The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-01-04
LINOOLNvuLE IN GLORY,
Or, New Years Eve on Maria Sanchez
CYraak


innumerable attractions, all Of equal
novelty and interest, which it constantly
presents. Its many-sided aspect il
illustrated as wildly by q careful ex-
ploration Of its myriad hooks and cor
ners, as ever have been the varied
4 phases of life in New York, Paris, Lon
don, or any other Of the worlds great
capitols.
One of The DAILY NEWS staff ''took
in the ceremonies of New Years Eve,
among the colorsd denizens and
churches Of ''Lincolnville," a. the set
Element along the western shore Of Ma
ria Sanchez Greek. below Bridge street,
is popularity known
This typical African village 10 situated
in the southwestern portion Of the city,
and borders on swamp-land. Its in
habitants are all Of the Ethiopian race,
in its several degrees of purity, except
five or six families who transact the
bulk Of the general business CT the settle
ment. The population numbers about
five hundred.
| New Years Eve in the Airico- Ameri-
can Cyclopedia means much more than
to the neighboring whites. 1t means the
| annual recurrence Of ceremonies which
are sort Of a cross between the Satur-
| MALTA of the Ancients and the Voodoism of
! the native Africans, but which, toned
into American simplicity, amounts to
what the masses Of this population could
call "a general good time"
These people, having so many Of the
peculiar characteristics Of their sa wage
| ancestry, are yet of a most social, kindly
good-natured and hopeful disposition,
and, under all ordinary circumstances,
harmless and obedient to authority.
They form an important element in our
industrial, commercial and political au-
| tonomy, and they are solving for tn en-
selves, and without sxtrinsic aid, save in
the matter Of public education, that so
cial problem which has perplexed 50
many finer minds than theirs-"what
shall be done with the negroy'
/ "Watch-night ssrv ices" at the diff
feren. churches are a prominent feature
of the New Years festivities in Lincoln
ville." Towards IL o'clock in the night
Of the 3lst, crowds in the several
churches began to increase visibly, the
accessions being divided between
genuine late corners, whe could not
come earlier, roysterers, who having
made the grand rounds" are intent on
winding up the night where the biggest
crowd is to be found, and a small con-
tingent of curious whites, Of both sexes,
some of them ''of high. degree" to judge
from manners and apparel, and all bent
on experiencing q novel sensation.
The ceremonies up to this hour have
been of slightly varied character, deeply
devotional, but not particularly exciting.
As 12 O'Clock draws nearer the leading
singers raise tine fermentation song
and the whole congregation JOIN in its
wierd, fantastic. and at times, thrilling
measures. The varied changes of the
air, together with the previous exercises,
have, by this time aroused the Intensely
emotional nature Of the brethren and
sisters into something like q frenzy of
religious feeling, and involuntary indi-
vidual cries and mufiied pleadings break
Il
single complete hearing Of which, many
of the spectators declared. was enough to
last them for a life time. Its blood
curdling expression. its terrific pauses,
its wild flights of sound, its horrible sug-
gestiveness Of cannibal war-dance,
chanting sweetness and marvelously
soothing effect, make the hearing of it
an event which is almost indelibly inn
pressed upon the mind.
| The song ceases five minutes before
the midnight hour strikes, and during
that period the entire congregation-and
visitors and spectators follow, perforce,
the example-settle into a death-like
trance of perfect silence; the first two or
three minutes seem long, but as the
fourth minute drops its slow length along
the ungodly become fidgety, but the
least shuffiinS of feet or other noise 10
promptly suppressed by watchful neigh
bors, and the horror Of the utter silence
of the last minute Of the five is simply
dreadful, depressing the senses like a
nightmare, checking the circulation of
the blood, chilling and benumbing the
senses and reducing even persons OF
average intelligence to n condition of
blank and wondering amazement.
During the entire time, which seems
an age, the Preacher, acting as Watch
man." calls of the minutes, one by one,
in q sepulchral tone-ths only break in
the dread silence.
As the clock begins striking the mid
night hour cries Of joy arise from all
portions of the vast throng, and, by thu
time the last stroke is made and the new
day and new year are born, the entire
congregation has become one seethina
mass Of shouting, dancing. shining, per
spring humanity. The reaction makes
them for the moment like crazy crea
lures, and while the shouting, singing
! and general hand-shaking and hugginl
10 taking place, the spectators begin Il
withdraw, and in an hour the pIact
10 deserted and dark, and peace reign
! once more in Lincolnvtlle.
The colored churches in the city a.
q follows: Primitive Baptist, 1ev
O'Neal st. Mays Bnptigt, Rev: Poll
man NsthodiDt Episcopal, Rev. HIo6en
waters; MissiooaTy BaPkiss, Rev. Seoss