Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-10
THE JAsPERIAN SYSTEM.
Effect OF His Arguments on the
WashingtOnians

WashingtOniRns.
Washington Cor. Chicago Times
The author of the Jasperian sys-
tenn Of astronomy is in Washington,
and last night lectured at Lincoln
Hall. About one hundred whites
and two hundred colored people
made up the audience. Jasper is
one of the old-fashioned shouting
Methodist darkies, and his per-
formance last night, is said by those
who witnessed it, to be far ahead
Of any minstrel entertainment ever
given in this country, Jasper is a
famous preacher of funeral SER
mons. He has a very rich, sweet
voice, powerful magnetism, so
that with slight effort he eau
move darkey audience to the very
highest pitch Of excitement or emo
ton. AS one colored friend said of
Jasper, /" "He is the most powerful
preacher of funerals ever known in
Richmond. A funeral with John
Jasper to preach would always
draw great crowds" ="
1t is interesting to note how the
Jasperian belief about the suns
moving is getting grasp upon the
colored mind. The other day,
when bright yellow boy was shaw
ing me, he broke out with "Haye
you read the powerful arguments
of the Rev. John Jasper upon the
suns moving?"
81 have read some of them"
"What do you think?'
"Oh, it is too deep a subject for
an opinion"
"Well, those are strong argu-
ments, and l have yet to see them
confuted."
The boys expression is only one
of a hundred. The colored people,
crazy after anything savoring of
religious netoriety, are all becom-
ing "Jasperians," as they call
themselves. The ready way Jasper
employs to upset arguments ad-
vanced is what captures the coloIed
mind. Last evening, Jasper, in
speaking of the absurdities of
scientists, said that they made a
pretense that the distance to the
sun was 95,000,000 miles.
"Now," said Jasper, "This is
deseebin. Who kin see milyun
of miles widout countin' de odder
ninety-four milyun OBJ miles which
| trow off for de sake OBJ argument?
Who knows wot a milyun isl Whar
is de man who can count a milyun?
l can't, and l hab tried it"
At this a young colored minister,
from the Howard University, called
brother Jasper's attention to the
fact that distance could be meas
ured without going over it. For
instance, the measurements of a tree
can be determined without climb
irg the tree.
Jasper hooted derisively at this,
and said all such measurement was
mere supposition, and as there was
no mention Of it in the bible, he
proposed to keep cellar" OF it, The
bible was enough for him. Cries
of "amen," aud "the Lord be
praised" from the colOred breth-
ren.
The superstition of the colored
people is endless. One of the latest
freaks l have heard of, is a refusal
10 have q picture taken, Some
ancient colored people believe that
they will never be the same after
such process, that the mere fact
lof having a picture taken takes
away an element of strength that
can never be restored,
The other day an artist friend
was over in Virginia sketching.
He came across Q venerable col
oFed man, who was s9 picturesque
in his make up that he thought be
would transfer him tc his sketch
book,
He offered the old man bright
silver half dollar to pose for q few
moments,
The ancient polpred person, who
had been very soeiable up to this
point, set of at once, limping furi-
I9usly, to get out Of the way, shout