New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21

sutpes great yigor. Tho other day I happened to
come into coIored neigbborhood Just az q disturb
ance reached its climax lady near by explained
the excitement Aunt Lucy very worthy and
very dgnified cOlored woman. had learned that her
husband, Uncle Abs'lom, had been engaged IN
merry conversation tperhaps 1t was represented as
hirtatioDl with young girl living Just across the
next field. The lady who told me OF 1t said that
nothing could make her believe that anything wrong
was done or intended. But when Uncle AbSlom
came home to dinner ON the day when his wife
heard of his sociablity with the young neighbor
he encountered at the front gate his
wrathful wife at the head of her
numerous progeny, she and they all armed with
sticks aud stones. which they used so effectively
upon the astonshed old that he was glad to
make his escape, as his denials and explanations
were entirely dIsregarded. He replaced the bar
on his old one-eyed horse and went back to his
work without his dinner. The neighborhood was
in ferment during the afternoon. for this family
was the most exemplary aud influential in the COM
munIty. EVERYBODY seemed to feel relieved when,
at dusk, the two old people were seen coming up
the lane to their home together. Aunt Lucy was
leading the horse. and Uncle Abs'lOm was carrying
the lines in his hand. did not learn what was the
basis of their reconciliation.
In the black counties ask the principal negro
men: Are any of your people Democrats DO
they ever vote the Democratic ticketp Yes
sometimes. boss; a few of 'um boss" This Is al
ways said as if there might be story behind it. so
ask: well how do you like thatp I'VE don Ike
it, bOss.n " But can't you do anything about IL T.
Cart do nothn' 'bout 1T HumphF wen,
what do you do 7" "Hup um, boss" whip theml
Who whips themf White men I" "Oh. no. We
tends to our own AFFAIRS" But thought this was
free country now, and so every man nad right
to vote as he pleased" I'VE think our people
has no right to vote agin themselves. II a
mans SIGH fool as to. vote agin
hissef he ought to be teached to have noah sense'
"Then why not teach him. argue with hlmT
"Humph! Dey dom know nothn' bout argymince.
On'y way TO teach niggers wifi a whip" Then
comes what was to me at first most extraordinary
and surprising appeal to experience Again and
again in such conversations negroes have said to me
when was a slave boss dats e way larn'd to
behave myself Dey hupp'd me. N it done me heap
o. good Pears like wouldH think o. nothin' less
Ise huppd sometimes. Den man'll member.
confess | did not quite know what 70 say 10 thls
and as had not come TO the Sousn 70 us,Incs shy
say. made no reply. ~.
In one of the larger towns saw an energetic
colured man VINO, soon after the war de second
yea o. de surrender" to use his own phrase-had
taken up the business of city expressnan. He soon
had good team and carried trunks and parcels for
all the best families. To the astonlshment OF every
body, he at once became a Democrat. The negroes
were furious They determined 10 run him out"
aud one after another engaged r the same business
in opposition. Bat he was dis ming fellow. de
knew the oli-style people at "a lance. aud WOuld
always take off his hat to them and call
them :. Masr," and Mists." When the cars came
ill., and ladies got out, there he stood in exactly the
old plantation attitude. Hyah l is, Mistis," he
would saw "Jes' o waitin' for yo trunks. His
rivals had to yield the field but they desDlsed him as
a renegade and traitor because he voted agin bis
own people" One day as the Mayor of the town was
escOrting distinguished Northern General about
the place. they happened to meet this negro express
man and the Mayor said This fellows Demo.
GRAFT they say. Here, Jim. explain TO the General
your political vews.n Jim understood, and farming
TO the Mayor ne replied " You knows my political
views very we'll Mas'r. Has nggers got any trunksp