The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-09-05
. Plantation C0urtship.

Among the slaves there were regular
forms of courtship, and almost any
large plantation had an experienced
old slave who instructed young gal
lants in the way in which they should
90 in the delicate manner of winning
the girls of their choice. "Uncle Gil
bert" was the shoemaker on planta-
tion 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 man s pupils, being too young
when I knew him TO make inquiry
along the courtship line, but [ tracked
many young men to Gilbert'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 ell
egant manners and speech Of his mas
ter. Uncle Gilbert's S rule Of courtship
was that 'young man mus tes an
prove a gal befo offering her his han.
Eff er gal gives man as good anser as Is
he gives her question, den she is all
right in min. Eff she can look him
souar' in de face when she talks to
him, den she kin be trusted, an ef her
patches is on straight an her close
clean, den she is gwine ter keeprde
house straight an yer britches mend
ed. Sich er 'ooman is wuth havin !"
Here is a sample Of courtship con-
versation:
He-My dear kin miss, has you any
objections to my drawing my cher to
yer side, and revoltin' de wheel of my
conservation around de axle of your
understandin'?
She-I has no objection to agentle-
man addressin' me in a proper man
ner, kin sir? -.
He-My dear miss, &, world is a
howlin' wilderness, full Of devourin'
animals, an you has got to walk
through hit. Has yo' made up your l
min to walk through hit by yerself,
or wild some bold wahyer? :,
She-Yer tcrrigation, kin sir, shall
be answered in lady like manner ct
you will prove to me dat it is not Ter
er form and er fashion dat you puts de
question.
HeADeer miss, / would not so i'm
.pose on lady like 70 as to ask her a
question for form and fashion.
B'lieve me, kin miss, dat I has per-
tickeler objick in ingagin' yer in con-
versation dis afternoon.
She-Kin' sir, I has knowed many
a. gentleman to talk wild wise words
an Aatterin' looks, and at the same
time he may have dcceivin' heart:
| May I as yer, kind gentleman, ct
you has de full right to address lady
| in pertickler manner?
He-I has, kin miss. has seen
many sweet ladies, but I has never up
to dis day an time lief de highway OF
a. single gentleman to foller desc bea-
con lights. But now, kin miss, as l
looks in yer honest face, and hears
yer kind voice, I must confess, dear
| lazy, uiG WOulu Ue' ivy Jouo w W. w
yer back and call in any time OF dan
ger.
She--Den, kin sir, I will reply in
anser to your 'terrigation in de fus
place, sence I think you is a homes
gentleman, dat feels dat a lady needs
dc protection of a boil wahyer in dis
world, where dcre's many vii animals
and plenty Of danger. -,
He-Den, kin honorcd miss, will
you encourage me to hope dat !
might, some glorious day in de comm
future, walk by your side as perteck-
ter?
Shc-Kin' sir, cf you think you is a
Dol warrior, I will condcsccnd to let
! you pass under my observation from
! dis day on, an eff you proves wuthy OF
confdin' lady's trus some lady
might be glad to aceeptyer perfection,
and dat lady might be me. - -
This brings us to the point where
the two agree to become lovers, and,
as loves language is not reducible to
writing and repetition, we will leave
them.-Journal Of american Folk