The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-18
A BLACK VENUS
In Bondage Within thsEshadow Of Beecher's
Church-RomanticS story of Princess Olga.

Church-Romantic Story of Princess Olga.
New York Correspondents Pittsburg Dispatch.
Do you know OlgAl | know you DON'T but
you must. She is beautiful and interesting.
To-day she is the only African slave in captivity
in America. Notwithstanding all the constitu-
tional amendments and the war, Olga, beauti-
full black African princess, aged about thirteen
years. is IN the captivity Of slavery in Brooklyn.
She belongs to very Interesting and attractive
lady, who spent year on the Congo l am
doubtful about which to tell you the more
about the owner or the exquisitey- shaped ebony
slave
Several years ago the lady's husband was ap-
pointed a consul to an African port. Once when
she and party were starting trip up the
Congo either with Stanley or just after having
entertained him, a friendly native king pre-
sented young girl, one of his many daughters,
to them to take along for fresh meat" in case
the supply of brute flesh should become ex
hausted; and if she was not eaten she was to be-
long to the lady
That was three years ago Olga was not eaten.
The consulship was resigned Two years ago
the lady returped home. She brought her gift
from the African king with her. The child is
now about thirteen years of age. She is as
straight arrow. With true native simple
ity, she does not care for dress, excepta few
fancy colored gewgaws in her kinky hair. In
warm weather it is difficult to keep clothing on
her, even to the amount of a fashionable ball
costume. In these cold days she frets under the
oppression of civilized wear. At every opportu-
nifty she will crouch by the stove in swimming
attire.
Although in slave captivity for nearly three
years, Olga is a savage. Her temper is beyond
control Only abject fear keeps it at all in bounds
Attimes when corrected she will sneak into a
corner by the stove, relieve herself of the en-
barrassment OF toggery, and like a little savage
An the W1dS of an African Jungle, grit her teeth
and beat her breast, and act much as one would
expect an enraged Gagged beast to do. Her owner
could not be kinder. Her manner is persuasion.
Ste hates coercion Yet for all, at times Olga
cannot be controlled in any other manner than
by force She prefers raw meat to cooked, and
it is observable that her temper is worse when
she is allowed meat underdone.
So far it has proved utterly impossible to
teach her the alphabet Indeed, she learns
words very slowly She displays no disposition
to study. She is by no means dull. gayer,
more cheerful soul could not be imagined Work
she abhors Any duty will be neglected when
she is not under the eye of her mistress Her
forte seems, so far as mental capacity is con
cerned, to be IN deception. Of course, she speaks
little, but the most of that little is devoted to
denying truths and equivoeating.
The mistress really had hoped to train the
child as well as could be. She would like to
educate her, and. although Olga shows no apti-
ude, efforts to teach her the alphabet not re-
laxed. The most unterly fruitless attempts
were directed toward making the little savage a
Christian. The child listens with much less
credence than children display at the recital of
SHoSI StOflcS, dnu Wl6n Tar less interest,". SH6
fails to grasp the idea at all Her idea of
Christianity is immensely vague 1t is about
the same as doubtful children have of spooks.
Talk as seriously as one may to her. she grns
almost menacingly with a dubious air. Olga
won't pray except to be let off from beating
when she is caught in forbidden act
When look at her I sometimes wonder if
some of our fashions are not deteriorating This
little African princess is about FIVE feet tall.
Her flesh is plump and firm, and as glossy and
as black shining ebony. Her feet
are perfectly shaped, but the low in
step spoils their beauty in my eye Her
hands could not be more beautiful in shape.
The fingers are long and tapering. The nails
are long and almond shaped, and unlike those
of fine ladies, they are not brittle, but firm and
pliable. Her teeth are large and strong. For
all she is not pretty, this captive princess. She
has thick lips, and the real fiat African nose.
Her blood is so rich, so free from all impurities
that, although her lips are thick they are so
clear, so mobile, that they are pleasing to look
at The gloss of her skin is not shiny; it is soft
and her skin looks like rich blue-black velvet
The childs grace of movement is perfect. It is
natural. Her carriage is so erect and yet so
graceful that she really impresses one by her
bearing She is savage child of the African
wilds, and her natural grace and excellent health
forces the thought that were our children raised
more hardly they would not be as sickly and as
puny as they are now.