Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-20
A NEGROES TEMPTATION.
Scene in the Old Tallahassee Capitol In
the Days of Reconstruction.

angry sIOIHss indignant at the palpable
fraud, had torn off portions of the outer
garment, leaving the dingy brick ex-
posed. The building was two stories
high, with a basement, and ornamented
with heavy columned porticos. from the
| floors of which on a hot july dav pitch
eNuded like patriotism from the disinter-
ested ofhce-seekers who thrOnged the lob
6v and the hall The Legislature was in
fun session and the scene was a most
animated one. Never in any country has
a stranger sight been seen. At one end of
the hall the State Senatewas in session. At
the other the House of Assembly was in
cubaung, and in the hall and rOtuuda a
negro festival was In progress, the right
to hold ii within those sacred precincts
having been given by the solemn vote of
the assembled statesmen.
1t was an amusing sight. Upon plain
pine tables, grouped around the halls
| rested huge dishes of chicken stew and
chicken pie, fanked with cake, pie. bis
cult and other things calculated to tempt
the legislative appetite. Behind these sat
jolly, laughing ''aunties," dressed in cool
calico garments, with green bOughs to keep
OIL the fies-olive branches carried by
black doves, as it were, to show that the
journey of the ark was over and peace
and plenty could be had. Behind large
tub of lemonade yellow Venus presided
and with seductive smiles aud a tin dip
per beguiled the dimes and picayunes out
of thirsty passers by. The centre of at
traction, however, was the watermelon
table, behind which stalwart black,
knife in hand, shouted: "Yaa's your
nice slice 90 watermilliOn; only half a
dime a slice. Walk up gem'men, an try
it. Git frum une't dat table. you triflin'
pot-licktn' boy or Fle chop often yer head
wild dis yer knife"
Under and around the tables little
children, cute in their blackness, romped
and gambolled, and through the halls and
out on the broad piazzas young girls, with
arms around each others waists. leasure-
ly sauntered, their bright eyes flashing as
they caught the admiring glance of some
| proud Caucasian. Old mothers in the
church in little groups discussed some
/ knOtty question in theology, while their
stronger halves crowded the Legislature
in open-mOuthed and awesome wonder at
the eloquence and learning there dis
played. There was prOfusiOn of white
dresses and gorgeous ribbons, and all
was joy, and laughter and song. Near
the watermelon table a quartet of happy
/ young girls sang in low and melodiOus
voice the song of the Methodist convert.
The song was not loud enough to disturb
the Legislature or be heard very tar away,
| but to the young Northern invalid, leaning
against huge pillar gazing in amused
idleness at the scene, it sounded very
/ quaint and sweet.
Inside the House of Assembly the scene
was equally animated, but hardly more
| dignihed. A white member, so drunk that
/ he could hardly keep his seat, was gazing
| at the Speaker with Owl-like gravity. One
| or two of the negroes. thumbs stuck in
! the ragged armhOles of their waistcOats,in
| humble imitation of some of their white
| cOnfreres, strutted about the floor. 9th
ers, bolt upright in their seats, munched
peanuts, to the droning accompaniment of
the reading Clerks voice, as he hastily
| called the vote on minor bills. From my
coign of vantage near the Speakers chair
l watched the changing scene.
The Rev. ScipiO Palma, member from
! Dug Out, was growing terribly impa-
tient. Never to him had the session
| seemed so long. The Rev. ScIpiO during
slave times had been the driver OF the
family coach, but after he became free,
/ having noticed that the negro preachers
did no hard work and always looked fat
| and glossy, he decided to Join that ilk,
| and being able to read a little he had no
! trouble in doing so. Now he was in grave
! trouble. He was a great lover of water
/ melon. Every once and while ne could
/ hear the noise and confusion of the festi-
val. and he squirmed in his chair as
| though covered with feas. He did not
know but what he would be expelled if he
| left before adjournment, and as he was
getting $40 day for his services he dared
| not risk the venture. Still from the hall
came the cry, "Watermillion only 10
cents a slice" This made him more and
more uneasy. AT last "A bright idea struck
| him, and leaping 20 his feet he snt uted at
the top of ms powerful voice: "Mistah
Speakahw All eyes were turned in his
direction as the Speaker announced:
'.The gentleman from Dug Out has the
floor" From the corridor came the cry:
Look at dis boss watermillion. See
how red him insides am. o, my amt him
a whopper an only dime a slice"
The Rev. Scipo was a sight. He was
bathed with perspiration, and his eyes
were nearly starting from his head as he
glanced anXiously at the door, In re-
spOnse to the Speakers recognition he
/ yelled with frantic energy:
"Mistah Speakah, / moves dat we do
| now deiOurn."
From the other side Of the house a tall,
/ thin white man arose, and pointing his
/ long forefnger at ScipiO said:
/ II sincerely hope that the gentleman
| from Dug out will withdraw his motion.
/ We have a very important measure now
/ pending before the House. The discussion
/ cannot possibly last over three hours,
! and | expect the honorable gentleman
himself would like TO be heard on the sub
wv atermillion, nice juicy watermil!on,
on'y dime a slice!' was heard on the
"Dld / un'erstan' dat white man say
tree hoursY" inquired the black clergy
man.
ayes. think we well be able 70 close
the contemplated debate ia about three
hours. see no cause for the gentleman's
excessive agitation, although, Of course,
be should be deeply interested IN IL, as ~
is measure for the amelioratlon OF the
condition Of hisown race"
"On'y free mo- slices Oh dis boss water.
million leIi Who'll nab the next oneF'
from the corridor.
The wool on the head Of the Rev. sclpio
stood straight W.
"Gorra mighty" said he. shaking his
fist at the white member, "d0es you here
datg You kin ali stay here II yer wan
ter. but pse gwinter dei0um right now
aud Selling his hat, he was soon up % ms
eyes ia a lucious melon.
HAMILTON JAY.