Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-28
JUG.BREAKING FESTIVAL.
A Device by Which the COlOred
Pastors Salary Was Paid.

AaRA 0N1a
the entertainment was to raise money
to pay the pastor of the l5oth street
African Methodist Episcopal church,
and those who we're so fortunate as to
attend the ecclesiastical soiree soon
discovered thatministers O. the gospel,
unlike plumbers and gas companies,
cannot wear out their lives for a
pittance. The entertainment was
novel and original, and worthy OF the
Suez canal projectors. Several weeks
ago thirty little stone jugs were given
out to trustworthy members Of the
church, aud last night the jugs were
brought in to have their noses knocked
off with a hammer, the money count
ed, and the most successful cashier
duly rewarded with presents and the
smiles and congratulations of the sis
tiers at large. A figure of an hour
glass was suspended over the pulpit,
and above it the word Eternity" was
printed, with the inquiry tersely
put, How shall | spend it2'
Tables in front of the altar
groaned under confectionery, ice
cream, bananas, oranges, photo
graph albums, hair brushes, ivory
combs and morocco dressing cases.
Sister Cooper, the vice president Of
the occasion, fitted gracefully along
the board, putting the finishing touch
es to the embarrassing display of del
icacies. Dusky maidens and sombre
colored youths fashionably attired
promenaded up aud down the room
while the elderly warriors in the
church counted their admission tick.
cts and sampled the ice cream to see if
it was properly frozen Several young
swells of the Caucasian type saunter-
ed in and put some loose cash into the
little jugs. Deacon Cooper, whose
secular duties are connected with the
interests of a downtown restaurant,
ratified the jug at judicious intervals
to let the white u%nbelieyers know that
the iudicious prosper even In MOrri-
SANTA. At 9 O'Clock the sexton APP
peared with a formidable hammer for
the demolition of the jugs. While
the congregation were waiting for the
vessels to be smashed the secretary
said a pie would soon be brought over
with three live canaries imprisoned in
its subterranean department. Mean
while there was some lively music by
the choir, consisting Of Miss Susan
Ward, who gave some interesting ex
amples Of overhanded, backhanded
and four part playing. At a quarter
past 8 most of the belated jug holders
had arrived and deposited their wares
on the tables The scene in that par
of the room was mostly antique pot
tery-uot unlike the stoneware bazars
of Alexandropol, where American
Jugs lend an ancient and picturesque
air to those sidewalk booths. Babi 4
we're wheeled down the aisles of the
lecture room by their fond mammas
bright Juvenile shavers in checked
frocks sang quaint little ditties as they
pushed their way among their eldel
sisters in high heeled shoes and tight
circulation stopping dresses.
STONE JUGS DEMOLISHED.
"Mr. johnson, here is your jug,
began the master of ceremonies. A
breathless silence followed. Now
am going to disloeate the jugs nos
with this hammer" Not a muscl,
moved, not a lip quivered, and, with
remorseless, unerring blow of the BIZ
hammer, the superintendent smashed
the jug into a hundred pieces. "Tw,
dollars and thirty eight cents Il
brother johnson. Mr.. Secretary
please record it." The secretary dit
so, and the smashing of jugs went OF
to the end of the feast" Ever,
time the hammer came down on tn
jug the noise was exactly such as on,
hears when Professor Marsh caves il
the petriied sculls of the Deyoniar
age at the Yale college laboratory
The broken jugs were thrown into
box neal the pulpit, and the money
carefully sailed down in a stout liner
bag. The parson, who was CLOSELY
scr~utinizing the proceeding. began Il
breathe quite freely as the bag 6llet
up. The deacon congratulated hin
on the outlook, aud presently thu
young colorcd sgells, who hat
cautiously remained outside th.
church to avoid undue assessments
began to file into the sacred edifc
and make themselves quite at home
much to the satisfaction of the dusk.
bellies in higll heeled shoes, who KEEP
their eyes glued in the direction o
the ice cream. Prizes were thel
awarded to those who had collected
the most money in their Jugs. A hug
meat pie was brought out, with
small cage inside oft. The canarie
were enclosed in this cage and, con
%sequently, could not participate in tn
%devouring OF the interior of the pic
but they did a heap Of smelling" re
marked Chaplain Cooper, as be hand
ed a young man a thirty cent plate O
ice cream with a strawberry in il
When the pie was opened out aer
the birds, and there was a general an
highly e%xhilarating prize scramble
catch them. Several liquids and irui
stands were upset, but the birds wer
finally caught, and the fortunate can
tors carried them home. Paste
Franklin and his staff of assistant
gave thanks to the brethren for thei
aid in conducting the novel sehem
for raising his salary, and at half pas
ten o'clock those who did not hay
carria ,es took "a short cut" for HON,
and the %janitor scaled up the door q
carefully as if it we're the Nations
Park bank.
ROttenness in the Department
Special to the Courier-JournaI
w ACuTNaTo NJ. Or T.