The Osceola times., 1873-07-26
[sERIEs. NO. /. ny RASPBERRY bush
GLIMPSES OF PRIMITIVE AR
KANSAS
Being Fragments of her History,
Cleaned from the Advertising
Columns of the State Ca
zette of the Year l841.
BLACK SOLOMON.
: BLACK SOLOMON.
March IL, 1871,

""iNh II, 'Oii
Have been poroing over the mus
ty, moth-eaten files of the Nationa
Intclligencer, State Gazette, Spiri
of the Times and Louisville Jour
nal, Of the years 1S3S-9-41-42. It'll
curious to notice how many instan
ces are there recorded, with all The
swelling rhetoric ofa newspaper as
Of vital importance to the country
instances that have long since beer
forgotten and consigned to oblivion
In all Of those papers except the
Spirit of tie Times, there are little
cuts or cngravings, that are the sym.
bols Of a system that finally plung.
ed this continent in the fierce and
sanguinary war between the states
They represent a negro with a pack
over his back, hatless, and with a
cane in his hand, making fast time
for some place known only to him
self, if indeed he has any definite
plans for the future. The figure
that / have in my minds eye as |
write, is that Of a fat, clumsy old
fellow, bare-hcaded, one leg thrown
far out behind, his right hand grasp
ing a huge walking stick, while with
his left hand, he seems to be gestic-
ulating as though holding an amin
atcd conversation with himself. lie
is evidently shaky in his legs and
almost breathless, which makes it
the more surprising that he should
be talking and gcsticulating at eve
ry jump. HIS head is turned a lit
lie over his left shoulder, from
which circumstance ! imagine he is
every moment expecting his pursu-
ers TO ovcrtallc him. The adver-
tiscmcnt states that his name is
" Black Solomon" and indeed the
printer has faithfully represented
him as black as ink could make him.
Mr.. John Waters, his master, says
he will give fifty dollars for the
capture Of Solomon and his confne-
mcnt in any jail so that he can get
him which munifccnt offer is dated
1t Mulberry Grove, Jefferson c9un-
iy, Ark, Nov. 30th., 1911. I con
Tess that | am interested in the fate
IF Solomon. Iwould like to know
whether Nr. Waters ever had the
fifty dollars to pay; and if he did,
what sort ofrecepti0n Solomon met
with upon his forced return to the
shades of Mulberry Grove. | am
afraid that Solomon's feet are not
adapted .orapid travelling. lie has
1t least a half foot too much of heel,
md OF least Il foot too much of feet.
Indeed, laying aside the fact that
,uch feet would necessarily rctard
lis fight, his tracks would be fatal
evidence to any body in want of
itty dollars that Black Solomon,
md Black Solomon alone, had made
hem. Why did Solomon thus leave
II this clandestine manner, hIs anx-
oUs master at Mulberry Grove p
Was it con ttutional distas.e for
work, or because he and Mr.. Waters
)ycrseer could not have an inter
,icw without Solomon's feelings
Dcing wounded If it was because
work was distastciul, and his mas
or compelled him to it, he probably |
lad in his mind the words of the !
great Solomon " lie that delicate
y bringcth up his servant shall have |
Iim become his son at length"
When we consider how dark was
he skin Of Black solomon, we can
lot blame Mr.. Waters for not want |
ng him as a son. IfSolomon jour |
Keyed on account of the corporal |
,hastisemcnt of tho oversecr, that |
unctionary probably justified him
'elf with a passage from the same
wise Solomon -" A servant will not |
,e corrected by words; for though |
&c understand he will not answer"
'erhaps the ovcrscer had often re-