The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01
BERMUDA BLACKS AHEAD OF
AMERICAN.
Form a Most COmmendnbIe Portion
of the Island Population.
From the New York Observer.

of the Island reputation.
From the New York Observer.
How people live so thriftily in Bermu-
da, and with so little exertion, is a stand
ing enigma. Nobody is in haste and few
have anything special to do. For a con-
siderable time after the dinner hour it
appears to be immaterial whether bust
ness houses are open or closed, Steamer
days" excepted, and there is plenty of
time for entertainments, regattas and mu
sic in the public square by the imperial
band. Common laborers get about 81 a day,
and the best mechanics, such as carpen-
tiers and maSOns, not over Shillings or
$50. Beef costs nearly as much as in
New York and, strange to say, vegetables
are but little cheaper, while buildings
used as tenements are divided into such
small apartments as to return large rents.
For all this, people of every class and
color dress we'll and seem to lack no sub
stantial comfort. The public schools are
wholly surrendered to the colored popu-
lation, whites preferrins to patronize pri-
waite institutions Therefore, while there is
no class antagonism, there is little direct
communication beyond the necessities of
business intercourse. Colored men as
rule drive the coaches, sail the boats,
and make the laboring force in all lines
of industry, whether in mechanics or ag-
riculture On the local steamboats, all
hands are colored-captain, crew and en-
gineers. Even the pilots to conduct the big
steamers into port are all colored and of
acknowledged competency. Colored people
have their own church edifice, but have a
regular place assigned them at other
houses of worship. Evidently, so far as
color is concerned, all controversy has
ceased in Bermuda, each race treating the
other with respectful consideration.
In no community are the ordinary courte-
sizes observed with more scrupulous re-
gard especially in the intercourse with
visitors from abroad. The almost total
disappearance of the strictly negro type
of physiognomy is at once noticeable. Al
ready all Of the colored population are Eu-
ropeanizlng to some extent, not only in
features but in complexion, language and
dress In fact, not a few of the best look
ing, most genteel and prosperous among
them are hardly distinguishable from the
Caucasian race. 1t is also to be set down
in their favor that they are uniformly po-
lite, always excepting the Barbados
niger" who is prone to be insufferably
| insolent.
There are few, If any. low-down and dis
reputable blacks. They are sometimes
called lazy but I think this is said by
people who contrast them with workers
in the northern states of America. which
real workmen do in the states or in Eu-
rope Compared with the negro of our
northern states, the black Bermudians. as
a whole, are at least two generations
ahead. They live in clean and nice houses
they dress neatly their churches and
schools are well attended and interesting,
they are not loungers and iders and
drunkards; and most of the hard work
of the islands in saving out blocks of
| lines tone, building houses, driving horses
and asses loading and unloading vessels,
plotting and sailing all sorts of craft
into and about the harbor cultivating the
onions, potatoes and lilies, boxing and
barreling and shipping the same and act
ing as servants on all occasions and ev-
| erywhere except at the tables of a few
| hotels is done by intelligent, handy re-
| spectful and competent blacks. Bermuda
is the whitest and cleanest place that 1
| have ever seen in any part of the world
| it's streets are better swept, Its houses are
better garnished, its every detail is white
and bright and pure as soap and lime
| and water and work can make It, and the
| credit of this Wilderness and light is due,
| in a largt degree, TO the industry and hon
est labor of the black population, whom
some writers call "improvident and lazy"
| 1t is a yankee libel upon a race that have
much TO be proud Of in the position which
| they have gained in the two generations
since they were emancipated from slav-
erV.