Robert Merry's Museum, Vol. VII, No. 1-6 — John Shaqi
Robert Merry's Museum, Vol. VII, No. 1-6Various
General
Robert Merry's Museum, Vol. VII, No. 1-6
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
This is a nice question. But, perhaps, something may in truth be said
by way of a satisfactory answer. We have seen how a white man might
become very dark-colored, and how his descendants might become, in
process of time, even black, by removing to the torrid zone, and there
continuing to dwell for several hundred years.
Now, might not the very reverse of this prove true? Do not the blacks
from Africa grow lighter colored, when brought to the northern parts
of the United States? Listen to what President Dwight says on this
subject:
“The change of the blacks,” says he, “whose ancestors were introduced
into New England, is already very great, as to their shape, features,
hair and complexion. Within the last thirty years, I have not seen a
single person, of African descent, who was not many shades whiter than
the blacks formerly imported directly from Guinea.”
Now, it is possible that the black people in the United States might
become white, in process of time. I do not say that they ever will,
because their manner of living is far different from that of the
whites. They are not as cleanly; most of them are much exposed to the
weather. And this is true of the Indians, or “red men.”
But, you ask, can any instances be produced of either “red men” or
black men becoming white? I answer, yes, instances of both. I will
give an account of an instance of each kind; and I can assure my
readers that the account is true, and they may find it in an enlarged
form, in Dr. Dwight’s travels. And first, I shall tell them the story
of the Indian, or “red man.”
Or, rather I might say, that my story relates to four Indians. They
belonged to the tribe called Brothertown Indians, who lived at a place
called Brothertown, in the state of New York. It was in the year 1791,
that Mr. Hart, formerly minister at Stonington, in Connecticut, saw
four Indians, whose skin, in different parts of their body, was
turning white.
One, whose name was Samuel Adams, had become almost entirely white.
This Indian told Mr. Hart, that his skin had been gradually changing
its color for fourteen years. He was a very healthy man; nor was he
sensible of any pain or disease which occasioned the change. “His skin
appeared perfectly smooth and fresh, and delicately white.” His hair,
also, had become in part gray, like that of aged white people.
The instance of a black man, who became white, is also related by Dr.
Dwight, who himself saw the man, and examined him. His name was Henry
Moss. He was a native of Virginia. He came to New Haven in the year
1796, where Dr. Dwight saw him. He was originally black, and woolly
headed, like other negroes; but, at this time, he was almost entirely
white, and of a “clear, fresh, and delicate complexion.” His hair,
also, was in part changed, and was exactly that of fair white people;
of a flaxen hue, and perfectly free from curling.
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