The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-15
JERSEY COLORS TRAIL.
They Sink Before the Dusky
but Artistic Bellies Of
New York.

"Umpah,' said a young gentleman OF
color, scornfully, as he stood in the vesti-
bule of Zion M E. Church last evening.
Il knowed dem New Workers was feered
to show up. Dey knows faint no use to
drill 'longside de Jersey City grub sling
ers.r
He did not use that term as one of re-
proach, but merely wished to indicate the
celerity with which the young ladies to
whom he referred could handle their gilt
tering waiters-insignia of their profess
sion. Sixteen of them were to contest at
the Zion church fair with an equal num-
Der picked from the deftest handed maid
ems in the metropolis.
! passed into the church auditorium
where the drill was to take place. About
three hundred people of mixed shades of
complexion fringed the sides and rear of
an open square, and row of ultra-brl-
pette faces peeped over the gallery rail
upon the scene below.
AN EXHIBITION DRILL.
The New Yorkers hadn't put in an ap-
pearance at ten O'Clock, and the Jersey
City platoon decided to give an exhibition
drill. Miss Stella jackson, very darkly
Completed young girl, struck up
pretty march on the organ. A door at
far end of the room opened and the
platoon filed in. Sixteen of Jersey City's
fairest-of color warranted not TO fade
neatly apparelled in black. with white
collars, cuffs, aprons and caps with tinsel
bands, marched up the aisle and halted
in the open space.
They did not. as Tom Noonan would
say, .come fiuttering on angelic WINGS"
but they were-to use Toms vernacular-
ttroyal, buxom. bouncing maidens," who
marched with measured tread.
nhpN carried irnifatiVA silver VVa{fqrq
with which they went through series of
manCeveres. They presented walters,
rested walters, backed walters with such
rapidity as to dazzle the eyes of critical
Captain Jordan, who sat by delighted
spectator, till the tears ran down his side
whiskers, Then theysgave an exhibition
of fancy marching, after which they filed
out to make way for the New York con-
tingent, which had just made made con-
nection and stood ready for the fray.
DEFEAT.
The Jersey City mattresses were cap
tanned by Miss Nellie Simpson, who was
distinguished by white sash, and who
for modest department would make the
gallant young captain in "Erminie' put
vail over her face and muzzle her
tongue. The platoon We're Misses Evelyn
and Maggie Baker, Mary King, Mary
Furrell, NJ A. Bryant, Mary Harris,
Esther Gippard, Sadie johnson, j. p.
H. W. Turntine and Miss Allen.
regret to state that the New York
platoon drilled all around our home
mattresses; they were dressed the same,
but carried imitation of gold walters.
After going through the waitress drill,
marching and countermarching, forming
of double and single ranks, fours right,
crosses and squares-Je Jersey City squares
included-they capped the climax by
marching under the Brooklyn Bridge.
which they constructed by holding their
walters aloft. This evolution drew forth
an outburst of applause that soon told
the verdict.
CONSOLATION IN DEFEAT.
'tWell, dey didn't beat 'em much" said
a Jersey City damsel of a beautiful
chocolate shade, land, good Lord, dey's
de ugliest lookin' set of niggahs l eber
sot eyes upon. Umphl but dey am ugly.
New York KANT come up to Jawsey
City for good looking gals, white nor
cullud. Now you's got it straight. / bet
yer dere faces has gone done and breke
every fiagstone between here and Jersey
avenue"
And sure enough. every fiagstone be-
tween the church and Newark avenue,
looks this morning as though Mexican
earthquake had struck it.
The New Yorkers were captafned by
Miss Mary Jane johnson. They were
Misses Lettia Branch, Evelin Williams,
Layinia johnson, Ada Bonslow, Louise
Cooper, Mary Turner, Marcellena Bur-
goyne, Otelia Henry, Jane Murle, Carry
Gregory, Hannah Baden, Maggie Tur-
ner, Belle Williams, Ophelia Mack and
Mariah Broughton.