Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-04
Charleston ia 1stO.

By Edward G. Mason in Febuary Atlantic.l
 The handsome city, rising proudly from tha bay, between it's twin rivers, with its Battery Square at their junction, reminded us in situation of the great metropolis we had just left; but it's beautifully shaded streets, it's quaint old houses, with wealth of veranda and balcony, standing et an angle to the street the better to catch the sea breeze, and surrounded by high walled gar dens,-its semi tro pical air, were all it's own, and had no parallel at the North.
 So, toe, the multitude of negroes was distinctive feature; and there was to us great variety and novelty about the southern specimens of the article. It was the custom to visit the public market h the very early morning, to see to the best advantage one ot the sights of the place Few were more at tractive or more picturesque than the long building filled with stalls of fruits and flowers, presided over by portly colored women wear ing gay turbans, each one of whom was ln- variabEy addressed as ''auntie" Again, the household servants, fully three dmEs as numerous as in similar establishments at the North were an amusing study. Their
 
 single incident. Orr host, as we were going to drive, found no whip in the carriage, and said to the groom at the horses head, ''Sam, go to the stable and bring me the Whip!' sYes, massa!" replied Sam, as he ieisureiy disappeared. Hardly was he out Of sight, when the master, addressing another negro, said ..Tom. % and stir up San!'' Yes, n1essg!" answered Tom, as he sIo Ely followed in the wake of Sam. No sooner had he faded from view than our friend, in the most mat ter-of course way, called to one more Of DIS people, 'Jm, you go and stir up Ion!" Yes massa.'' was the obedient response, as he third messenger shuff1ed along the stable path. After we had waited long enough for Il northern man to make whip, the three negroes returned together, the last sent carry ing the desired article. And yet, despite such experiences. which must have been the rule of thtir daily life, the patience Of the masters seemed never to fail, and shelT care of their servants, va saw It, was some thing wonderful In almost every house '" isited, there WAS group of old and utterly nselebs slaves, who were malntalneu by the1r owner in comfort. The relation between the tamiIy and the servants of tie house was one of friendship, and seemingly almost or equality.
 The term sabolitionist" had evidently been used to alarm the blacks and the younger unes especially, were firmly convinced that it meant a terrible creature. intent upon evil o them. Some waggish youths spread the story among the African members of the households in which visited that we were what they called Boboliiionists " For some time our appearance at the gateway of any If these houses was the signal for the instant disappearance of the crowd of young negroes Hho but 8 moment before had been basE1ng On the steps OF the piazza. or 1u the door way; and our entrance to the teanslon as
 f6n friu chances sooty images hiding behind hat stands, or ueeping around corners On one occasion, when a specially bright oung darkey had been sent for to give us specimen of plan ration dance and song, he bolted st the parior door, and firmly refused to enter the room, ,-~t the 'tBobolitionists" should carry him ''Nerf."
 Very earnest efforts were made by our
 ri+nds to convince that the patrlsrchal institution was absolutely the best possible arrangement for the black man. In fact,
 @ even suspected, sometimes, that pic suresque tabieaux had been arranged for cur particular benefit After dinner party, for instance, at which slavery had been drmon strated, from Scripture and nature alike, to be wholly right, and just at the point when Jur eloquent host was asserting that hls ne- 1roes were treated like his own chlIdren, an apparently accidental drawing aside of the cloth revealed his little son and black boy,
 
 one anothers arms, under the table
 There was, however, another side to this matter, which could not escape OUT attention, although we were left to find 1t out for our selves. The city of Charleston rad at thl5 time a population of forty thousand, almost equally divided between the tworaces. There ere several large stone barracks in different parts of the city, each one fort in itself These were manned by policemen, drilled and armed as soldiers. The men were main " of Irish birth, and were required to be un- married aud to live in the barracks After unset each block patrolled by one nem- Der of this force, and 8 mounted guard was assigned to each three blocks. The signals aud communications were perfect The officers ere graduates Of the South Carolina military schools and their discipline was rigid At night the whole city YVES under uartial law, so far as the blacks were con cerned Any negro found in the streets alter nine in the evening, without 8 pass from his master, was arrested forthwith 1t ten minutes before uine, a drummer h front of each police station began to beat the tong roll. and at once the streets were full of colored men, women and children, hi Ing to their homes During the last minute snc- .;vssion Of sharp taps vas gwen, and as these rarg ont the confusion increased This was the opportunity for young and active oarBl's o have a little sport at the expense Of the police. It so happened that the duties Of scavengers, about the markets anu obuSI parts of the city, were performed by useful put unsightly birds. called buzzsrds. The uegroes used to appl this name to the DO ie+men. whose iercest wrath was aroused bN the unsavory title A juvenile African, hay .ug, ~lth masterly generalship, provided 4afe line of retreat, would Aaliy from his en- treDchuent just at the forbidden hour, dan ing. turning somersaultB, and shouting the aated name of buzzard as the patrolmen anne in sight. The maligDed officials after
 scuring the gatewa, whence the offender cad emerged, would close in upon him, ap- parently leaving no chance for escape; but tt the critical moment 8 sudden rush for
 rec, or vine, or some footway known only the boy, would carry him safely over the 4srden wall. from which, ss he disappeared from view a parting cry of Good night, y31 haA3 aA