664 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



There is indeed a wonderful power in some of these songs, and the 

 charm undoubtedly lies in the fact that thej are founded on Bible 

 texts. 



No one questions the remarkable hold the genuine negro music 

 has upon the Anglo-Saxon race, as is evidenced by the success of 

 the Jubilee singers years ago and of the Hampton students now. 

 The negroes have simply used the weird African melodies as a 

 fascinating vehicle for Bible truths. 



Most students of English hymnology have observed a similar 

 fact in their own religious poetry. One of the most powerful de- 

 votional hymns in the language — How Firm a Foundation, ye 

 Saints of the Lord — is largely indebted for its perpetuity to the 

 fact that almost every line is taken directly from the Bible. 



To illustrate the power of this music upon the colored people 

 themselves, I may be permitted to give this little bit of personal 

 experience : 



A few nights ago I went to pay a visit to an old " mammy " 

 from Charleston. All her family sat round the room when they 

 found I was from the South. The eldest daughter said: "Bress 

 de Lord! I'm glad to see you! The ISTorf am no place for people 

 what's been used to eberyting. jSTuffin but wuk, wuk, wuk; all's jes 

 money. ISTo fun, nor lub, nor Jesus Christ nowhar! Why, dey'll 

 jes meet you and pass de time ob day, and dey'll let you go away 

 Avidout eber stoppin' to ax yer ef you's prepared to die, and how's 

 your soul. "Why, I neber seed no stranger in Charleston 'thout 

 axin' 'em how's der soul comin' on? De niggers heah ain't got no 

 Holy Spirit and dey is singing no 'count songs — dese white songs 

 from books." 



At this juncture I quietly began to sing, " I don't want to be 

 buried in de Storm." Suddenly they all began to sing and pat with 

 me, and quickly adapted their different versions to mine. They 

 lost no time in getting happy. They all jumped up and down in a 

 perfect ecstasy of delight, and shouted, " I feel like de Holy Spirit 

 is right on my hade! " 



Another one exclaimed: " People! dcm songs makes de har rise 

 up. j\Iine a-risin' now." 



"VVe all had a good time, and I felt greatly complimented when 

 the head of the house explained enthusiastically: " You does shore 

 sing 'em good; and for a white lady you is got a good deal ob de 

 Holy Spirit in you, honey " ; and before I left the house they had 

 tried to convince me that God has surely blessed this music by 

 taking a hand in forming it himself. 



We find many of the genuine negro melodies in Jubilee and 

 Hampton Song Books, but for the uninitiated student of the future 



