Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-30
1T WAS A GREAT DAY.
low SUNDAY WAS REGARDED IN
SLAVERY DAYS BY NEGROES.

sue fiantdtion Folks Eagerly Looked For
ward to the Day of Rest-They All Wen.
to Meeting and Usually Spent the Rest
of the Time Quietly.
In the south before the war Sunday was
looked forward to with anticipations of
unaffected happiness by the negroes on the
plantations. With il came not alone the
rastful idleness of the day, but the addi-
tional pleasure afforded by opportunities
to attend divine worship, writes Edward
Oldham
The negro as a race, is a social being.
The absence of extraordinary brain power
denies him the privilege of thoughtful
meditation or the solace of reflection. His
intuitive impulse is to loosen the cords that
bind him to himself and to seek congenial
companionship.
This innate characteristic of sociability
was intensified in the plantation darky,
whose masters family was usually the
center around which a highly social mi
crocosm revolvsd. Sunday was the day
above all the rest when he could give full
play to this tendency, and he was never
happier than when in the midst of group
hearing himself and others talk "Gwine
ter chu'ch" therefore always meant for
gious enjoyment, though occasionally there
were venerable exceptions to this rule
The darkies from all the neighboring plan
tations were to he seen at ''meetin." and
all the grotesque happenings of the week
and bits Of highly colored gossip were to
be exchanged amid hearty outlaws, in
which the most innocent good nature
abounGed.
The ante-bellum negro was always pic.
turesque in his attitudes, adjuncts and
surroundings, and particularly so "ober
Sundays" The manner of his leeornotion
to and from the "meetin house, made
striking picture, with q touch OF irresist-
ible drollery about it. More than likely
he proceeds afoot, and If the day be
pleasant he carefully removes his Sunday
shoes" and the Shiek cotton socks, draws
of his coat, throws il over his left arm
and bangles the shoes frem his right hand.
With his impedimsnta thus adjusted he
advances upon his way with a quick sway
ing, shufiins gait, light heart, plan
tation hymn at the top Of his tongue, or a
CHEEKY, rollicking whistle upon his lips
If the roads he muddy, the distance IN
usually great or the darky himself the
object of the masters or overseer's especial
favor, he il INDUCED with the use of 4
horse, astride whose backbone he strings
himself, his wife and youngster or two.
They jog along slowly, putting up with
| the ludicrous discomfort of the arrange
ment with every evidence Of good humor.
| II the attendant upon divine worship be
far advanced in years, his master, with
| that respect for the aged so characteristic
| OF the southern gentlemen of the old
| school, places at his and de ole 'o.aan's''
disposal a humble vehicle which has out
I 1ns fAl h. ~
| To this he harnesses a plantation mule,
| whose solemn demeanor and highly delib.
crate movements are in keeping with the
| measured, easy going characteristic of the
! darky twain. They set cut the wabbline
| wheels describing an endless series OF
! curves, convex and concave. The veneer
able occupants are seated in split botton
| chairs and are attired IN their ''bes' bib
en- tucker" with their flaming apparel
"settin two ways fer Sunday''-te employ
| the vernacular-by which they mean to
suggest the all pervading presence Of
starch, which plantation darkies were sc
customed to use unstintedly. Thus, with
an entire absence of self consciousness, the
aged couple arrived at the church in due
| time.
If it be a shrine intended exclusively for
dusky worshipers, the building will be a
|
logs, the apertures between being chink ed
with mud and clay, and the roof consist
ing of rows Of rough oak clapboards. held
in place by long saplings lying lengthwise
| with the building, and these in turn being
secured by prongs of hickory. The most
| conspicuous adjunct of this humble house
of worship is the chimney, which lean,
away from the structure with a hurt, Of
| Tended air. 1t looks rs though it were
| about to topple down, and its heteroSene
Gus materials constitute All impenetrabls
mystery, held by a framework Of stick:
and clay.
In the milder seasons Of the year The
! negro worshipers assembled beneath 2
spacious arbor formed by framework Of
saplings resting in the forks of small
| growing trees, or Of others cut down anC
stuck into the ground. Upon this crud
scaffolding were deposited quantities G.
pine boughs, which protected the congre
cation from the sun and the showers, ant
dispersed an aromatic odor that was by NJ
means disagreeable.
An object of the most envious concern t
the other darkies on the plantation wa,
the family coachman or carriage driver
or that of their number who was singled
out to go with young mistis'' or any othe
member of the household to church Asid
from this being considered a recognition o
superior merit and mark of special con
fdence, it carried with it many privilege
which were greatly enjoyed. 1t mean
more comfortable transit to and from
church, more presentable apparel, and hes
| of all good eatin's-"
The sermon over, a general handshakin;
by the dispensing congregation was in or
der, and sometimes, when a sermon was t,
follow in the afternoon and the day was
pleasant one, the attendants divided them
selves into little group here and there
The baskets were opened, and the lunches
prepared by the old time southern cooks
were heartily enjoyed. A general int,
change of small talk and the news of tn
neighborhood made the time pass swiftly
then came the second sermon, after whic
young insists is escorted back to the ca,
riage by some gallant beau, who, seem
4 her and perhaps the "old folks comfort
. ably seated within, bows himself away i
Chesterfeldian manner. The sable aris
/ tocrat with the rigid demeanor slams tn