The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-16

ten davs vacation at winter holidays |
as the people of color. 1t was con
tinuous round of genuine enjoyment |
and festivity to them, and other peo-
pie were happy because the colored
folks were more so.
Among the slave owners were the
Tomlinsons, Bruces. Sides, Cum
ninghams. Bealls, Fairalls, Thistles.
Sloans, Newmans and others. But
how wonderful the change within the
last generation. In a population of
over 1000 souls in this district not
solitary colored person is to be found.
All gone. Not just in 1.-THE way of all
flesh" but disappeared, and the van
ishment of the old masters from this
midst, and their progeny is almost as
complete. These we'll known and re-
spectacle names are still remembered
by many, but supplanted by others
now more familiar to the new gener-
alton.
lam induced to give to the public
through your acceptable columns
most interesting incident of that, the
hardest of all institutions in organlz-
ed society, human slavery, which In
cident transspired in the past genera
ton, only a few miles from this point,
and Just as it shall be detailed.
Among those already mentioned was
one who came to this community
over so years ago, from Georgetown,
d. He brought with him large
family of children, and also a goodly
amount of the then byped property.
| The number of his slaves increased
rapidly in the beginning, butin time
began to shrink on account of deaths,
necessitated sales to the South, and
occasionally run away" The old
man lost his wife during the war of
1872, and in the run of the events all
his children by marriages and remov-
ais. For a number of years he lived
a solitary life on his estate, none to
minister to him in his old age except
his slaves, among them several old
matrons. OF a winter morning of
1888, the old gentleman was found
dead in his bed. Suspicion of violence
was excited to some extent, but no
arrest, not even a coroner's inquest ;
thing then by the way of very slight
acquaintance. No doubt the lonely
one died as he should. Among his
human assets were an exceedingly
bright, "likely" and intelligent boy
with the ambitious name of Jerome !;
and also a sister Of the same fair COM
pIexion named Lousia. jerome was
then about II years of age, and as in
telligent as any white man in the
neighborhood, indeed his associates
were chiefly in that relation. Poor
Lousia with her beautiful blonde COIN
pleXion, and flowing raven hair, was
sold like the trumpery of the dilapi-
dated estate. No doubt the records
of one of the ALegany Courts would
show an entry something like this :
Cash received for cOlOred woman,
1894. Whata misnomer unless "col-
Ored" was intended for white. But
the astute Jerome Jared differently.
Just as he was maturing for the cot
ton fields of Georgia, he ran away,
and so effectually, that no one for
nearly so years, has known anything
about his whereabouts. However, a
few years before the late civil war, a
gentleman of elegant appearance and
address, halted at the Stone House
hotel, three miles east of this, and in
quired for the only surviving son of
the deceased just mentioned. 1t so
happened that the person anXi0usly
sought for was then upon the prem
ises. The stranger appeared to eX-
perience great pleasure and interest,
in his new acquaintance, and propos-
ed to visit him at his home, Il few
miles away. The visit was made to
the plain old farmers home by the
gentlemanly stranger, and much en-
joyed for several days. At last the
guest proposed to his host to take a
walk over the farm. Some appre-
tensions were aroused among the
amiable family, and some of them
Swallowed the strollers in their walk.
After while small field, with Grad
icated trees and stumps. on an angle
of the farm was reached. Here the
stranger inquired ofhis new acquaint-
auce, if he coulG tell who cleared the
field, which he was gazing upon with
so much interest. EYES," was the
ready response, a mulato boy by the
name of Jerome. belonging to my
fathers estate of which / was the
administrator. He ran away many
years ago, and has never been heard
of since. lam Jerome was the truth
full rejoinder shock and a long
silence was the result. Jerome told
his friend that his visit was about