calm; nearly all are converted, and
are exhausted As finale they strike
up something like the following:
fse got on de back OF do Mefodis mule
Sinner doan' We stan dar loOkin' like fool;
De bride bit am silver de saddle am gold.
An rse houn' fur to 70 TO Aberham's fold.
H an. ~ n, tide,
An I'll ride right on to gloryl
rse sunk my sins in de savin. pool.
An rot on de back Of de Mefodis mule:
An here stick like big black leetz,
| Till the ole mule stOmps on de golden streetsI
An I'll ride.
Yes I will
An III ride right on to glory!
/ OH come from de chu'c an de Sunny school.
| An see me ridin on de Mefodis mule
| Dem Baptises amt got no sort OBJ show.
AM ri make dem Pistoble HOSES blowi
An I'll ride.
Yes will
An Iii ride right on to glory!
Saturday was the negroes natural
holiday, and on that day Tallahassee
was full OF them of all classes, condi-
tj6ns. colors, and sizes. Some crowded