The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-01
A GREAT OCCASION.

concerned m regard to the future of the negro, and who are constantly endeavor- ing to study his social condition, should have visited Little Rock several days ago upon the occasion of a religious conven- tion, when it seemed that every "cullud pusson" in the south was a delegate Just at Hull between two seasons, when the cultivation of the cotton ends and just before the picking begins, several enterprising negroes chartered railway trains and organized excursions os,ensi- bly to visit Baptist convention. Nearly every man, woman and child Jeff the cot ton plantations and fiocked to the rail- way stations Every train was crowded, and when the dusl<y herd was emptied into Little Rock. the principal streets were almost impossible. The majority of these people had never before seen town, and they wandered around in a state of stumbling amazement. They had been taughtthat the white people of Little Rock were deadly enemies to the colored race, and when they received polite attention from every one, their won- der was increased. Every grade of negro was represented. The old time negro with ha, ,ha, seemed to be a i hundred years old the old woman who had assisted in rearing to manhood scores of children. the humble Guinea negro who calls every white man "marster - the black hawk looking boy ,ha, s,uuers. and the dusky belle of the quarters. all paraded the streets. They waited a; noon tor the blowing of dinner horns. and when al last they failed 10 hear the welcome sound, they grew dissatisfied and condemned municipal customs. When, in an informal way, their appeti,es had been appeased, they shook otf their dissatisfaction and surrendered them selves to the enloymen, of the hour. Gradually feeling their way along the edges of city customs. they finally ad- vaneed so far into civilized life that they were induced to make street car excur- sions. One old man watched the mule for moment and turning to an acquant- ance said Dis mule thinks da, he's doin' mighty heap erwork gwne along wid dis thing, but he doan. know what work smells like. He oughter go down inter de bottoms an ketch hotter blow, ef he wants tase ob work. Dat'd make him lash his ole tail wusser den he does. But let him tell 1t an he's de hardes' worked mule in de state when ef de bottom mules didn't hab nuthin' ter do bu, pull wagin along on iron bars, dad be so happy yer could hear 'em blowin' da'r ho' ns all ober de plantation. Town folks an town mules Jls' alike Thinks da works fur a libin' when da don, do nuthn' but play. ain: seed nobody a, work sence come heah. De nigsers is is as bad as de white folks. Da rides aroun on wasins an Jingles bells iu iron, ob stores, ba, dat's all da does" The car driver ventured the assertion that town people worked harder than the people who live in the country. Yer doan know whut yer talkin' bout" the old ne- gro replied. " Does yer call s,ayn' in de shade hard work: Ef didn': hab nuthin' ter do bu, stay in de shade. yer could heah me whs,lin an singin' all de time. Look aheah." and he be- gan to search his pockets. "whu,s come ob dat dime pu, in dis pocket: Stop dis wagin, fur l'se los dime somewhar. Hole or. Lemme gi, ou,en heah. I x ain't got bu, q n cents noah. an I'll lose da; de tust thing knows. I'm e gwine ter gi. outen dis white tokes town case yer money ain, safe lessen yer holes i; in yer mout an eben den da'll slap yer laws tryin' ter sit d, 1t, Take kere. femme gi, out.
 One of the great objects of the srea. gathering together ot sable ioiiers. was 10 discuss the condition of the negro and his future prospects. In this the political philan,hrophists could have been ot material aid, They could have told the colored man and brother iha, he had been oppressed ever since he left Africa. and that, on account of political misrale of the white people, his condition was unpleasant even before his de- par;u;e ior America. It IS strange that such an opportunity was allowed to pass. for never in ,he future is there likely ,o be such another chance, for the negroes are growing more and more intelligent. and probably by the ;.me the next great assembly is called. the man and brother will have more sense than his self ap- pointed adviser.
 WOULD CONTRIBUTE.