The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-12

ment he was trying to create. When tEe 1 people were quite aroused again, he | paused a moment then raising his arms, he let them gently and softly fall in smoothing, quieting way causing them all to kneel, then after a nelodlous ] hummng' followed a short, truly earn- est prayer. 70 Lord come down and touch the hearts of these, Thy people, l Interruption; these, Thy people,D let them feel thy protecting arm, and know
 the goodness of Thy love, 'Cgoodness of
 Thy love,)" Following this prayer
 brother minister arose, and in very
 matter-of fact way besought them to
 be generous in their contributions, for $10 must be raised.
 Ae the box passed to the white peo- pie it looked rather empty and as the visitors responded the sable usher bow ed and bowed nd expressed his thanks. As money was needed, and was not yet forthcoming the executive brother
 sought to stir up the spirit of competi-
 ton by asking all members of one coun- ty to pass to the right side of the build
 ing and deposit his money on the table, and those of the other county to pass
 to the left. Tn this way it was not ten
 minutes till the money was collected.
 Then followed a regular plantation
 dance, but upon this sacred occasion it
 was called the holy dance. First to ap-
 pear on the platform was a middle aged, very fat woman in gay attire who
 commenced to dance by gently clapping
 her hands and keeping time with one
 foot in sort of lmpng hitch,
 Another young woman fell in line,
 then others followed, until no more could be accommodated. Then the lead CT increased her speed until the other foot became a sort of double shuffle. They were right on the verge of reg
 ular breakdown when a stentorian voice announced the intermission, and the
 morning meeting was ended, and hap py lot of people gathered in groups for the midday meal.
 Not much time was consumed by this pleasant occupation, for the blowing of horn soon called the people back to afternoon service. After a very short sermon another request was made for money. It requires a certain amount of enthusiasm before the people vii! open their hearts and purses so in half musical way the preacher commenced: T will go to heaven to see my Lord seventy-five cents more, my brethren" "Go to see my Lord, hum-m-m m. l Only twenty-five cents more-m-m Go to see my lord. Clap, clap, tattoo tattoo. Go to see my Lord oh! my l Lord-d-d." The plantation dance again ! followed in which many participated, | and happy indeed they were.
 An old, very black nanny stood on l the same seat with the visitors, who were watching the dancers, and when | she was asked why the people were dancing, she showed along in the seaT and put out protecting arm and said: l Shove up honey, den you can see what | makes 'em dance. Why, law, chile, dey's happy dey is. Come closer, chile" Whereupon she turned to her | nelghbor, and said: You git along dar, caypt you?" So the party of visitors had a good chance to view the dancers. Wild, uncanny and irreverent as all | this may seem, to attend such meet ing is to convince one of the sincerity of this emotional race
 There is no people in the world that get as much real happiness out of life as these mercurial negroes. Oppression and tyranny cannot quench their hap py spirits, and, like dogs, they are ready to beam at the kind word spoken from the man who has abused them.-- Jacksonville (Fla.) -Times-Union.