New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-06-23
THE HUMoR. OF THE NEGRO.


His Practical Jokes and their Results.
How, Whom, Who're and Why he
Laughs.
Eustis (Fla.) Corr. New York San.
The genuine southern negro is def
Gent in wit, but opulent IN humor.
His thick skull will turn the edge OF a
rapier, but is susceptible to the crush
of the bludgeon. The humor must be
of the broadest kind for him to thor
oughly enjoy it. Practical jokes are
his profound delight. They are not
elusive, and are easily understood.
Sambo not only laughs himself, but IS
a source OF laughter in others. In
this he is a public benefactor. He.
gilds many an hour that otherwise
would be very gloomy. His grotesaue.
looks when under excitement. his pro-.
found interest in abstruse questions
and the curious fatality with which he
mixes information obtained from high
er walks OF life make him a bas-relief
on the walls OF time. Surely we are
blessed beyond our deserts. lnreturn
for his freedom and the inestlmable
privilege OF selling his vote he makes
us laugh. He laughs, too, and laughs
best. There may be an element OF
languor in our laughter, but his is
hearty. rollicking and uncontrolled.
AS the originator Of sense OF hui
NOR in others, the negro is success.
One OF them gravely regarding the ef
forts OF his employer to open a bur.
glar-proof safe, broke the silence with
''Boss, you done los de composition,
haint you"'
The same negro was the butt OF the
little town he honored with his socle-
ty. Very fond OF ''red eye" he was
continually in trouble with the law.
1t was his boast that he had built all
the, sidewalk from the hotel to a GER
tain cross street two blocks away.
The fines collected from him had been
applied to that purpose. Arrested for
being drunk and disorderly, he was
bailed, the trial being put off until the
next morning. Some OF the young
white men OF the place told him that
if he would plead justifiable homicide
the mayor would let him of without
fine or Imprisonment. On the morn
ing OF the trial the courtroom was
crowded. The mayor, a venerable
|. old gentleman Of somewhat int1am-
matory temperament. sat enthroned
in awful dignity. The prisoner at the
bar looked a little bit shaky at first,
bat seeing so many of his white friends
present he regained his confidence and
assumed the attitude OF one who
knows his rights, and knowing dares
maintain them. Said the mayor:
Henry, you are charged with being
drunk and disorderly. What have
you got to say?"
Boss was the reply, ~ pleads
Suitable homeyside," and he beamed
benignantly on his honor.
There was an uproarous shout Of
laughter, in which the mayor was
forced to join. Henry escaped that
time. Sent to the drug store after
some tincture ofcantharides, the near
est he could come to it was, ''distink-
shun peradies. A day or two after
ward he was after some sob dis we're
peculiar intment." MercuriaI was the
word that had thrown him.
AS a prat tical Joker the negro has
no superior, and if the joke is one that
will cause distress he is so much the
more satisfied. At Lake City, some
years ago, some of them caught a
hawk and dipped it in kerosene oil.
Then touching a lighted match to the
neck feathers, they tossed the bird in
to the air. 1t made brilliant specta-
Gle for a moment, and then, with an
agonizing squawk, came to the ground.
The negroes were delighted beyond
measure, and rolled over each other
in,paroxysms Of laughter.
Sitting or standing around camp
fire along the track Of one Of our rail-
roads were several section hands,
talking over different good meals they
had enjoyed. Sitting cross legged on a
horse was young negro listening
eagerly to the description Of savory
viands. At last one touched upon
the coon, and the others, recognizing
/ a;superior soul, became silent.
';Take er nice fat coon," said the
sable orator, "pa' bile i'm, roas' i'm,
sarb i'm up wild plenty grady an sweet
! taters."
Here the negro on the horse could
stand it no longer. He had followed
every. movement OF the speaker, his
nostrils Tapping widely as if he would
catch the scent OF the coon, his lips
working convulsively. Now he broke
in with "Hush you mouf, you fool
niggah, er I'll fall right often dis boss
The nearest approach to wit on the
part OF the negro was that Of the old
preacher at revival. Hearing some
incohefent noise in the rear of the
room that disturbed the pious pro
ceedi1sgs, he exclaimed angrily: ''What
fool niggah is dat prayin' down by; de
do?"
Came the reply: cts brudder John
son.
"Well, let some niggah pray what s
better 'quainted wild de Lord"
Johnson being q notorious chicken
thief, the parson didn't have faith i'll
bis prayers.
Preachers figure largely in the humor
Of therace. Probably this is owing to
their prominence as leaders of their