The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-02-05
From the Pen Of a Former Well
Known Resident of L'Anse
Township.
WAYS OF COLORED PEOPLE
They Are Very Polite, Wear
Flashy Clothing and Take
Life Decidedly Easy.
LoNGvIEw, Tex. Jan. 81, 1893.

LoNGvIEw, Tex, Jan. 81, 1893.
To the Editor ofTnE SENTINEL:
1t is a beautiful bright morning.
Birds are twittering, trees are bud
Dug, flowers are blooming The
oeatity of the morning so impresscs
TIE that | am tempted to describe a
few of the things which so amuse
me here.
First thing that impresses one
| here is the number of darkies. From
my window see them passing con
tinually-black mamrnies with a
large bundle on the head; little
pickaninnies on their way to school,
(the free term is in session now part
of the term the schools are not free);
old unclcs 90 lounging by, and young
boys SO many that one is forced TO
believe that there are far more
blacks than whites, | had supposed
that the usual makeup of the darkey,
as seen in our northern shows and
entertainments, was highly carica-
tured, but after spending three
weeks here l can truthfully say, for
comical effects ! never saw on tbe
stage anything to equal the darky
on the street-such colors, such
combinations, and such swagger-
the last on the part of some dusky
belle, who evidently appears to be
perfectly satisfied with the world,
herself and costume. Those from
the country around come in on
he. setback, in couples, trios and
quartettes. The sunbonnets that
are worn here are enormous, and of
all the bright colors, white seems to
be the favorite. One of these gay
bellies was attired in black skirt,
pink waist, red sunbonnct and u
pair Of bright Bismarck brown
stocking legs, wrinkled gracefully
over her arm "a la mousquetaire,
but she sat on her horse with an
easy grace that a princess might
envy.
Saturday afternoon the town was
full OF them, the day was warm and
all sorts of stunning costumes were
to be seen. They are very polite,
always giving you the right-oi-way,
but it is rather embarrassing when
crossing street to have u horse
man rein up his steed just on the
edge of the crossing, the horse
curvetting, prancing, with his feet
high in the air waiting for you to
pass under his paving hoofs. Not
only horsemen do this, but horses
are drawn up suddenly at crossings
for pedestrians to pass, even when
they are drawing loads.
The southern people are charm
ing, so hospitable, SO easy in their
manners. Their voices are so soft
and pleasant. But the health of
most of the ladies is not nearly as
good as their manners; If it were
they would enjoy perfect health. |
am surprised that people here have
as good health even as they do, for
the food is not that which tends to
feed the body and keep it in good
physical condition. Coffee, hot
bread and very rich foods are always
on the table, tho the use of grits,
rice and fruits tend in a measure TO
counteract the i'll effects of the first.
To give dinner for friend is
considered the highest mark OF
courtesy with us northern people,
but here | arm told it is to be invited
to spend the night. 1t was some
what of surprise to me at first to
be, invited to spend the night, but
nyvisit was certainly delight
myself and friends to Il z O'Clock
dinner, afterwards the theatre, then
delightful visit with my hostess
before the fire in my room. 1t was
little singular to my northern
ideas, to be locked in at night, but
when | heard the key turn in the
lock in the morning, understood.
NV fire was built, fresh water
brought in by black Jesse, a boy
about sixteen, who did the work OF
second girl. The cook here cooks
and does little else This boy did
the sweeping, fire-building, bed
making and is useful for errands,
My friend Chat is the lady whose
guest | any came to take dinner
with us. After dinner | was called
TO the telephone and invited to go
cycling. So about 3 we left
our kind entertainer, the black boy
following at a proper distance with
my grip. He had been sent for