The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-18
Plantation courtship.

Among the slaves there were regular forms
Of courtship. and almost every large planta-
tiOn had an experienced old slave who in
structed young gallants IN the way In which
they should 90 in the delicate matter OF win
ming the girls Of their choice. says writer IN
the Journal OF American FOLKLORE. Uncle
Gilbert was the shoemaker on a plantation
where there were hundred slaves. he was
very learned in the a RI Of courtship, and II
was to his shop the slave lads went for in
StTuctiOn. l never had the honor OF being one
OF the old man pupils, being too young when
knew him to make inquiry on the oourtsnlp
line, but 1 tracked many young men to Uncle
G1lberts shop in the interest Of general Cos
sip.
forms are the result OF has attempt at initial
ing the gusningly elegant manners and
speech OF his master. Uncle Gllt ert S rule OF
courtship was that a young man mus ties
an prove a gal tefo' oferin' her his han. Ell
er gal gives man as good anser as he glvcr
her question, den she's all right in min. HI
she can look him sq' ar IN de face when she
talks 10 him. den she kin re trusted: an ef
her patches is on straight and her close
clean, den she is gwine ter keep de house
straight an yer hritches mended. SIGH er
CONAN is wuth havin'."
here is a sample of courtship converse
ton;
He-My dear kin miss. has you any obiec-
lions TO me drawing my cher to yer side, and
revOlvin de wheel Of my conversation around
de axle OF your understaudin2
Shell has no objection TO gentleman ad
dressin' me in proper manner, KIN sir.
He-My dear miss, de worl is howl1n viii
derness full OF deVourin' animals, and you
has got TO walk through hit h as you made
up yer min 10 walk through hit by yerseH, or
wild some bold wahyer?
She-Yer 'terrigation, kin sir, shall be an
swered in a ladyltke manner. eff you will
prove to me dat il is not for er form and err
fashion dat YOU puts de question
He-Dear miss, would not so impose on'a
lady like you as TO as her a question for a
form an fashion Blieve me, kin miss, dat
l has psrtickler obilck in ingagin' yer in
conversation dis afternoon.
She--Dear kin sir, I has knowed many a
gentleman to talk wild wise words and f1atter-
in looks, and at de same time he may have a
deceivin heart. May as yer, kim gentle
man, ef YOU has de full right to address a lady
in a pertickler manner:
he-l has, kin miss. / has seen many
sweet ladies', but has never up to dis day an
time lef de highway Of q single gentleman to
foller desc beacon lights. But now, kin miss,
as | looks in yer dark eyes. an sees yer
homes face, and hears yer kind voice l mus
confess, dear lady, dat l would be joyous to
come TO yer beck and call in any time of dau-
ger.
She-Den kin sir. will reply in anser to
your 'terrlgation in de fus place, sence think
you is homes gentleman, dat l feels dat a
lady needs de perfection of a boil wahyer III
dis worl where dere many viii animals and
plenty o danger.
He-Den. kin honored miss willyou conde-
seen to encourage me to hope dat might,
some glorious day in de future, walk by yer
side as perteckter?
She-Kin' sir eff you thinks you is a boil
waahyer l will condescend to let you pass
| under my OF sarvatlon from dis day on, an EFF
you proves wuthy Of contidin' ladys trus',
some lady might be glad TO aXcept yer per
tectlon-and dat lady might he me,
This brings us to the point where the two
agree to become lovers, and as loves Ian
guage is not reducible to writing and repeti-
tlon we will leave them,