The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-09-26
couRTsHlP METHODS AMONG SLAVES
LudIcrous Results of an Effort to Initiate
tie Whites.

Among the slaves there were regular
forms of courtship. and almost every
large plantation had an experienced old
slave who instructed young gallants in
the way in which they should go in the
delicate matter of winning the girls OF
their choice. Uncle Gilbert" was the
shoemaker on plantation where there
were hundred slaves. He was very
learned in the art of courtship, and it
was to his shop the slave lads went for
instruction. / never had the honor of
being one of the old mans pupils. being
too young when knew him to make
inquiry on the courtship line, bUt
tracked many young men 10 Uncle Gil
bert's shop in the interest of general
gossip.
The American slaves courtship words
and forms are the result of his attempt
at initiating the gushingly elegant man
ners and speech of his master. Uncle
Gilbert's rule of courtship was that a
"young man mus tes' an prove a gal
befor' offerin' her his ham. Ef or gal
gives man as good anser as he giver
her question den she's all right in min.
Eff she can look him. squar IN de face
when she talks to him den she kin be
trusted; an eff her patches is on straight
and her close clean den she is gwine
ter keep de house straight an yer
britches mended. Sich er CONAN is
wuth havin'."
Here is a sample of courtship con-
versation:
He-My dear kim miss, has you any
objections to me drawing my cher to
yer side and revolvin' de wheel of my
conversation around de axle of your
understanding
She-I has no objection to gentle
man addressin' me in proper manner,
kim sir
He-My dear miss, the worl' is howl
in wilderness full of devouring animals,
and you has got to walk through hit.
Has you made up yer min to walk
through hit by yerself, or wild some bold
wahyer9
| She-Yer 'terrigation, kim sir, shall
be answered in a ladylike manner, ei
| you Will prove to me dat it is not for eI
form and er fashion dat you puts de
| question.
| He-Dear miss, / would not so impose
on lady like you as to as her ques-
| tion for form an a fashion. B'lieve
me, kim miss, dat has pertickler OBJ
| jick in ingagin' yer in conversation dis
afternoon.
She-Dear kim sir, has knowed many
a gentleman to talk wild wise words and
hatterin' looks, and at de same time he
may have a deceivin' heart. May as'
yer, kim gentleman, eff you has de full
right to address lady in a pertickler
mannerp
He-I has kim miss. I has seen
many sweet ladies, but has never uI
to dis day an time lef' de highway of q
single gentleman to foller desc beacon
in yer dark eyes, an sees yer homes
face, and hears yer kind voice, 1 mus
confess, dear lady, dat would be joyous
to come to yer beck and call in any
time of danger.
She-Den, kim sir, will reply ir
anser to your 'terrigation in de fus place
sence think you is a homes gentleman,
dat feels dat lady needs de pertec.
tion of bor wahyer in dis WORT, where
dere's many viii animals and plenty o
danger.
He-Den, kim honored miss, will you
condescen' to encourage me to hope dai
might some glorious day in the future
walk by yer side as perteckterP
She-Kin' sir, ef you thinks you is &
bor wahyer viii condescend to let yor
pass under my observation from dis day
on, an ef you proves wuthy of a con.
idin' lady's trus' some lady might bt
glad to axcept your pertection-and da
lady might be me.
This brings US to point where the
two agree to become lovers, and a.
loves language is not reducible to writ
ing and repetition we will leave them
Journal of american Fotk-L Lore.