The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-09-18
RICE FIELD HANDS.
WAYS AND IRREGULARITIES or SOME
s SOUTH CAROLINA oARKlES.
How. the Colored ExcursIonist Enjoys q
Trip on the Rail Getting Meal
sEE % BY strategy-Funerai 90
-.#.s# sFn. b.. caalons-Death. ..a.| r

more pure enjoy ment ana sap OUT OF TINS
bloodless turnip Of o world than any other
being under the sun. He Is the only species
Of man that can 60 to sleep standing up,
and in his mental makeup he is % consti-
tuted as to be absolutely proof against the
corrosions of care. In his normal condition
he Is lethargic and comatose. The hum Of
the busy world may be music to him, but it
is the music that lulls TO repose. al
There are two occasions. however, on
which he throws aside his lethargy end
fairly revels in enthusiasm that tin
giles in every fiber Of his being
These two occasions are excursions and
funerals have seen one buy q 800-mils
round trip excursion ticket and dance into
the train in q grinning ecstasy OF delight
when knew that he did not have o crumb
Of bread or q cent Of money to carry with
him. He had q faith like Eiisha's that
somehow he would be fed; and IL during his
trip he missed four or FIVE meals in success
sion, It did not materially interfere with his
enjoyment When dinner time came he
would 90 10 the cooler. swallow o glass Of
water, tighten his belt notch or two, and
return to his seat to enjoy the scenery. The
main ruse Of the colored excursionist, who Is
in strange city, Is to make q new acquaint-
ance of his own color and then brace him for
q square meal The victim Ii generally more
social than suspicious and probably never
suspects the real object Of his new acquaint-
ance, even after IL had bean accomplished.
The excursionist, II he Is an elderly negro.
will select a man about his own age, who Is
lounging on dock or in the shade of wall,
and approach him very nonchalantly at first.
The following conversation tells the tale
better than can: t.. =
Excursionist (syeing his victim closely
Amt tink, say, see you som'ers TO TO-
dayf ...t ... .e-..a. s...a. I'D. -....-
Victim-Huhi r,..... -
Excursionist- Yo' face mind me o cousin
Jim. He dead do now. ''''.-5
Victim--Who, met ... .... Z. ra re...r b
Excursionist- -'Scuse me; tho't You Is
gemman I meet down to Yam'ses, time de
big meetin' dere. a
Victim Frightening up-You ain't cum
way FUN Yam'see, Is youi lv Ts. sar
Excursionist-Mei bawn two mile
FUN dere Amt my cousin Lucy Ann
Willyums marry Pete what pump de water
st de depoti f5..ft 'ai 1904
Victim dumping up and holding out his
hand)-Ohl Hush; you amt Lucy AIMS
cousini Vas, you Is, case you wouldn't
know her of you wasn't Come yer. brud-
der, and tell me bout all dem foxes down
da'. You know heah. ginst left, dat lots
o foxes die of after dat big meeting. Is
you heah SO. tool ta- ~. -.' : ""4 f.
Excursionist-Yas; bin dore, Etsll you.
Dey had sumfin lik' hygollicum fips OATS
what de doctor said. ] tink dey eat too
much Do dat amt gwine hurt me- ain't
eat nuth'n to-day. "s ..~.. sag q
! Victim You aintl Why law met wha'
you hini Bin trabblin. ehi Foxes can't eat
and trabbls. You 60 hum wild me. Ny ole
oman kin rake up vittlsa Vas you come
on wild me. r5
Excursionist--I is Having made his
jack tho excursionist Is happy. So Is his vic
tim ...-... .s..--. ....-...t .
But funeral Is perfect god-send to .
negro settlement in the rice country. Be-
sides having the advantage over an excur-
sion Of being free, 1t has no official to doni
neer over those who arc ambi-
tious to play prominent part in
the sxsrcises Aftor giving the chief
places to the mourners, the rest Of the COM
munity engage In q sort of elbow and hust-
ling tournament for the sub position of
prominence The number Of pall-bearers Ia
only limited by the length Of the coffin, and
every man for five miles round who has
been licensed to exhort is going to have q
| lick at the career OF the deceased, II the
grave has to be filled by moonlight; and
every man who has an old. tried and tooth
worn prayer will bring it In at the funeral
IL he has to drag 1t in backwards by the
tail" .,. -F. ....-...ls -a.,g... ....
| The prominent and peculiar traits Of the
/ deceased are a theme OF discussion and are
| dwelt upon with fondness and detail fer
weeks after the funeral, or until another
shall take his place. The deceased may
have been worthless drone beneath notice
or contempt while living, but death hangs q
halo Of the most fascinating romance around
his late career, and the recollection OF his
most trivial deeds and sayings are treasured
mp as too holy to be unveiled, save In thu
hours Of solemn meditation and religion,
reverie. This weil-known fact enables CUT
fee to look forward to his departure with a
| complacency TO which his Caucasian brothei
Is q stranger, and into the ecstasy Of which
be can never enter. !fH - E's'F
What terror can death have for the hsrt
Of the marshy rice field. when it will pu
hi, nAme in all the mouths Of the work
around him, and make him the subject o
pF4yevs and songs and subdued conversa
tionl His past Shortcomings do not troubl
him much a. he nears the, borders Of th
phantom land, and prepares to launch on
In the great darkness OF death. By legsr
dsmain OF will power peculiar TO his wsy b
manages to forget bis fraiitisx And viii
him . sin forgot is q sin forgiven -
While he gasps for breath with the eye o
faith he gn2es into the eternal Kingdom A
4 the Indian seeks . shunting-ground Tor hi
| slysium, and the Arab OF the desert pray
for home Mt last among percolating fount
aine and pendant fruits, so the rice del
| African models his heaven alter his ow
| desires To him it Is place Of radian
/ light and rapid music, and harps and palm
and nothing to do .,.s.,., s..