The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-26
BIsHOP POTTER'S TRIBUTE TO
THE SOUTH.

In tho October number Of the Popular
Science Monthly Bishop Henry c. Potter
Of New York. has an interesting article
on public charities, with this incidental
alIusion thrown in: IL listened the other
day. SAYS he "to the story Of a charm
inc woman. Of marked culture and re-
Nnement as she depicted, with uncon-
scious grace and art, the life of q gentle
woman OF her own age and class-she was
voppc and fair and kecnly sympathetic
On a Southern plantation before the clyii
war one got such a new impression OF
those whom. under other skies ana IN
large Ignorance Of their personal minis
tries or sacrifices. we have been wont to
picture as INDECENT, exclusive, Indifferent
10 the sorrow and disease and ignorance
that. on a great rice or cotton or sugar
plantation IN the old days, We're all about
them; and one learned. with a new sense
of reverence FOR all that is best in woman
hood. how. in days that are now gone for
ever. there were under such conditions
the most skinful benchcence and the most
untiring sympathies.
put. in the times Of which I speak the
service on the plantation for the sick
slave (Which. an ungracious criticism
might have suggested, since a slave was
ordinarily q valuable piece Of property
had something Of a sordid element in iO
was matched in communities and under
conditions where no such suspicion was
possible. No ono who knows anything Of
lie I'm our smaller communities at the be-
ginning Of the century can be ignorant Of
what / mean. There was no village or
smallest aggregation OF families that had
not its Abigail, its "Aunt Hannah it's
"Uncle Ben" who, when there was sick
ness or want or sorrow in a ~neighbor's
house. was always on hand to sympa-
thize and TO succor."
The Northern people will never COM
pietely understand the relationship that
existed between the Southern white man
and his slave. The slaves were mem
bers Of the family and were always treated
as such from the old nanny down TO
the OUNCES child. when they were sick
they had the attention Of a PHYSICAL II
necessary. "a always the attention and
nursing OF the mistress Of the household
who was herself a good doctor. Every
thing necessary 20 the comfort and wei
fare OF the sick slave was done and with
the same spirit that these noble women
ministored to the sick member of their
immediate family. The bare suggestion
that this was done from sordid motives
is a shameful libel upon the best women
that God ever made, for If there ever
was a model woman in this world she
was the Southern matron who was al
most worshippcd as the family saint and
who fairly lived up TO the responsibilities
Of that exalted position
Another thing in this connection. The
women OF the south. old and young, ma
irons and maids. whom the North had
pictured as "indolcnt. exclusive and in-
different To the sorrow and distress and
Ignorance Of the slaves" spent a goodly
portion OF their time In training the minds
and morals OF the black members Of their
household, on the large plantations there
was q chapel where services Were held
every Sunday. when and where the slaves
were gathered 70 receive religious in
struction. in the smaller family circles
the slaves were assembled on the Sabbath
IN some convenient place and ole MIS-
and young Mis- read the Bihe to them
and taught them TIE way Of life.
A few months ago an old negro down
s~outh-we recorded the incident at the
time-was srraigned in court on the
charge Of criminal assault. lie had no
evidence 10 offer IN support OF his inno-
cence except his previously good char
scter. lie introduced the white men OF
the community 10 the court and called
upon them 20 give evidence as to his
standing. They all cheerfully stood up
and tod the court under oath that. so far
rs they knew To tho contrary. he had led
an exemplary life. The commonwealth
attorney refused 10 prosecute. The case
was dismissed, and the judge from the
bench complimented the odd man on the
high character hat he had proved. 'YeS.n