New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-04-28
Etiquette Among the Negroes.


possess any given name which is theirs
by right of birth and inheritance.
Since freedom, however, they have
adopted any last name which strikes
their fancy and evince the greatest de-
light when they are addressed as Mr..
Mrs. or Miss Wilson, Walker or Jones,
as the case may be.
For years after the new order of
things South, says a writer in the Phil
adelphia Times, the lady orgentleman
OF the house would show and express
considerable disgust and Indignation
If, when called out to see Mr. or Mrs.
Somebody, they should be confronted
by dusky son or daughter of our
land. But habit becomes second ma
ture and we are becoming quite accus-
toned to the Mr.. and Mrs. ofthefreed
denizens Of the south. This mode of
address, however, is. never employed
by our whites, we still cling to the
uncle and aunt of antebellum days,
where the age of the person addressed
Warrants the courtesy.
AS a general thing the negro puts on
his Sunday manners with his Sunday
clothes and the gri,ny working John
Of the week on Sundays develops him
self into the respectable, dashing Mr..
Thomas, aping to perfection the man
ners and style of the young boss of the
plantation, while the dusky bellies
borrow many little airs and graces
from ode white woman whom at
heart they utterly detest. This Sun
day civility rarely ever extends itself
to the whites, and they frequently pass
you with sullen, defiant looks or with
averted heads, this being more espe-
cially noticeable in the freed women,
nor are the men as polite to the whites
when they are in company with the
gentler sex as when they are alone.
Not long Since a gentleman and his
wife returning from church met quite
a dusky throng just from their meet
ing-house. Both the lady and gentle
man gave them a kindly bow and
smile, while the gentleman bent for
ward and pleasantly remarked: "You
have had a nice day for going to
church. ;" Not a smile, not word in
answer to this salutation, only a sea
OF dark browS and sullen faces. Sore
ly discounted the gentleman drew his
head in the buggy, while his wife quiet
ly chuckled in her corner and teasing
ly observed: "Your politeness was
lost on that crowd"
ooh, no." he replied, "not lost, but
| do feel sorter cheap
And now fora conversation between
Miss Wilson and Mr.. Hunter.
"Good evening, Miss Wilson. I is
more'n pleased to see you. How is
your hef."
"Jis middling, frank you, Mr.. Hun
ter. How is you STAINING the times
yusef?"
"Jis tolarable, frank you, Miss Will
son, was coming down to see you to-
mite"
"All right, Mr.. Hunter, do so; I'll be
more'n proud to 'ceibe you. l jis
canned up TO de quarter to see Mrs.
Walker 'cording to ointment l made
with her. / will be turning home in
less den no time"
''In dat case, miss. I'll glib myself de
pledger Of rescorting you back home;
dat is if you amt in no way posed to
habing my company"
"Jis lissen, Mr.. Hunter how YOU is
talking. In course I'll be moren
proud 'ceibe your retentions and l
amt gwine to keep your patience
waiting long nudder. I is lis gwine
to pass a few words wild Mrs. Walker
and den l will be at your serbice"
Off Miss Wilson trlpped, her mine
ing gait and croquettish twists and
turns playing havoc with the heart of
herrustic lover.
"Dat sure am fine young gall" he
muttered aloud, can dar ain t annud-
der young oman dis side oh the creek
what kin git aroun' so libely as Miss
Wilson, and, JENNY! she kin whirl
aroun' SO rapid when she is dancing
twill it farely makes my head swim.
[ sure is gwine to see her home dis
mite if npthing don't happen 'twixt
dis and dark
"Wallace,'' cried I, "have you fed
up the stock and locked the stables?"
Il is gwine rite now, Miss Amy, rite
dis mint. Dress you," he added in q
low tone, I cum mighty nigh forgetting
dem horses an mules"
"Miss Lucy asked young lad Of
l6 OF my housemaid, who is just in her
teens, raised and educated by our
selves, and is consequently devoid OF
a great many negro peculiarities, chow
is you joiced yuself at de party las
nite?"
ooh, had q right nice time. How
did you like it yourself?''
81 fought it was all jam up 'kase you
was dar, Miss Lucy is you TUX notic'
oh dat black gal wild de yellow froek
on?"
ono; what about her?'
"Wall, she aNed me twice to treat
her and ted her as I inginierally axes
the ladies what wants to treat, and
she had better wait till l axes her to
low me to treat her"
odd you ever ask herr" queried
young Lucy.
'sIn course not; ] ,aint think it is
coming i'll a 'oanan to ak a gemmen to
treat her. Miss Lucy he continued,