Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-03-16
IT WAS A GREAT DAY.
HON SUNDAY WAS REGARDED IN
SLAVERY DAYS BY NEGROES.

ward to the Day Of Rest-They All Went |
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
testful 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 II 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 highly social mi
crocosm revolved. 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 a group
hearing himself and others talk. "Gwine
ter chu'ch" therefore always meant for
him more of a season of social than reli-
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
| abounded.
The ante-bellum negro was always pic
turesque in his attitudes, adjuncts and
surroundings, and particularly so "ober
| Sundays" The manner of his lOcOmotion
| to and from the 'meetin house" made
| striking picture, with a 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 thick cotton socks, draws
| off his coat, throws it over his left arm
and bangles the shoes from his right hand.
| With his impedimenta thus adjusted he
| advances upon his way with a quick sway
| ing, shufiling gait, light heart, plan
tation hymn at the top of his tongue, or a
| CHEEKY, rolicking whistle upon his lips.
| If the roads be muddy, the distance un-
usually great, or the darky himself the
| object Of the masters or overseer's especial
| favor he is indulpad with the use of a
| horse, astride whose back bone he strings
himself, his wife and a youngster or two.
They jog along slowly, putting up with
| the ludicrous discomfort of the arrange
ment with every evidence of good humor.
If 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 'oman's"
disposal a humble vehicle which has out
lasted the greater part of its usefulness
| To this he harnesses 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 out, the wabbling
wheels describing an endless series of
curves, convex and concave. The yener-
able occupants are seated in split bottom
chairs and are attired in their "bes' bib
EN- tucker" with their flaming apparel
"settin two ways fer Sundayn-to employ
the vernaCular-by which they mean to
suggest the all pervading presence Of
starch, which plantation darkies were ac-
customed to use unstintedly. Thus, with
an entire absence of self consciousness, the
aged couple arrived at the church in due
time.
II it be n shrine intended exclusively for
dusky worshipers, the building will be a
large rectangular structure composed of
logs, the apertures between being chinked
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 leans
| away from the structure with hurt of
Tended air. IL looks us though it were
about to topple down, and its heterogene-
GUS materials constitute an impenetrable
mystery, held by a framework of sticks
and clay.
In the milder seasons of the year the
negro worshipers assembled beneath a
spacious arbor formed 10y framework of
saplings resting in the forks of small
growing trees, or OF others cut down and
stuck into the ground Upon this crud'
scatGolding We're deposited quantities of
pine boughs, which protected the congre-
cation from the sun and the showers, and
dispersed an aromatic odor that was by no
means disagreeable.
An object of the most envious concern to
the other darkies ON the plantation was
the family coachman, or carriage driver,
or that OF their number who was singled
out to 20 with young mistis" or any other
member of the household to church. Aside
from this being considered recognition OF
superior merit and mark OF special CON
idence, It carried with it many privileges
which We're greatly enjoyed. 1t meant
more comfortable transit to and from
church, more presentable apparel, and best
Of all good eatins,"
The sermon over, a general handshaking
by the dispensing congregation was in or
der, and sometimes, when a sermon was to
follow in the afternoon and the day was a
pleasant one, the attendants divided them
selves into little group here and there.
The baskets We're opened, and the lunches,
prepared by the old time southern cooks,
were heartily enjoyed A general inter
change OF small talk and the news OF the
neighborhoOd made the time pass swiftly;
then came the second sermon, after which
"young miStiS" is escorted back to the car
riage by some gallant beau, who, seeing
her aud perhaps the "old folks comfort.
ably seated within, bows himself away in
n Chesterteldian manner The sable aris-
tocrat with the rigid demeanor slams the
door To with n bang, and with becoming
dignity aScends to his perch. Then with
calm delibcration he draws up the lap robe
and carefully tucks Ii around him. A mo-
ment later the reius are In his hands, and
then with crack of the whip the coach
rolls away and Is soon lost 10 sight In a