“A mon vieux maître” | Xavier de la Porte
►http://www.internetactu.net/2012/02/06/a-mon-vieux-maitre
La lecture de la semaine n’a, dans son propos, rien à voir avec les questions qui nous intéressent ici dans Place de la toile, mais voilà, elle m’est arrivée par les réseaux, par un ami qui assure une veille web depuis Quito, en Equateur, et elle provient d’un très beau site Letters of note, dont le sous-titre dit tout :…
Letters of Note: To My Old Master
►http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html
In August of 1865, a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Big Spring, Tennessee, wrote to his former slave, Jourdan Anderson, and requested that he come back to work on his farm. Jourdan — who, since being emancipated, had moved to Ohio, found paid work, and was now supporting his family — responded spectacularly by way of the letter seen below (a letter which, according to newspapers at the time, he dictated).
via @xporte
On peut espérer que le destinataire s’est étouffé en lisant cette lettre.
What happened to the former slave that wrote his old master?
You know that letter from former slave Jourdon Anderson to his old master that’s been going around? First of all, it’s good and you should read it.
As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you.
http://kottke.org/12/02/what-happened-to-the-former-slave-that-wrote-his-old-master
