The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-30
OLE MASSA'.
STILL REVERED BY BLACKS IN THE
SOUTH.


ing Between the Races Anything
but Hate-scenes That Remind one
of the Days Before the War.
Mrs. F. G. DeFontaine in the Louisville
Courier-Journal
1t has become a habit with those who
write about the two races south Of Ma
son and Dixon's line to picture the white
man and the Afro-American in a con-
slant state Of antagonism, an antagonism
similar to that which the Almighty de-
clared should ever continue between "the
seed of the woman and the seed of the
serpnt."
These assertions are false, as those who
live among the colored people can prove.
There are friendships between the races
as tender, true and loyal as any that
the Caucasian race can boast. The heart
of many an Afro American octogenarian
beats as true to-day to the owner in
whose service he was born and bred as
it did when, as a picaninny, ne ran at his
young masters heels. and later, when he
became his valet.
This feeling is reciprocated by the
whites, whose "reminiscences of their for
mer slaves are frequently punctuated
with a pathos that is not begOtten of
either hatred or antagonism. 1t is not an
uncommon sight to see the beautiful sis
ter Of Gov John Gary Evans Ohe young
governor of South Carolina) drive from
her home. Oakley Park" in Edgeheld,
four miles out to the plantation. take up
a negress 50 years of age, and give her a
drive OF four or five miles In the same
town, Edgeield, there resides a little wo-
man, claiming for an ancestor Gouverneur
Morris, who has built little addition to
her house. in order that her mothers old
nurse, now nearly 100 years of age, shall
have a home with her. Every pleasant
afternoon "Old Nanny" in immaculate
white apron and headgear may be seen
on the front porch in a rocking chair
summing herself and watching Miss Sal
ly's chillun."
During a recent visit south, my old
nurse Travelled 100 miles to see me. and
her demonstrative joy on the occasion of
our meeting was no doubt a revelation to
all not to the manor born, who witnessed
the scene on the railway platform where
il took place. A party of young men from
New York went on yachting cruise down
to Florida last winter. When they reached
young southerner, said: well, fellows,
I'm going ashore for a day
Whats up; going 70 give us the shake,
! old fellow?" came from more than one Of
No said the manly fellow, but I'm
going ashore to see my old colored nurse,
whom l haven't seen siHcS ! was child ~
He went, and the joy OF that meeting
cannot well be described. The old woman,
now nearing eighty, Rugged and kissed the
society man." called him her blessed
| chile" "ole massa," and other endeartng
names and fairly danced with joy. When
| he returned to the yacht the boys began
| to guy him for going; Well ne SAID,
| IT wouldn't have missed that pleasure and
ff,xr hVpupht n that old gpnI for the
| entire cruise"
Col Alexander Robert Chisolm, of
| South Carolina, now residing IN New
York, has a regular annual visit from
his old colored batter of Charleston. lie
| comes on in summer and visits the ram
| lily at their summer home in Morristown.
During his sojourn he takes great pleas
! ure in giving the other servants IN the
/ culinary department. gentle hints
as to how "Marse Alecl used to like
/ things cooked" The cook when good
natured, turns that special department
over to him, and thus gladdens the old
mans heart. as well as that OF his for
mer master.
Aunt Mary Jane" the ruling spirit
! in The Wiscasset,' at Mt. Pocono, Pa.
| is a buXom old cOlored woman who has
| been the housekeeper for thirteen years
! She calls all the lady guests my chill.
dren," and there is not a person in the
| hotel more respected and oftener con
| suited. Aunt Mary Jane boasts OF hei
"aristocratic' associates among the
white people, and is looked upon by the
under servants as an autocrat.
| Too much can not be said about the
negroes during the war. 1t is wonderful
/ when we consider that our men were al
| in the army and only women, children
/ and old men were at home. In many IN
/ stances whole households were left IL
! the care of the family servants, and yet
| through the length and breadth OF the
! land, one heard OF nothing but kindness
! and protection from these people. Doors
were never locked. Free access might be
/ had to the house any hour of the day OF
| night. In many instances women Were
! left alone on plantations where there
were hundreds of slaves, but no thought
of danger from that source was evel
entertained, nor did any occasion fol
fear ever arise.
| told that their servants. were holding
nightly meetings in their kitchen, and il
was thought that they were making prep
arations to desert and go to the federals
| One night a low, earnest sound was heard
| from the kitchen. Two of the young WO
men crept softly down to hear what the
conspiracy might be. Judge their feelings
| as they saw the entire group kneeling In
| prayer, while one of their number was
Offering up an earnest petition to his
"fader in heben to bless missis an do
| childen, partickler de young marsters In
| de Wah" The tears of the young mis-
tresses mingled with the prayers Of the
petitioners, and no fears of conspiracy
were ever afterward felt on that plan
''TH eat dit an sleep in de leaves for,
| L
said old black Tom to the federals wher
! they offered him his freedom.
Dear faithful old Tom! How he would
come under the window every hour wher
we were expecting an attack, and tap
| ping gently, say: Don't be sKeer
| Missy; dere's noting serious gwinter TAX
place. Be easy, an go ter sleep eff you
| kin; I'm a keepin' watch"
One Of old Toms daughters accepted
her freedom and followed the army
/ He pursued her to the next town, found
/ her, gave her a good thrashing anC
brought her back home. AS he led hel
/ into the house he said Oar she is, Mis-
tbs. Use tried mighty hard ter max gem.
men an ladies outer my chillun, but il
| pears dis one won't do right, no how
| To their eternal honor, be it said that
many of these negroes aided and sus-
| tanned their former masters in those try.
| ing times, with a devotion as SURPRISING
as it was noble. "Massa, ii nearly break
my heart to see you an ole Mistis in dis
ole shanty, but it would break 'tirely eff
knowed you was hongry an couldn't git
~