He had turned against those who had been his friends and had followed after strange gods; therefore let him go his way alone.

This attitude never was universal nor was it consistently maintained, for there is hardly one of the older negroes who does not have a white man to whom he goes for advice or help in time of trouble--a sort of patron, in fact.

Many a negro has been saved from the chain gang or the penitentiary because of such friendly interest, and many have been positively helped thereby toward good citizenship.

Nevertheless there has been a tendency on the part of the whites to remain passive, to wait until the negro asked for help.
Undoubtedly there is now developing in the South a growing sense of responsibility for the welfare of the negro.

The negro quarters of the towns, so long neglected, are receiving more attention from the street cleaners; better sidewalks are being built; and the streets are better lighted.