Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-07

ANAOhNt AutIe was suCu tuihS az 81
ting rid OF them except by death. There
has been so much talk of the abuses OF the
slave system from the standpoint OF the
prosecuted negro that few have had any
sympathy to spare Tor the trials or the
owners. The Peculiar Institution Is I'M
doubtedly we'll rid of, not less for the
masters than for the servants. 1t had lis
dark side, but likewise its bright. The
latter is illustrated by the touching deVo-
tlon OF old servants to the families IN
which they were horn and reared. There
were many masters who would neither
sell nor whip their slaves, aud with such
the institution was mild and patriarchal.
Inc servants hardly knew any difference
between their interests and those OF their
employers. Still, in cases of rooted lazl-
ness or INSTRUMENTATION, the masters were
almost helpless, although those who knew
how to govern their children usually had
good servants"
Win the rising of new and free gen.
Grafton of which the members have not
mad the opportunity for careful domestic
training bestowed upon their fathers and
mothers, much of the excellence Of col
ored "help" has become matter OF fonC
tradition. The dusky-skinned descend
ants of "Aaumer' and "Uucle," hold po-
sltions akin TO those graced by the depart
ed functionaries, but seldom as credita-
bly,. Taken as class, they have some eX-
cellent points. AS walters they have
style OF their own which a French garcon
can not excel. Their imltatlveness enables
them to copy the language and manners
of their superiOrs with fidelity that, while
sometimes ludlcrous, vet adds a polish
and ease OF bearing never acquired by
white butler, if we except the thorough
bred English major dOmO. The Hiber-
man cannot enter into competition with
"a trst-class colored gentleman" in this
line.
The majority Of negroes work less rap
Idly than the same quality OF lfish, nor
can they endure an equal amount OF sus-
tanned labor. Of tropical growth at the
start, nurtured like house plants for CEN
turtles, sure OF food. home and clothing,
whether they tOied or not, it IS hard to
Undue them with the energy which nerves
those who have had to struggle for them
selves or starVe. Their genteness and
! aHectionate dispositions and inclination
! to identify themselves with the families in
which they live compensate measuraOly
+ for their ack of push.
| In sharp contrast to tie colored 'ser
| wants" as the elders among them are
not ashamed to style themselves }, stands
| out the Irish "gurrel" Her failings are
! the exact OppOsites of those peculiar to
| the sable race, accounted by her as her
| natural enemies. She is Moderately tidy.
| fairly good-natured-iu the absence of
! proVOcation-quick Of temper and active
IN work and motion. She Is not lazy, and
when she has learned to interpret to her.
self the nomenclature of her adopted
| country, tOlerably quick of apprehension.
! Much of the apparent stupidity of the
"greenbOrn'' arises from simple ina
| bIlity to comprehend the orders addressed
! 70 her.
"Please throw away this dirty water.
| Bridget" said a hOusekeeper, indicating
a pan OF dish water 10 her cook, a recent
Importation from the Emerald Isle.
! The girl, seeming at a loss what 10 do,
/ the mistress repeated the order. and
! even this falling, herself took the pan and
! emptied it into the sink. The MAIDS face
cleared.
och, Is it to waste it you name,
ma'am? Shure an | didn't understand
what it was you were afther biddin' me to
| do"
These and other trials require a huge
| stock of patience, but, now and then, the
result jUstties the outlay. A months
test is none too long to determine whether
or not a raw specimen is worth the trouble
of cultivation.
Notwithstanding the claims of so many
of them to high social eminence in their
! own ldlUs butl COLC diluubJ lufaIldDlI
from class who know nothing of any
mode of living except the lowest and
! poorest. Silver, e ass, china and care
| fully appointed homes are entire novel;
| ties to them, az are most American arti-
ces of food. When in addition to these
| Disadvantages we take into consideration
the fact 0ftbeiru utter lack ofearIy training
| in the ordinary duties Of cookery and
! homework, il is small cause for won
der that the record of their first weeks
in our homes should be chronicle OF
| blunders.
One long-sufering mistress puts on file
the iaint-hearted.
| Her husband was an enthusiastic hor-
ticulturist, and after intnite pains sue
ceeded in bringing to perfection under ad-
! verse circumstances small but choice
| crop of melons. He one day brought the
! first fruits of the endeaVOr to his wife in
triumph, and she went 10 person to the
| kitchen to give Instructions as to the
serving of the dessert. At dinner time
thelnewly engaged waitress brought Ia on
| a tray the nutmeg melons unopened.
The lady waved her back.
mo. No. Maggie, they must be
opened and the seeds taken out, as told
YOU"
The girl hesitated, colored and retired,
| reapDearinV an i0stant later with melon
! halVed and eyiscerated. In each holl ow
was lump Of ice. The luscious heart,
ruddy, crisp and cool, had gone with the
seeds into the swill pail. The nutmeg
melons were lett intact.
The mistress adds:
own it be believed that even afUe this
! tremendous piece Of stupidity Maggie
| became an admirable waitress and
| lived with me in that capacity for six
years."
Control of the House.