The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-25
IT WAS Their GALA DAY
How Sunday Mas Regarded ny Negroes
in the Slavery Days.
THEIR ONE NEEkLY HOLIDAY
fhe Plantation Folks Eagerly Looked For.
ward to the Day of Rest-They All
Went to Meeting and Spent
Rest of Time Quietly.

In the south before the war Sunday was
looked forward to with anticipations Of
unaffected happiness by the negroes OH the
plantations With it came not alone the
restful 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 4 social being.
The absence Of extraordinary brain power
denies him the privilege of thoughtful
meditation or the solace of reflection. His
intuitive impulse is TO loosen the cords that
bind him to himself and TO seek congenial
companiunship.
This innate characteristic of sociability
was intensified in the plantation darky,
whose masters family was usually the
center around which hiShly social mi
crocosm revolved. Sunday was the day
above all the rest when he could give fall
play TO this tendency, and he was never
happier than when in the midst of 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 Mt ''meetin," and
all the grotesque happenings of the week
and bits OF highly colored gossip were TO
br exchanged amid hearty outlaws, in
which the most innocent good nature
abounded.
The anre-bellum negro was always pic
turesque in his attitudes, adjuncts and
Surroundings, and particularly 80 sober
Sundays The manner of his locomotion
TO and from the ''meetin house" made
striking picture, with 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 quick sway
ing, shuiling gait, a light heart, plan
tation hymn at the top of his tongue, or u
rheery, rollicking whistle upon his lips.
il the roads be muddy, the distance un-
usually great, or the darRy himself the
sbject of the masters on overSeer's especial
favor, he is INDUCED with the use Of
horse, astride whose backbone he strings
himself, his wife and Il 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 i'll 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 humble vehicle which has out
lasted the greater part Of its usefulness.
To this he harnesses a 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 vener-
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 Sunday"-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
All entire absence of self consciousness, the
aged couple arrived at the church in due
time.
If it be shrine intended exclusively for
dusky worshipers, the building will be
large rectangular structure composed Of
logs, the spertures 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. 1t looks as though it were
about to topple down, and its heterogene-
Gus materials constitute an impenetrable
mystery, held by framework of sticks
and clay.
In the milder seasons of the year the
negro worshipers assembled beneath
spacious arbor formed by framework of
saplings resting in the forks of small
growing trees, or OF others cut down and
stuck into the ground Upon this crude
scafolding were deposited quantities of
pine boughs which protected the congre-
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 thai Of their number who was singled
out to go with young mistis" or any other
member of the household to church. Aside
from this being considered Il recognition of
superior merit and a mark of special CON
1idence, il carried with it many privileges
which were greatly enjoyed. 1t meant
more comfortable transit to and from
church. more presentable apparel, and best
OF all good eatin's."
The sermon over, a general handshaking
by the dispensing congregation was in or
der, and sometimes, when 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 were 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
peighborhoOd 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 and perhaps the ''old folks" comfort
ably seated within, bows himself away in
h Chesterfieldian manner. The sable aris-
tocrat with the rigid demeanor slams the
door to with bang, and with becoming
dignity ascends to his perch. Then with
ran deliberation he draws up the lap robe
and carefully tucks it around him. A mo-
ment later the reins are in his hands, and
then with crack of the whip the coach
rolls away and is soon lost to sight in q
cloud Of dust
When Reptiles Ruled World.
There was a time 'in the wide reyolv.