Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1883-12-13
PLANTATION eKsTcHEs.
Funny "Reminiscences Or the Celore4
Mace Daring the Period Just Amer
the wur.

Hamilton JAW IN Detroit Free Press.
The strong point Of the negro has
been his religion, and one Of their old
fashioned rcyiyals is calculated to fully
discourage the devil and all his imps.
After the usual evening services the
pastor leaves the pulpit, and. sur.
rounded by his staff, prepares to battle
with the evil one. The mourners crowd
around the altar praying. grooming and
sllrieking; higher and higher rises the
ii ~ ng and eAhorting, the bodies OF the
SINGERS sway in rhythm with the music,
hands are patted and feet stamp the
floor. Suddenly there is wild shrek,
and one OF the female mourners leaps
into the circle; all her sins are washed
away, and she is SO violently happy
that she wants to go right straight up
t. heaven. Some fall as If in trance,
the voice OF the exhorter takes on .
sterner and more threatening tone, and
the excitement becomes more intense.
Then succeeds calm; nearly all are
converted, and all are exhausted.
Saturday was the negro's natural holt
day, and on that day Tallahassee was
full of them of all classes, conditions,
colors and sizes. Some crowded the
stores, some of them held imprOmptu
business meetings on the corners.
/ Occasionally there was Quitting
match between two stalwart "coons"
unduly excited by cheap whisky. Among
others the political situation was dis
cussed with all the earnestness and
solemnity of old-time statesmen.
/ The negroes would spend their money
in very funny ways, for any article that
took their fancy. Ona OF them fell in
love with large bottle Of cucumber
pickles, price 81. 1t had some fancy
emblems ON which pleased his artistic
eye, SO he bought it, and ont of curios-
ity followed him to see what DISPOSE
ton he would make OF the contents.
He went out under Q tree in the public
square, deliberately sat down with his
precious bottle, uncorked it, and in
the gravest and most dignified manner
imaginable ate every pickle it contained.
and ,hen drank the vinegar.
Hurt him. Why, certainly not! Il
had NO more effect on him than glass
of whisky would have on o professional
drinker, and / expect he is in Leon
county now, ready at any time to vote
for ''de good ole publican party"
Sometimes two old lady friends would
meet Unexpectedly and the following
conversation would ensue:
With an elaborate bow, why, Mis-
Williams! Good mornin', ma'am, how
il yer health dis mornin, ma'am?"
Slight poorly, Mis- Brown, I thank
you, ms'am.. Use done got sort Of
misery in my back, but don complain
much, please God! How is you aud
Elder Brown an de chillen' ma amp"
"rollable; only tollable, Mis- Will
Jams MIR. Brown has sorter risin' on
his hand, but the doctor tole him to
put anarchy on hit. an hits right smart
better now"
Il s'pose you heerd my darter Liza
gwine get married mex month"
"Why, no. Mis- Brown, you s'prise
me! Who shs gwine marry, Mis-
BROWN"
"Why. O. gentleman who works on
Maj. O. plantation. He's q class
leader, too, an kin beat 'em all hollerin'
in prayer. knows the Lord mus hear
himl GOsd-by. ma'am. You mus
come an nee u"
Thank you. I feels proud to do 90.
Mis- Brown, ma'am." And 20 they
separate, each to their little world.
The negro very early in freedom de-
veloped Q surprising enthusiasm over
patent medicines, especially in the
shape Of pills, aud his faith in them rose
TO the sublime. No matter what siled
lim-old. fashioned, universal misery,
cut finger, sore toe or anything else-s
dose Of pills was the first thought, q
refuge in every storm. The negro was
always impatient Of resultA and pre-.
ferred cstharic pills TO any other kind
OF medicine, and o. most Of his ills
either arose from overlooking or were
imaginary, the pills answered. all pur-
poses.
Martial music was the glory Of The
negro and never failed to touch his
heart. On Saturdays, when the town
Was full Of country negroes with their
wives and sweethearts, cousins, uncles
and aunts, let some dusky warrior pro-
duce drum, take his position in the
middle of tho road. strike up o tune,
aud procession would soon be formed
marching. steadily for hours with no
object IN views save TO be behind the
music. And ~ the drum rolled out its
stirring pnsis upon the air, men. women
and children would form in ranks and
follow whore Il led. Happy In the su.
1 prsme idea OF liberty, giving no thought
10 the morrow, trusting the future
with blind. unrsasoning faith, no. hap
pier rsce ever gave . more pictnresque
\ outline 70 history.
i've 1lssAreA Ysars Ages.
(San Fssncisco Chronicle
Our papers to-day have Q. great deal
70 say Of the corruption o. legblatures.
state and national. and of abusea OF