Our conversation drifted along as to my personal comforts until I told her that I had heard 14 that I was to be called upon to deliver a written account of my recollections of the past, especially in reference to the Negro question.
“I suppose Dr. Newell is at the bottom of that,” she remarked, “he is so intensely interested in the Negro question that he would be the first one to make the suggestion. I really believe that he refused to allow you to be taken to the City Hospital when you were found on his lawn because he almost divined that you might have a message from another age for him on that subject. The city authorities yielded to his wishes and assigned me to assist in caring for you at his residence, instead of at the hospital.
“I found very little to do, however, but would like to recall to you the beneficial effects of the violet room, which I see had the desired results. It always does, and many people who can afford it, especially physicians, are now installing these rooms in their houses for the benefit of neurotic3 patients, on whom the violet rays of electricity, coupled with neurium, a newly discovered chemical preparation, similar to radium, has a most remarkable4 effect.”
I remarked that I had taken no medicine and really felt better than ever in either of my lives. 15 “Well,” said she, laughing, “I trust you may be able to recall all about the past and give a most excellent account of it in your paper for the Bureau of Public Utility—and don’t fail to send me a copy!”
“Are you at all interested in the question,” I asked.
“All Southerners are interested in that question. I am a teacher in a Sunday School for Negro children and a member of a Young Ladies’ Guild5 which was organized expressly for reaching Negro children that may need help. We visit the families and talk with the parents, impress on them ideas of economy, direct them in caring for the sick, and instruct them in the most scientific methods of sanitation6. I am really fond of these people and the happiest moments of my life are spent with them—they are of a different temperament7 from us, so mild and good natured,—so complacent8 and happy in their religious worship and their music is simply enchanting9!—Don’t you like to hear them sing, Mr. Twitchell?”
I remarked that I was very fond of their singing, and that I had been delighted with a visit I had recently made to the Dvorak Conservatory10, 16 where the Negro’s musical talent seemed to have been miraculously11 developed.
I further remarked, to myself, “How congenial in tastes and sympathy we seem to be, and how beautiful you are!” She moved me strangely as she stood there with her black hair, rosy12 cheeks, large good-natured black eyes, her Venus-like poise13 of neck and shoulders, and a mouth neither large nor small but full of expression, and showing a wealth of pearls when she laughed—and all this coupled with such noble aspirations14, and such deep womanly sympathy.
I said to her, “Miss Davis, I am certainly glad to learn that our sentiments on the Negro question coincide so thoroughly15 and if any encouragement were needed, I should certainly feel like offering it, as a stimulus16 in your efforts.”
“All humanity needs encouragement,” she replied, “and I am human; and so are these people around us who are of a different race. They need encouragement and in my humble17 way I hope to be of some service to them. Their chances have not been as favorable as ours, but they have been faithful and true with the talents they have.”
“So I understand you are assisting in this work 17 more from a sense of duty than as a diversion?” I observed.
“Yes, that is true,” she said, “but nevertheless I really get considerable recreation in it. I find these people worthy18 of assistance and competent to fill many places that they otherwise could not but for the help of our Guild.”
“So you have found that success does not always come to the worthy,” I suggested, “if those who are worthy have no outside influence? I can remember people who worked hard all their lives for promotion19 and who not only did not get it, but often witnessed others less skilled and deserving than themselves pushed forward ahead of them. This was especially true of the Negro race in my time. The Negroes were told that Negro ability would sell for as much in the market as white, but while this was encouraging in some respects and true in many cases, it could by no means be laid down as a rule.”
“I agree with you,” she said, “in part; for the feeling no doubt prevails among some people that the lines of cleavage should move us naturally to do more for our own than for a different race, and that spirit occasionally crops out, but the spirit of helpfulness to Negroes has now become so 18 popular that it permeates20 all classes and there is practically no opposition21 to them.”
“You are a long way removed from the South of the past,” said I, “where to have done such work as you are engaged in would have disgraced you, and have branded you for social ostracism22.”
She replied that there was no criticism at all for engaging in such work but only for doing more for one race than another.
“You Georgians had degenerated23 in my day,” I remarked. “The Southern colonies under such men as Oglethorpe seemed to have higher ideals than had their descendants of later times. Oglethorpe was opposed to slavery and refused to allow it in the Colony of Georgia while he was governor; he was also a friend to the Indians and to Whitfield in his benevolent24 schemes, but the Georgian of my day was a different character altogether from the Oglethorpe type. He justified25 slavery and burned Negroes at the stake, and the ‘Cracker class’ were a long ways removed from the Oglethorpe type of citizenship26, both in appearance and intelligence. I notice, too, Miss Davis, that you never use the words ‘colored people’ but say ‘Negro,’ instead.”
“That is because these people themselves prefer 19 to be called Negroes. They are proud of the term Negro and feel that you are compromising if you refer to them as ‘colored people.’”
“That is quite a change, too,” said I, “from the past; for in my time the race did not like the term Negro so well because it sounded so much like ‘nigger,’ which was a term of derision. I notice that this term also has become obsolete27 with you—another sign of progress. In fact, I fear that the ideas I had in 1906, when I started on my trip to work as a missionary28 among the Negroes, would be laughed at now, so far have you progressed beyond me. Indeed, I am quite confused at times in trying to conform to my new conditions.”
At this juncture29 she suggested that she had almost broken an engagement by chatting with me so long, and would have to hurry off to meet it. In taking her departure she remarked that perhaps it was worth while to break an engagement to talk with one who had had so unusual an experience. “I may be quite an unusual character,” said I, “but probably too ancient to be of interest to so modern a person as yourself.”
She did not reply to this, but left with a smile and a roguish twinkle in her eye.
I found on inquiry30 at the library that Negroes 20 in the South were now allowed the use of the books, and that they were encouraged to read by various prizes, offered especially for those who could give the best written analyses of certain books which were suggested by the library committee.
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1
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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reciprocated
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| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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neurotic
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| adj.神经病的，神经过敏的；n.神经过敏者，神经病患者 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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sanitation
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| n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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14
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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17
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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permeates
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| 弥漫( permeate的第三人称单数 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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ostracism
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| n.放逐；排斥 | |
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degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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obsolete
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| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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