The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-17

of war scars on him, and, with time at his
disposal. has given me hours OF talk on
South Carolina history, customs. opinions
and OF the anti-war date. He was former
owner, has summered and wintered them,
nursed them In sick ness tenderly. and basted
them in mischief untendery.
He told me about once bastlng his six.toot
hostler, for neglecting duty and lying TO him.
He was strong enough; Tusten said, to throw
him over the barn. Why didn't he 40 lt?'
Tusten. "as / was always good to him, and he
deserved IT," Surveying Tusten's diminutive
form, suggested, "Perhaps be didn't know
you were oasting him" But Tnsten seemed
before the 50 stripes ended. The hostler Is
now a preacher and, slluding 10 the slave
days recently. he said TO his old master :
You ought TO have given me another MY"
count" said I.
Last Saturday we stood an hour In the open
Sy the
age. grade, color and dress-feld bands OF
both sexes. domestics, pupils, teachers, min.
isters-a motley looking collection indeed,
world. AS the crowd passed back and forth
efore us, I asked Tusten to consider IL an
ante bellum day and name the prices differ
ent ones would bring when niggers were
worth something.
PRICE OF NEGROES BEFORE THE WAR.
His comments on points determining prices
were interesting and instructive TO stranger
WAS n &c. @ fes RSs Sos ssSy
10; between 16 and 40, $500 to $1,000. For a
mulatto house servant girl. $1,000 to S25OO was
not upcom mon. and strong physIques OF men
skilled In a trade would bring $1,000. Then he
pointed out forms, features and named quail.
to disposition. I asked If disposition effected
the market value: 20, no." said he, 1.-THE
owner could regulate that"
CHARACTER OF THE NEGRO.
He called up different ones for conversa.
tion, and the dott-hat politeness, Difference
ones, was quite remarkable. Calling atten-
ton TO the happy expression Of faces as they
passed before US, he said they were the hap
plest race Of people 10 the world and IN some
wants and the best workers, when watched
and directed, but the poorest when not.
Hence the imperative necessity OF overseer
With rare exception they are the kindest peo-
pie. They know neither gratitude nor re-
venge; can not remember 8 favor nor an
abuse. They cherish no malice and always
give their highest respect to the sterpest
ity spoils Them, while dependence upon and
obedience to stronger character puts them at
their best. Religiously inclined, they are
emotional in every fiber and can never be
reasoned into conversion, but are swept 10 by
a wave of excitement and hullabaloo. They
take their religion hot. and when it cools are
not IN it till the next outbreak. Hence the
shouting, screaming, clapping, swaying of
body. stamping OF feet, jumping up and fall
ing over, and other emotional features, which
characterize their revivels and meetings.
While such demonstrations are burlesque
and ridiculous to the white person, to The
negro they seem to be necessary to keep him
within hailing distance OF the cross. A hap
py.go-lucky people, and thoughtless OF TO-
morrow, they will, with food and ra1ment for
today, enjoy fun and frolic Till want drives
them 10 industry.
In slavery they were properly fed, clothed,
sheltered, nursed when sick, and their sani-
tary condition was carefully looked after.
The owners property interest, II nothing
more, assured these things and the conse-
quence was good health, consumption being
diet Of the common herd Is cheap, monoton-
Gus and consequently uDheathful. They live
in close quarters, q half fdozen or more of diff
ferentages and sexes In a single room, With
dirt and disease-breeders all about them.
Ignorant Of anitary conditions, they neglect
themselves, and disease especially consu ump-
tion, Is becoming ommon. Editor Wilson,
who has lived among them all his life,
says no race ever made as much advance
in 80 years. Perhaps he never knew one
where 80 much advance was possible. but the
advance shows the possibility and basis for
expectation under the continued and widen
ing influence Of schools and better conditions.
THE RACE PROBLEM
is the worst the South tas TO contend with.
II would be extremely difficult TO get along
without the negro. and is almost as difficult
to get along with him. He is wanted for his
labor, but not for his company. Social eq ual-
ity can never be granted In country where
the most degraded white Is regarded socially
above the ost educated negro. 1t is an un.
natural condition Of society, but no more un-
natural. 1t Is claimed. than the promscuous
com mipgling OF people In ntended by nature to
be separate and distinct. To the credit of the
whites, be 1t said, they are kind to the negro,
willing to pay for his schooling, 10 grant him