Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26

junction was treated II was not common
then. as now, for women OF any and every
color to earn their bread by labor out
side OF the home. Fo-day.s mighty army
Of female toilers in factories shops ana
offices did not exist, and the TACT tnat
negro wives and mothers worked beside
the men in the fields excited much indig-
nant sympathy.
Modern social evolution has put quite
another race on the matter. but even then
the abuse was purely imaginary. Imma-
ture girls as well as sichly and elderly
women were always excused from work
outside their own cabins, unless ii was
during the pressure Of harvesting tins.
And if the mothers of young families
were drafted in the hoe gangs. the laws
governing their labor were most conside-
rate and humane.
The low two-roomed houses in which
slaves lived were usually clustered about
the overseers dwelling: quarters they were
termed. ard situated at respectful dis
lance from the Dig house" or masters
residence. Frequent coatings Of white
wash and an abundance Of shade-trees
gave rather an attractive appearance 10
the humble settlement, and In some cases
these negro hamlots were both pretty and
picturesque. Here at sunrise six days in
the week the shrill tones Of great bell
i'm the overseer's yard called every able
bodied hand" to assemble. Plans for the
days work having been perfected the
nisht before, they were quickly separated
into squads, each division under the COM
rnand of its own driver" as the negro
was called who by superior skill had
risen to "A position Of dignity and trust.
Then II was one could zee all the buxom
young women pass down the quarter
street carrying and leading brood of
sleepy little darkies. Before shouidering
her hoe for the day Venus "toted' and
dragged sometimes as many as SIX young
sters TO the nursery. and when she started
for the field, carried a light heart, salts
fed that her babies were in safekeeping.
Having been reared herself under the
Jingle of Aunt Ginny's peach switch.
Venus was well aware what Il wholesome
mlngling of indulgence and discipline
would be meted out to her own lively Off
spring.
THE CRECHE.
OF course. the word "creche" was I'M
known In those days. and it would have
astonished the inhabitants to hear so
fine a French name applied TO the low
eaved cabin set a trihe apart from the
other houses. Everybody called il the
"nus'ry." where Aunt Gnny reigned SUI
preme, yielding precedence only to "Ole
Miss and the doctor.
The two broad. deep rooms, with wide
gallery in front, were ideals OF African
luxury. In the huge fireplace hickory logs
glowed and smoldered the whole year
round, furnishing. mean tine, enough
clean hot ashes 10 roast entire fields OF
corn and sweet potatoes. Nor. strange as
It may seem. was this understanding heat
either unwholesome or oppressive, even
IL tl4rg.u tod
chimney carried off every bit Of impurity
in the air. and. with open doors and win
dows. a brisk circulation was kept up.
With primitive simplicity. all the cook
ing was done by means OF pothooks and
hangers. and never, day or night, was
there a lack Of hot water or warm gruei
for sick or hungry infant.
Cupboards built into the wall held the
extra clothing. the crockery food. and
medicines that might be needed, and If
the truth were told, Aunt Glnny certainly
dealt ont physic with a lavish hand. II
a pickaninny proved fractions and the
switch seemed amiss, she fell back
straightway upon castOr-Oil. Their little,
fat black stoma chs were not supposed TO
be very complicated organisms, and, In
fact they seldom failed TO respond TO
..varbs" in the form of catnip or sassa-
frass-tea. IL was her luck with children
that secured the old nanny her place
as head "nuss" and nothing gave her
such keen satisfaction as 10 number the
scores of young negroes she had raised
without losing AIRY one"
NURSERY DISCIPLINE.
Although there were no written rules
governing Aunt Ginnys domains. she went
further than the Modes or Persians in en-
forcing those few she regarded as really
important Woe betide the mother VINO
brought an unwashed baby 10 be cared
for. The abuse that greeted her return
from the fed and the scandal that Aunt
Ginny raised at the big house were eau
ton A dirty Niger in drasgle-taiied
shirt was her abomination. and at the
very least she required that her charges
start the day clean.
Nor would she accept youngster whose
narents beat II In the unmerciful manner
20 pitifully common among the race 10
this day. The SCARED. striped, half-idfotic