The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-15
Negro Dialect.

AS frequently happens In controversies,
both sides are Substantially right In this
matter between The Times -D.sptach ard
the News Leader, concerning negro 4 a
lect. The Times-D .spatch points out that
the purpose Of the article TO when we
object was to rebuke the habit OF North.
improvising strange and unknown jar
CONS to represent the speech OF the Sou n
ern negro. So far as that goes We are
with our esteemed local contemporary
The average Northe newspaper writer
undertaking TO discuss or describe any
thing of the South makes mess of 1t,
When he attempts to put tho pronunc.h-
tsls over hmse even s FASTER ard rdaS
than when he attacks negro dialect, The
New York newspaper men are sinners OF
matters, probably because New York IS
the most provincial town on this CONT
nent. and as a rule. does not trouble TO
inform itself concerning anything beyond
over. that we Of the South usually make
a mess equally bad when We undertake
to deal with Northern accent, alect,
habits and methods: Probably the great
extent OF territory which lso!ates tho
people, OF different sections ana g, prevent Us
them knowing. .adrpir.ng ana liking each
other as they should.
The Times-D D. patch quotes Joel Cnand-
Ter Harris. Polk Miller. Frank Stanton
and Thomas Nelson Page as autho tues
IOl llS COMPREHENSION " HtElp d'dA-Ns-
All OF these represent, what may be called
the Virginia negro belt Of the Sou h.. All
along the foothills of the South from VIE
gina to Alabama the influence Of T!ae-
nant, not only in The pTonu"c alton OF the
negroes, but in many other respects. Toe
stock t!om which all the .ntgr-es and
come Is VrgnIan. The sharp differences
develop when We strike the coat ard Gig
river sections where civilizations old and
strong AS ours were encountered,
FRANC Stanton. who began life In lower
South Carolina, doubtless could enlIgh,en
our t'iend ,cGIccFninR The negso dialect
there PROBABLY MI Ampr aG,o Go =; hs
State. OF Columbia, ~ the bsft mas
Tor OF the rice feld negro dialect LIVING.
As matter OF interes. We w!ll try 20
pint Il In the News Leader SO that he
Times Dispa oh and others may be NJ
formed concern ne IT,. Most Virginia
stand u.-Richmon6 News Leader
The late Colonel Charles g. Jopes. Of
Augusta. wrote an asdIa,raoie booS emit
INK a remarkably tue represen alton OF
Tho dialect and foih-lorc OF negroes IN
the South Carolina and Georgia seaboard
to tSe r Il nFs aof J esie III
Tom Page and polk Mile. and its valu.
would have been unlversaly recognized
but for the appearance q Harris "Unee
owed the less prstent!ous work.
II the University Of Chicago ever es-
Harper should nor couiiHc the studies 10
tie works OF Chandler Harris. ank
stanton Polk Miller. Tom. Page and v,r-
gnius Dabney. but should make Myths
sermons OF "ParsOn Co,eney" Nhe late
Rev. J. G. Williams III South Carol!naj
{ leading text books
the remarkapIe "Rebren Kiniaw" ger
mous. By a. r.. Gonzales, OF the Column
Dia state. WI cn should have long nee
been published IN book form. and the
/ lie "ReY Isrel Man,go," IN the News
! and Courier. would add much 10 tho APP
/ probation Of "guliah. az she II spoken
+ On the Combsiee and In Berkeley county,
. = C--GhaflG4tGA Sewa end cnurisr,