Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-28
SPIDER AMP
How a eOaatry Darby got a New Suit Of
Clothes.

On Saturday last e negro man passing
through this city en- route for northern
Texas vas walking down Main street,
and when between,the OYertcu Hotel and
Adams street 1--WE will not be particular
Just noso as to the locality was seized by
the loppel of his coat by one of those
spiders who sit out in front of a stock of
" hand-me-downs," and importuned to
buy & suit of clothes. The negro-an
honest, ignorant fellow from Virginia,
told the spider that he had but little
money, and that he was on his way down
the country to 60 to work on a farm.
"You wants to work." says the spider,
dat is .shoost vat 1 vsnts@'Ow you like
to be porter in mein schtore2 all you will
have to do win be shoost garry to boom
dies home" Negro-"pd like 1t right
well, boss. How much will yon gin me?'
Vot 1 geefs you, chr Not you deenks
you get we're you goes?" Fifteen or
twenty dollars a month and found-dsts
what de circlar say, enyhow," answered
the darky. "Vifteen und dwenty tarler
a munti" contemptuously answers the
spider; "yy, you makes dem mooch in
Won tay sometimes ven o works NIT
so fine a face l neffer seed in my porn
days. Oncle, 1 say: you shoost engage
yourself NIT mel gifts you vot brice you
TX" This burst of eloquence completely
captured the poor country darby, and he
answers, grinning, "Rll right, boss
when you want me to go to
work?" sven 1 wants you? Wy
shoots right away now!" (hesitating
a little) no-spose you comes Moonty
mornin', bright und early. / geef you to-
morrow" "An right, boss" ''But say"
says the spider, AZ can't hire you NIT dem
CLOSE on; Mein Gott-;pee6les youldd ink
/ pc proke a~ltogedder." "Dem's de best
/ got, boss" ''Vell, 1 tell you vot docs.
How mooch money is yon got?" Forty
FIVE dollars, boss" "Vell-you wants
five tollar to pay your poard TIL Moontsy
i shust dake forty tollar, und 1 furnish
you init a fine suit of s~chplendid CLOSE,
vot you needs TO go to work in" The
long and short OF the story is, that the
simple, credulous fool of a negro was in
duced to part with forty dollars for a suit
of sleazy, shoddy clothing, not worth a
fourth part of the money. He
knocked around town on Sunday,
his remaining five dollars for his board
and lodging, etc. Monday morning
bright and early he presented himself at
the store ready to go to work. The indi-
yidual spider whom he had seen on Sat
urday was not there, but in his place was
a little sleek, round faced, red checked,
pig-eyed individual who sidled up to him
when he came in, and asked in sharp,
quick tones, 81 say neeger, yots you
Vants?" "I'se come to go to work, boss,
for dat ar man what 1 seed here Satur-
day." "Shesus," said Spider No. 2,
50 Dat weller! he vas nodlng in dis schtore
but a CLERK, und he schust dell you dem
lies to sell you dc close, and get de vorty
dollars. He vent right away dat night to
Moo York, and takes all his money init
him." 'Den you ain'tgwine to hire me?p
asked the darby. Hire you? Not l
wants init you? You shoost go right
away, or 1 makes de police takes you up
like a vagrant-dats vot l do" With
this threat the poor darby went away,
and while wandering around without a
cent in his pocket, no work and no chance
of any,, he stumbled into the Adams
street station-house, where he told his
story to officer Pat McElroy and Mr. John
Gibson. Pat, with the usual promptness
for which he is noted, in the dis
charge Of his duties, carried the darby
to Squire Miller, to whom he re-
peated his story. Squire Miller, after
listening to him patiently, and Weighing
the matter carefully, advised him to go 10
the man from whom he had bought the
clothing, and tender them back to him,
and demand the return OF his money. II
the dealer refused to take the clothes and
the cash, the Squire told the darky
come back, and he would then take
some steps to see justice done him. OFF,
Ger McElroy accompanied the negro back
to the store, but, as before, the proprietor
was absent, Inc the young man VINO had
told the negro that he had gone to New
York, repeated the story, adding that he
had gone to remain some time, and had
taken his money with him. The officer,
convinced of the falsehood of the state
ment, remained around for awhile,
could not see the individual.
The negro, disgusted:at the treatment,
and having an opportunity to go to work
down the river, left town. No sooner was
coast clear than the individual who |
hiding out, resumed his place in
of his store to inveigle some other
unsuspecting and innocent person into
his den, and there swindle him. This is
of the ways taken by citizens ~ |
Of Memphis to induce travellers and stran.
gers to invest in our city. One thing
sure, these chaps can eve be tainted
the language of MstIhew-'I was a
stranger and you Dol me not in; naked
We clothed me not" Like this poor
iarky, most strangers are taken in
,lothed-and done for. mob