New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22
HOME OF THE NEGRO.
Hospitality and S5ceet Family Life
Characteristic.

The negro home, Of which Mary White Ovington
writes in a recent number of Charities is q
subject unknown to most Of those who will read
the article the homes OF the Esquimaus, while
the picture presented accords little with popular
subject OF the better class Of colored
people Miss Ovington says: Their family life is
harmonious and sweet. The young women per-
haps brought up in more sheltered fashion than
those of the white race Very much emphasis Is
laid upon education, both for the boy and for the
girl. The music-loving character Of the is
shown IN these homes. indeed it is in all colored
households; but here have much ability, for
there are among the in New-York musicians
Of no mean gifts. These homes are too little
known among the people of the city,
Among the negroes of the tenements. in the
midst Of ignorance and poverty. crime and social
ostracism. she has found much that is beautiful
THE negro home" she says, lis generous and
hospitable. Pushed aside by the rest of the COM
nunity these folk gather the more closely together
and while this carries with it the ciques and COS
sipings OF a village life it also strengthens and
develops a willingness to help those who are IN
need Considering his poverty verys little relief is
given to the negro in New-York This Is partly
because he does not understand how to use the
charity that institutions for relief provide but IT
&c also because he cares for his own. The colored
churches do much for their poor, and nearly all
the coIored people belong to sick benefit societies,
hut their FREQUENT kindnesses one to another are
their most constant charity. They adopt the enid
that has been deserted, and they feed the next
door ne!ghbor though they nave iIttIe 'He"'0'-'''
Their hospitality is sometimes almost TOO over
flowing Five frens JUS come up fom de Soul
one woman said to me in excusing the disorderiy
sppearance of her five rooms. her regular lanli4y
consisted of nine. 49, ,.s
,,ooY,,a Miss Oyington continues, us high for
New-York This may be because the negro IS not
a Nev-Yorker. but a Southerner. Inc Pheasant
voice and courteous ways of his old nome remain
,+b him Neighbors who friendly with them
IT am always glad to do anything for a coloreo
child" German woman said, 1T Is so gfa'eiui.
Negro children are seldom Offenders asalsI INC
80 bu+ are often truants. perhaps because they
do not have the regular home care tnat Is
tor "a most of the children of the tehenlehts'
In their manner of living the negroes exhibit tue
oroe characteristics as in their manners -
W., breakfast or dinner comes on you VIII
- n1r-avs find the table set says Miss Owing
t.'jShe tenement meal eaten OUT OF d PaPSSi
ton ton: without the setting of the table or the gain,
cooTed district. In the nc ouG iI aviation The
carries carries m mses many dishes though she must take
the time from her laundry WoTk be neero home
HTile OVington is the presence Of the mother
as saebod earns more money than ne man; oI1h
She earns much Her most fb{e fakes her away
F her home for eight or ten even ton , hen
hours of the leave aTe her children the of
their waking hours engages IN me 1ner This turns
doStrSS Rome 0I into workshop and makes neE few
rooms hotter, MOI for the little children TO play
There 6 9bey are taught when very young 10 De OF
help. Ins .%o night and it results In smaller
often fh can be obtained with less expenditure
Of time IN men Who work the railroad and
ne S GO+e ~ who go walters TO the large
on the boaeS, sSnt from their families for much OF
hotels are TbeV have little part in the care and
rearing and hotel men, have some OF thelr
nsre in the daytime and can give rnn1 fahePs
% feeling often strong among me gep
men anu ~ sit lie brown baby wifi sparlbin' eyes
h9loi c66ncluson Miss ovngton says tnee the nes e
class OF he race is increasing and is an honor
nlea bn commonwealth.