The Portland daily press., 1882-04-10
Our Continent.
Some Selections from It's Pages.

Judge Tourgees venture, Our Continent, is
steadily gaining in popular favor, and has al
| ready made for itself good place in American
periodical literature. The first numbers we're
rather Disappointing perhaps because the ex-
pectationsof the public were raised to an undue
pitch by the promises in the preliminary an
nouncements, and because the contributors,
many of them distinguished in literature, were
not at their best at the start. The cumbrous
form OF the weekly and the awkward cover in
which it was enveloped also made against 1t.
But these defects have been done away with.
The Objectionable cover has been dropped.
The writers have got their pace, and Our Con-
tinent is now most entertaining weekly pa
per, replete with excellent and diversified mat
ter. 1t excels in short stories, its essays on
social and literary topics are admirably hap-
died, its editorial articles are terse and timely,
its poetry is not bad, and its illustrations are
fine. Below We give few tastes of its
quality:
SOME OF UNCLE REsIUs's VIEWS.
The Rev. Jeems Henry breaches to large
colored congregation in Atlanta, and he is not
only respected by his own race, but by the
whites as we'll He is energetic persistent and
devout, and in the midst of it all. he manages
to keep an eye on Uncle Remus, In
whose spiritual welfare he manifes.s
great interest. Uncle Remus is many
years older than the Rev. Jeems Henry, and
his attitude toward the preacher Is one of pa
ternal respect. The old man, however, is ac-
customed to listen to the lectures Of his young
friend with an air Of listless and patient indif-
ference which, when Uncle Remus's restless
and fiery disposition is taken into considera-
ton, Is the next thing to dramatic art OF very
hiob crdar---if dramatic art lies anVWhHr6
the neighborhood of stimulation. Recently the
two met on street corner. Brother Jeems
Henry was going forth upon mission con-
nected with his church, while Uncle Remus
vas gazing anxiously at the cloudy skies.
"Bless you, Brother Remusl" exclaimed the
preacher by way of salutation, "How you
come on this mighty long time?"
"Middlin', Brer Jeems Henry-des middlin'.
I'm some'rs 'twix' de po'-house en- de doctor
shop, .yit glad fun nay heart dat faint no
wuss."
That's what tells 'em all, Brother RemuS.
They ought to be thankful for what they've
got. hope soon to see you workin' in the
vineyard, Brother Remus. The harvest IS
waitin' an the labor few"
'sDat so, Brer Jeems Henry; 1 STAINS wild
you dar, sho. But de mo'est wat er ole Grip
pie niger lax me kin do dish yer kinder we'd
der is ter set down en- wait fer watermillion
time"
"All the same Brother Remus, the Marster's
work is got to be DONE"
81 amt 'sputin' dat, Brer Jeems Henry, en- L
amt gwineter 'sp1te it-kaze wen sees you
peradin' roun', en- promernnrdln' up en- down
wild yo' stannin' collier q stickin' up, en- yo'
stove-pipe hat shinin' en- yo' black frock coat
floppin', den it seems like ter me / done miss
my calm"
''How is that, Brother Remus?"
"Hit's des dis away, Brer Jeems Henry.
Wen my bag er meal run dry, en- my little
rasher er bacon disrepear fun de cubberd, whar
+ yWipa oft m mo canniu I sail gruffiA
'roun' arter 1t? En yit, ef wuz stoopin' up
erds in yo' shoes, Brer Jeems Henry, dey amt
kin be much Nv scuffie."
"How so, Brother Remus?' asked the
preacher with an uneasy smile.
"Monst'us easy, Brer Jeems Henry, monst-
us easy. I'd ten de speunce meetin', like ter
neght, on let drap er hint, en- Id ten de pr'ar
meetin', like day after ter-morrer night, en let
drap n'er hint. By Sunday de scheme 'ud
be plum ripe, en- den I'd rise upon rap de con-
gregation ter order, en- line out .Ye livin' mems
come view de ground; en- und' kivver or DAT,
I'd SEN 'roun' de contribution plate, en-, l
boun' you, de mex time folks come wisitin'
'roun' me, dey'd be bag er meal. en- a rasher
bacon, en- jug er lasses in de cubberd Dat
dey would, honey"
'sYou doin' us both injustice when you talk
in that style, Brother Remus, said the preach
Ter de contraries er dat, Brer Jeems Hen
ry' responded Uncle Remus, 81 amt mix
de pogrance vat no. count ole niger name
Remls would er laid out, perwidin' dat his
streak er luck had er bin de lenk en- breadt er
yone."
At this point, Brother Jeems Henry con-
clnded to change the subject.
"Well, wish you'd come down TO class-neet-
in next Sunday, Brother Remus A lady
from Liberia is expected to make little talk.
She's at our house now, an you might come
down and get acquainted with her"
x,cjc lToo,lac HanFvf fnu nm
amin days is done gone. l seen de time, en-
'taint been so mighty long, go, n'er, wen I'd
des jump at de chance ferter call on dish yer
lady, en- it'd done yo' heart good fer ter see me
sidin' roun' 'er blue pidiin on top er de barn
continued the old man-"Ain't dish yer lady
got 'scription paper long wild 'er?''
81 don't know II she amt, Brother Remus,"
replied Brother Jeems Henry, after a pause.
ssAh-yi! dat W at think. She got scrip
tion paper en- she hail fun some s'ciety er
n'er, way off yam, wat nobody amt never
year talk un, en- she'll git up dar befo' you all
wild a bokay er coffee weeds en- pepper pods, en-
shell natally intrance you wild de niceness er
dat country; en- den, 10 en- beholes, oineby
she'll out wild dat 'scription paper, en- she'll
up'n say dat bein's how dem folks cross dar-
gittn on mighty poly wild der coffee weeds en-
der pepper pods, she hope en- trus dat eve'y
body fling in sump'n eff faint muffin but a
thrip; en- den Brer Rastus'll slap his han ter
tie en- jingle, en- de mex town wat de ladyll
strak, she'll strak it wild a bran new bonnet.
No use to tell me, Brer Jeems Henry. done
bin dar. done bin seasoned win um."
Brother Jeems Henry here consulted an i'm
mense silver watch, while Uncle Remus went
on:
''No, Brer Jeems Henry; Of you see dat lady
en- she AK after me by name, you up'n tell 'er
dat sent er howd'y, but don't 60 no fudder;
des take yo' stan pun dat. Den ef she take'n
press de question, take off yo' hat en- tell 'er
dat wiles you wuz roamin' 'roun' you met up
wild er ole niger wat got mo- gray hairs dan
he is money, en- dis ole Niger he up'n lowed,
he did, dat ef 'tain't no fudder fun de meetin'-
house ter de chicken-coop in dat Liberious
country dan W at tbs in dish Nunited State er
Georgy, den dey's lots er trouble all 'roun' do
worril. Gun er dat, en- let 'er CO."
As the preacher, smiling In spite of himself,
turned to go forth upon his mission, he was fol-
lowed by the sonorous voice of Uncle Remus:
"Put my name in yo' pra'rs, Brer Jeerns