Middletown transcript., 1888-12-13
A SHARP GEORGIAN.


winter, without a dollar and without
la friend, his first impulse was to end
his troubles by jumping from Brooklyn
bridge.
Burton was . young Georgian who
had come to the great city to win his
| way in journalism or literature. it
did not take him long to make the dis
coyery that there was no place for him.
/ For two weeks he visited numerous
editorial sanctums and urged the edirt
tors to read some Of his articles.
Everywhere he xeceiyed the same an
swer. They wee oyerstocked with
manuscripts and were compelled. to re-
fleet much that Was really good. The
poor fellow could not even persuade an
editor to read his stories and essays;
The youngster had been SO confident
of success, and had felt SO certain that
a remittance from his father would
reach him on the first Of the month,
that be spent his money freely, and one
cold morning he found that his pocket
book contained only few dimes and
Inickles. Fortunately his room rent
did not bother him, as he had paid in
| advance for whole quarter. But he
had to eat. Aftera moments reflection
he went out and returned with loaf OF
bread. This was made to do for his
breakfast.
The next day Burton was so raven
ously hungry that he spent bis last
quarter for a substantial meal. Then
be went back to his room to think over
the situation.
''No work and no money" he said
to himself, sand no prospect OF any.
Shall / jump into the river or use my
razor fp
He was very blue. The expected re-
| mittance had been delayed SO long
that he had given up all hope. He had
no money to spend in telegraphing,
and it would have done no good, as his
father lived out in the country many
miles from the nearest railroad station.
Without immediate help it was clear
he would perish.
AS these gloomy thoughts revolyed
through his mind, his eyes fell upon q
manuscript lying on the table. He
hastily picked it up.
s'Here is my profound article on the
negro problem, . be said, with q bitter
smile. s'I felt absolutely certain that
Tarper's Magazine would take it, and
pay me at least fifty dollars for it.
Tmper seems to have negro craze,
but / made a failure, as usual. Per-
haps if a negro had written the thing
Eit would have been accepted. /"
AS Burton said this he broke into a
loud laugh. Then he paused for mo-
ment and walked the floor excitedly.
"It may be a crazy scheme," !" he ex-
Il u q 5 4laFlr
claimed, ssbut I'll try it,"
The young man opened his trunk,
and from the very bottom drew forth
a queer assortment of articles. He
placed short, kinky wig on the table.
and then went to work to prepare some
burnt cork.
s'My amateur negro minstrel exper-
ience,'' he muttered, "may be of some.
benefit to me. I defy any of these yam
KEGS to penetrate my disguise. Thank
the Lord, my nose is fiat enough"
Rapidly and skillfully, the Georgian
proceeded to black his face and hands.
He took pains with the work, and at
the end of half an hour his shining
black face was masterpiece of art.
His costume did not bother him. 1t
was his intention to assume the rule of
an educated, gentlemanly negro, who
had been driven from the south by race
prejudice. It would not be necessary
for him to assume either the dress or
the dialect Of plantation negro. A
mellow African twang would carry
him through admirably.
He surveyed himself in the glass,
and pronounced his makeup simply
perfection.
"Will the Tarpers recollect my man
uscriptp" he asked himself. "It is not
likely. The editor glanced at a page
or two, but don't believe he read a
word of it. I'll not change even the
title. Perhaps a niger will succeed
where the white man failed"
An hour later a'dignifed man with
a face as black as midnight sat in the
editorial sanctum of the Tarpers, care
lessly playing with his cane.
81 regard your article" said the edi-
tor, 'as one of great interest and
value. Will you wait until I have a
talk with Mr.. Tarper ?"
The visitor with the ebony face and
the kinky hair replied that haWld
wait with pleasure. During the cdr
tors brief absence he walked to the
window and surveyed the busy street
below.
aWhat great thing it is to be an
ex-slave with black skin, !" he growl-
ed. ''If that crank had met me as
John Burton, a southern gentleman in
search of employment, he would have
shown me the door, just as he did a
week ago."
Just then the editor returned with q
mild looking man whom he introduced
as Mr.. Tarper.
The great magazine publisher was
very affable. ''I have always thought" "
he said, THAT some of our best ltera-
ture would come from your race. Your
article is a strong one, and ] believe
that it will cause sensation"
ga fellow came here the other day.