National Republican., 1883-07-20
A Venerable Darky Who Saw the Girls Of the
Olden Time Kiss Lafayette.
He Was Once Owned by Thomas Sell
den and Waited on Gov Wise.
And He Used 10 Sing "Old Dan Tucker" for the
Politicians in the Polk-Olay Campaign.
Some Sage Reflections on tho DegenerRcy
Of Modern Times.

He has turned 30 years ofage, having been
born in 1892 eight years before the death of
Washington. II must be said, however to the
credit of Uncle Bob that he does not affect
TO belong to that numerous class ofpatriarchal
servants who lay claim to the honor of hav-
ing waited upon the first man of the republic.
In fact, the venerable shoeblack cannot re-
call to his mind any recollection of
Washington, though in his time he has
served many distinguished men, and
his memory is rich with the stirring events
of seventy five and fifty years ago. He was
born the slave of Thomas Sedden, in Far
quier county, Virginia, and upon his death
became the inherited property of James A.
Sedden, afterward secretary of the confeder-
ate states treasury. During a great part of
his slave career he was hired out to other
people, one of his temporary owners being
Henry A, Wise TO whom he bore the relation
of body servant while Mr.. Wise was COVER
nor of Virginia. He was thus brought into
close communion with many of the noted
people of the Old Dominion. Two years be-
fore the war he was hired to Mr.. Matthew
Murray, of Washington city, and he has been
q resident OF the national cap tai ever since.
Recalling his early experiences as q slave,
Uncle Bob said to a reporter yesterday after
noon: never was poor mans slave and
that was a great thing for q coored man in
slave times. If you wanted to insult a
darkey you just say, % youze po' mans
Niger and then you'd see two niggers go to
kicking one another's shins till one hollers.
No sir, tell you Mr.. Sedden was a gentle
man, born gentleman, every inch of him.
He inhaled it from his grandfather, who was
@ Virginny gentleman before / was born.
When was o young man Mr.. James Sod-
den made me his foOtman. He married
Miss Sallie Bruce, the peartest young lady in
Richmond. One day, when the family had
been out riding, the carriage drove up to the
front steps, and got down and opened the
carriage door, but didn't help the ladies out.
Mr.. Sedden came down the long stone steps
and says to mo, "Why, Robert, you ought to
have more gallantee. Why didn't You help
the ladies out !" and l always did it after that.
In these days if a foNtman was to offer to help
lady out she'd be insulted."
Uncle Bob has n vivid recollection of some
of the eccentricities of Gov. Wise. "He was
kinder excitable," said he, "but perfect gen.
teman. Sometimes he would get in Il rage
and throw q book q chair at rvant,
but soon as the mad fit was over he'd give
the servant pair of Shoes a dollar, or some
thing like that l tell you he was a man Of
the creates honor. He would never stoop.
One day he picked up his vest to put it on.
the change rolled out of the pocket, and he
said to me, "By Cd, Robert, / never
stoop-piclk up that money" So =
picks up the money oitun the foo
and put it in my pocket. He was de boss on
etiquctty. | had to wear white socks and
low garter Shoes and have the pants made so
Just as 10 show the white socks. Mr.. Schletfer,
the tailor, made all my clothes One day,
after | had put on new suit, the governor
called me before him. He looked at me all
over very criticumly, and said he to me, says
he, Robert is one of your legs shorter than
tother?" And said, "They boat de same
length" and then he said, " You take that
suit back to that id Dutch tailor and tell
him TO make you some clothes that will
fit" We coored people had about as much
fun as the white tolks-and more too. They
paid for everything, and we didn't. When
we wanted to get up n little dance l went to
the governor, and said, "guv'ner, we servants
would like to have hoe-down such and such
night" He'd say, WELL I'll see Mrs Wise
about it," That'd mean yes, and we'd have
band of music a ascumptious supper. wild wine,
and the white people would come and look at
us. Gov. Wise treated everybody we'll. When
"a gentleman come into his Office he would get
up and say, "Take u seat, sir, what can do
Tor your Now times is changed. Why, If
gentleman was to call to see even one of these
guvnment clerks, who haven't got enough
to pay their board BILL he almost gets kicked
out Tor his impudence."
Uncle Bob took an active part in the Clay
Polk presidential campaign, his capacity be-
ing that of a singer of campaign songs, with
other darkey vocalists, at Clay gatherings.
He described with considerable minuteness
the torchlight professions, the polk stalks,
the coon skins and barbecues of that exciting
political period. He has forgotten most of
the songs he used to sing, but was able to re-
call the following fragment:
Walk along John, you can't stay,
The peoples choice is Henry Clay;
You'd better take your Polk away,
Else wen cover him with Clay.
Aud well never stop nor halt
Until We eat up berries, Polk and stalk.
"Old Dan Tucker" was another song that
created great enthusiasm at the time, and ac-
cording to Uncle BObs versOn was sung as
follows:
Old Dan fuckers nice old man,
He used to ride "a steam engine;
Late one night across the track
The locomotive broke his back.
SO get out Of the way, Old Dan Tucker,
You came too late 10 get your supper;
Get out Of the way, Daniel Tucker,
You CAME too late TO get your supper.
Old -Dar- Tucker he got drunk
He hll in the fire and kicked up chunk;
A rcd hot coal gut in his shoe,
And Lord bless your soul how the ashes flew.
So get out OF the way, &C., &c.
Several years before the war Uncle Bob was
at service in the Powhatan hotel, at Rich
HDnd. There he waited on j. Wilkes Booth
the greater part of three years. According tC
his recollection, Booth was handsome fel'
low, who dressed like a dandy, and who in
this day would be called brilliant
"mashcr." "He want much with the south.
orn ladies" said the speaker, "but all the
actresses and the common women were in
love with him. The southern ladies kinder
looked down ON actors and they does
il yet" Booth was great pistol shot
then and used to go out in the back
yard of the hotel, wheel and FIRE at chicken
cutting of his head (the chickens) every
time. Uncle Bob once saw Mr.. Conklin, the
proprietor of the hotel hold an apple on his
open palm and Booth split it in two with
pistol ball.
Among his early experiences the ancient
bootblack drove for a long time the six horse
stage between FredicksbuTg and Thorny
Point. This was in the ante-railroad days.
Among all the notable events witnessed by
Uncle Bob the reception of Lafayette at Fred
ericksburg made the greatest impression on
his mind. According to his opinion the visit
of the honored Frenchman was the most
exciting and sensational incident that has
happened in this country When Lafayette
was driven to the house where he was to be
entertained silk carpet was stretched from
the street to tho door. This was strewn
with flowers, aud Lafayette walked
between row of twelve beautiful
ladies, all of whom kissed him. But La
fayty was a gentleman" said Uncle Bob, com
menting on this incident, "He didn't think
nothin wrong of this, Now, in desc days
if lady was to kiss a man he'd be at her
back winder soon as night come, singing
lnva ennga IN har - ppnnlp in EredeTlCks,