The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-07-18
NEGRO FRAILTIES.
The Trials which The Southern
Housekeepsr Must Endure.

Light and darkness, sunshine and
shadows strangely blend together all
through life and in the negro charac-
Ter the good and evil is indiscrimn.
ately mixed up, with the down
weight in favor Of the evil. In all
human natures question If any can
call forth rs many petty, annoying,
disagreeable traits of character as
that of our etony-hued domestics.
Self-interest is the ruling power which
prompts every action and the reward
to come actuates every profer OF as
sistance.
| do not speak unadvisedly when l
affirm that it is part OF the freed
mans religion to dislike the white
man and to injure and secretly appro-
pirate his property. Still, underlying
their general demeanor there is a
species of rrbanity, Difference and
humility which is an outcrop of their
policy and not OF their true, genuine
goodwill to "de white folks" Yet
think the negro man is less bitter
and possess more agreeable charac-
teristics than the dusky daughters OF
our soil, for | will place the sulky,
contentious. sluggish freed lady OF
color" against the entire domestic
world for jisagreeableness. They
can try you to the utmost limits OF
your patience and exult in your dis
comfiture and annoyance aud main
tain their stolid Indifference to the
end.
II is not generally conceded that
the darkey is very apt or possessed oi
unusua. inventive genius, yet they
combine the two qualities in an un-
usually exalted degree, for who can
deny that where negro is caught in
a very tight place they are extreme
ly apt at inventing very plausible
excuse for being in that place. Ihave
known "band" to be caught in the
field with well stuffed sack OF corn
OH his shoulder to affirm that he "iis
dun tuck dat sack away from a
strange niger and lore de Lord he
wus jis date minite a-gwine to fotch
it TO de boss" He wouldn't .tin no
wise steal corn, kase he could get nuft
Jih luT ut dAink.
They cling as tenaciously to fab.
ricated statement Of their own fertile
imagination as ii it was gospel truth
and as unblushingly as if their char
acters Tor veracity were unimpeach-
able. Perhaps. jnst at present, am
not in very charitable frame OF mind
towards the darkey world, for | am
for the twentieth time undergoing tho
trying ordeal OF having my help "seek
religion"
This simple statement will call
forth the sympathy OF many a South.
crn housekeeper and palliate my Bit
terness, but for the benefit of the in
experienced will describe the svmp-
toms OF a sinner suffering under the
conviction Of unpardoned sins. A
very long face, with a more mournful
expression than the one which de.
notes "sulks," ushers in the proceed
ings. The listless air, preoccupied
manner. tightly closed mouth, tho
martyr-like bearing, constitute pic
ture so fresh and vivid that shudder
even as | write. To smile is indeed
a crime of serious magnitude, for
which double penance must be paid
in the shape OF still more lugubri-
Gus expression OF ccuntenance. Each
and every little reprimand is con-
strued into "censo," which must be
borne by the "seeker" with all meek
ness-the greater the trials, the more
complete the victory.
Your work is sadly neglected,
"kase" your help "ain't got no hart
to wurk while she is seeking de sal
baton oh her SOUL" and altogether
hardly can determine which is the
greater of the two evils. an acute at
tack OF chills or a prolonged spell OF
religion seeking"
But all these things must end and
early some morning you will be rude.
ly aroused from the blissfnl matutinal
dreams by the soul-freed shouts of
your "heart's trial" and be RECALLED
with the pleasing information that
"pse dun cum frew wild de blessed
religion OBJ our Sabiour; Use sarched
de Lord airly and late and, frank de
High King, l'se dun foun him; Fse
bine to de golden gate, Use knocked
and has entered into de kingdum !;
| is reserricted sinner and Is
washed as white as snow" Knowing
full well your "help" is far too happy
to descend to the snblunary realities
of cooking breakfast, you mechanic
ally don your clothes and proceed to
the kitchen, while the liberated sim
ner sallies forth to scatter aboad "de
blessed news"
II is Just scene like this, and the
enforced necessity for preparing such
a meal that suggested this exposure
of negro frailties and which prompts
the wish that all our work could be
done by machinery.
The mere thought is filed with
bliss and rest at the same time. l
must compromise with my better self
by extending to the descendants Of
our old .'uncles and aunties" my best
wishes for their future advancement
and prosperity, for the kindly remem-
brances OF our childhood "mammies"
prt mpt many kind thoughts for their
worthless lalter-day representatives.
An Artist.