12 WINTER SUNSHINE 



deed, the lesson comes nearer home than even that, 

 for I seem to see myself in them, and, what is more, 

 I see that they see themselves in me, and that 

 neither party has much to boast of. 



The negro is a plastic human creature, and is 

 thoroughly domesticated and thoroughly anglicized. 

 The same cannot be said of the Indian for instance, 

 between us and whom there can never exist any 

 fellowship, any community of feeling or interest; 

 or is there any doubt but the Chinaman will always 

 remain to us the same impenetrable mystery he has 

 been from the first 1 



But there is no mystery about the negro, and he 

 touches the Anglo-Saxon at more points than the 

 latter is always willing to own, taking as kindly 

 and naturally to all his customs and usages, yea, to 

 all his prejudices and superstitions, as if to the 

 manner born. The colored population in very many 

 respects occupies the same position as that occupied 

 by our rural populations a generation or two ago, 

 seeing signs and wonders, haunted by the fear of 

 ghosts and hobgoblins, believing in witchcraft, 

 charms, the evil eye, etc. In religious matters, 

 also, they are on the same level, and about the only 

 genuine shouting Methodists that remain are to be 

 found in the colored churches. Indeed, I fear the 

 negro tries to ignore or forget himself as far as pos- 

 sible, and that he would deem it felicity enough to 

 play second fiddle to the white man all his days. 

 He liked his master, but he likes the Yankee bet- 

 ter, not because he regards him as his deliverer, but 



