For many years the South has been noted for
its beautiful Quadroon women. Bottles of ink, and reams of
paper, have been used to portray the "finely cut and well
molded features," the "silken curls," the "dark and
brilliant eyes," the "splendid forms," the "fascinating
smiles," and "accomplished manners" of these impassioned and
voluptuous daughters of the two races, the unlawful product
of the crime of human bondage. When we take into
consideration the fact that no safeguard was ever thrown
around virtue, and no inducement held out to slave women to
be pure and chaste, we will not be surprised when told that
immorality pervades the domestic circle in the cities and
towns of the South to an extent unknown in the Northern
States. Many a planter's wife has dragged out a miserable
existence, with an aching heart, at seeing her place in the
husband's affections usurped by the unadorned beauty and
captivating smiles of her waiting maid. Indeed, the greater
portion of the colored women, in the days of slavery, had no
greater aspiration than that of becoming the finely dressed
mistress of some white man. At the Negro balls and parties,
that used to be so frequently given, this class of women
generally made the most splendid appearance.
A few years ago, among the many slave women of Richmond,
Va., who hired their time of their masters, was Agnes, a
mulatto owned by John Graves, Esq., and who might be heard
boasting that she was the daughter of an American Senator.
Although nearly forty years of age at the time of which we
write, Agnes was still exceedingly handsome. More than half
white, with long black hair and deep blue eyes, no one felt
like disputing with her when she urged her claim to her
relationship with the Anglo Saxon. In her younger days,
Agnes had been a housekeeper for a young slave holder, and
in sustaining this relation had become the mother of two
daughters. After being cast aside by this young man, the
slave woman betook herself to the business of a laundress,
and was considered to be the most tasteful woman in Richmond
at her vocation.
Isabella and Marion, the two daughters of Agnes, resided
with their mother, and gave her what aid they could in her
business. The mother, however, was very choice of her
daughters, and would allow them to perform no labor that
would militate against their lady like appearance. Agnes
early resolved to bring up her daughters as ladies, as she
termed it.
As the girls grew older, the mother had to pay a stipulated
price for them per month. Her notoriety as a laundress of
the first class enabled her to put an extra charge upon the
linen that passed through her hands; and although she
imposed little or no work upon her daughters, she was
enabled to live in comparative luxury and have her daughters
dressed to attract attention, especially at the Negro balls
and parties.
Although the term "Negro ball" is applied to these
gatherings, yet a large portion of the men who attend them
are whites. Negro balls and parties in the Southern States,
especially in the cities and towns, are usually made up of
quadroon women, a few Negro men, and any number of white
gentlemen. These are gatherings of the most democratic
character. Bankers, merchants, lawyers, doctors, and their
clerks and students, all take part in these social
assemblies upon terms of perfect equality. The father and
son not unfrequently meet and dance *vis a vis* at a Negro
ball.
It was at one of these parties that Henry Linwood, the son
of a wealthy and retired gentleman of Richmond, was first
introduced to Isabella, the oldest daughter of Agnes. The
young man had just returned from Harvard College, where he
had spent the previous five years. Isabella was in her
eighteenth year, and was admitted by all who knew her to be
the handsomest girl, colored or white, in the city. On this
occasion, she was attired in a sky blue silk dress, with
deep black lace flounces, and bertha of the same. On her
well moulded arms she wore massive gold bracelets, while her
rich black hair was arranged at the back in broad basket
plaits, ornamented with pearls, and the front in the French
style (*a la Imperatrice*), which suited her classic face to
perfection.
Marion was scarcely less richly dressed than her sister.
Henry Linwood paid great attention to Isabella, which was
looked upon with gratification by her mother, and became a
matter of general conversation with all present. Of course,
the young man escorted the beautiful quadroon home that
evening, and became the favorite visitor at the house of
Agnes.
It was on a beautiful moonlight night in the month of
August, when all who reside in tropical climates are eagerly
gasping for a breath of fresh air, that Henry Linwood was in
the garden which surrounded Agnes' cottage, with the young
quadroon at his side. He drew from his pocket a newspaper
wet from the press, and read the following advertisement:
Notice. Seventy-nine Negroes will be offered for sale on
Monday, September 10, at 12 o'clock, being the entire stock
of the late John Graves. The Negroes are in excellent
condition, and all warranted against the common vices. Among
them are several mechanics, able bodied field hands, plough
boys, and women with children, some of them very prolific,
affording a rare opportunity for any one who wishes to raise
a strong and healthy lot of servants for their own use. Also
several mulatto girls of rare personal qualities, two of
these very superior.
Among the above slaves advertised for sale were Agnes and
her two daughters. Ere young Linwood left the quadroon that
evening, he promised her that he would become her purchaser,
and make her free and her own mistress.
Mr. Graves had long been considered not only an excellent
and upright citizen of the first standing among the whites,
but even the slaves regarded him as one of the kindest of
masters. Having inherited his slaves with the rest of his
property, he became possessed of them without any
consultation or wish of his own. He would neither buy nor
sell slaves, and was exceedingly careful, in letting them
out, that they did not find oppressive and tyrannical
masters. No slave speculator ever dared to cross the
threshold of this planter of the Old Dominion. He was a
constant attendant upon religious worship, and was noted for
his general benevolence. The American Bible Society, the
American Tract Society, and the cause of the Foreign
Missions, found in him a liberal friend. He was always
anxious that his slaves should appear well on the Sabbath,
and have an opportunity of hearing the word of God.
Clotelle or The Colored Heroine, A tale of the Southern States