National Republican., 1885-06-06
WANTED TO ApLouRN.

Gays, Detoro the orange developed into
gold mine, and when land agents were
unknown. 1t was of brick, succeed in
imitation of stone. Here aud there the
angry storms, indignant at the palpable
fraud, had torn or portions Of tho outor
garment, leaving tho dingy brick ex-
posed. The building was two stories
high. with basement, aud ornamonted
with heavy columued porticos, from the
floors Of which on hot July day pitch
oxuded like patriotism from the disinter-
ested oitice-seekers who thrOngod the
lobby and the hail. The legislature was
in full session and the scene was u most
animated one. Never In any country
has stranger sight been seen. At one
end of the hall the state senate was in
session. At the other tho house Of as
sembly was incubating, and in the hall
and rotunda negro festival was in pro-
gress, the right to hold 1t within those
sacred precincts having been given by
| solemn vote Of tho assembled statesmen.
IL was an amusing sight, Upon plain
| pine tables, grouped around the halls
rested huge dishes Of chicken stew aud
chicken pie, fankod with cake, pie, bis
| cult and other things calculated to tempt
the legislative appetite. Behind these
sat jolly, laughing "auntics," dressed in
cool calico garments with green boughs
to keep Off tho fies-olive branches car
ried by black doves, as il were, 20 show
that the journey Of tho ark was over and
peace and plenty could bo had. Behind
large tub of lemonade q yellow Venus
| presided, and with seductive smiles and
q tin dipper beguiled dimes and pioayunes
out of thirsty passers-by. Tho center OF
attraction, however. was the watermelon
table, behind which stalwart black,
knife in hapd, shoutedi tat short intervals:
'Yah's your nice slice Of watermillion;
only half dime slice. Walk up GEM
men, an try ID. Get frum un'er dat table,
you trihin' pot-likiu' boy, or III chop
often yer head wild dis yer knife"
Under and around the tables little chill
dren. cuto in their blacknoss. romped and
gamboled, and through the halls and out
on the broad piazzas young girls, with
arms around zach others waists, leisurely
sauntared, their bright oyes flashing as
they caught the admiring glances Of some
proud Caucasiant Old mothers in the
church In little groups discussed some
knotty question in theology, while their
stronger halves crowded the legislature
in open -mouthed aud awesomo wonder at
tho eloquenco and learning there dis
played. There WAS \ profusion of white
| joy and laueh and song. Near the
watermelon table n quartette of happy
young girls sang in q low melodious voice
the song of the Methodist convert. The
song was not loud enough TO disturb tho
| legislature or to be heard very far away,
but to tho young northern invalid Loan
| ing against huge pillar gazing in amused
idleness at the scene, it sounded very
| quaint and sweet.
Inside tho house Of assembly the scene
was equally animated, but hardly more
dignifed. A white member, so drunk
that he could hardly keep his seat, was
gazing at the speaker with oHl.like
| gravity. One or two OF the negroes, with
thumbs stuck In the ragged srmholes Of
thoir wAistcoats, in humble imitation Of
some of their white confreres, strutted
about the floor. Others, bolt upright in
| their seats, munohed peanuts, to tho
| droning accompaniment Of the reading
clerks voice. as he hastily called the vote
on minor bills. From my coign Of van.
tage near the speakers chair watched
the changing scene.
Tho Rev. Soiplo Palma, member from
Dug Out, was growing terribly impa-
tient. Never to him had the session
seemed 80 long. The Rev. Scipio dur
| ing the slave tinos had been the driver
|
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 little
he had no trouble in doing so. Now he
was in grave trouble. He was great
lover Of watermelon. Every once in
while he could hear the noise aud con-
fusion Of the festival, and he squirmed
In his chair as though covered with hehs.
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. water
million on'y 10 cents Slice" He
became more and more uneasy. Az last
q bright idea struck him, and leaping to
his feet he shouted at the top Of his pow
erful voice: "Mistah Speakah ~ All
Dyes were turned in his direction, and
the speaker announced "The gentleman
from Dug Out has tho floor" From tho
corridor eamo the cry: Look at dis boss
watermillion. See how red his insides
am. oh, my amt him n whopper, an
on'y dime slice"
The Rev. Scipio was sight. He was
bathed in perspiration, and his eyes were
nearly starting from his head. as ho
glanced anxiously at the door. In re-
sponse to the speakers recognition, he
yelled with frantic energy: "Mistah
Speakah, moves dat we now deourn."
From tho other side Of the house tall,
thin white man arose. and, pointing his
long fore6nger at Soipio, said: II sim
cerely hope that the gentleman from Dug
Out will withdraw his motion. We have
very important measure now pending
bebore the house. The discussion cannot
possibly last over three hours, and ex-
pect that the honorable gentleman him
self will like to be heard on the subject"
"WatsrmillioD, nice, juicy watermil-
lion, on'y dime slice" was heard in
the corridor.
"Did un'stand dat white man to say
tree hoursP" inquired the black clergy
man.
"Yes; think that wo will be able to
close the contemplated debate in about
three hours. i see no cause for the gen.
tleman's excessive agitation, although, of
course, he should be deeply interested in
il, as IL is q measure for the amelioration
Of the condition of his own race"
"0nly threo moro slices OF dis boss
watermillion left! Who'll hab de mex
oneW from the corridor.
The hair on the head Of Rev. Soipio
stood straight up. "Gorra mighty" said
he, shaking his fist at the white member.
"does you hea' dat2 You kin all stay
here Off you wanter, but i is gwintsr de-
journ right now" and, seizing his hat, he
bolted out Of tho room. and soon was up
TO his eyes in luscious melon.-NeiU York
Sun.
A Mock Polar Bear Hunt.
l. -.