| Citation |
RNYG.782.045
19 Jan 1782:21 (554)
Mr. Rivington. I observed, in reading a late rebel paper, that
the Governor of one of the French West India islands has issued
an edict prohibiting, for the future, the using of the words Mr.
and Mrs. to people of colour, as they there stile the Negroes,
Mulattoes, and the various shades between them and the whites.
Whether a similar regulation will not be soon necessary in this
city, I humbly submit to the consideration of those who have the
direction of our police. It certainly cannot have escaped the
observation, that the Blacks are every day more and more aping
the dress and manners of their masters and mistresses, insomuch
that there is danger, if not timely stop'd.
"But thin partitions will the Bounds divide."
In my way to church last Sunday I happened to follow a well made
female figure. . . [15 lines, lady is a Negro who drops a paper
with the following charade addressed to Miss Quashibah.]
I had often, indeed, heard that our black gentry had their
balls, assemblies and concerts, but I had not before the least
suspicion that they too had their Charade Clubs; and my
mortification was the greater, as I had fully intended to make
interest to be admitted a member of one of the many Charade Clubs
of whites, which have cut so distinguished a figure in the
Gazettes. . . [14 more lines on clubs, signed] A Friend to Genius
To Miss Quash-i-bah,
I sen yu dere Quashi, wat our Klub made,
One ting de buccra dey call sharrade.
If yure so kunning yu fine out wat tis,
Next time I se yu I gib yu swete kis.
Quaco.
Cheerman Sharrade Klub.
SHARRADE
My fuss, wid S before, he gud to yam,
Like grenes, wid tirkee, befe and ham.
My seckon, he myself and cri of shepe
My tird be she wid hume I slepe.
And doe she hab so bitt-y white
Me lub her eb'ry day--b'ry night.
QUASH-I-BAH'S ANSWER TO MISTER QUACO
Me tank yu Quaco, for yure fine sharrade,
Me tink no better can be eber made.
Me now sen yu tree, and hop tis nuffee,
On yu, on Sambo, and on Boy Cuf-fie.
. . . [signed] Quash-I-Bah
SHARRADE I.
My fuss, he be haff a Quaker,
My secon begin corn-cob
My tird lub grete dele to shake hur
And hep hur do ver gud job.
. . . [2 more verses of 4 lines each, plus an unnumbered
one of 4 lines]
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