The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-01


nobody to advise her. And, during the GER
emony, when there was pause Mt the qles-
ton. "Who giveth this woman 10 this
many- old Billy, ssknown' de chile ain got
nobody to take her part sep jes me- steps
forward and gives her away.
Last scene of all
That ends this strange, eventful history.
Meh Lady, who had named her first son Phil,
called the next one Billy, ''after a ole mig
ger!r
80 much for the white people. Now who
besides Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page believes
that "these incidents are true to life, and
that the story with its characters constitutes
a tribute Of praise 10 the civilization Of the
SOUTH That the white people were sOrciy
tried In $50 we all know. That the civil,
social and domestic disasters that came
"falling fast and falling faster" in the
train OF AppOmattox were terrible, we
All experienced. in that dreadful ship
wreck. il was struggle with each indi-
yidual to keep his head above water. But
who believes that anywhere in virginia,
particularly in that neighborhO0d, or elan,
rather. "A lady oi distinction among them,
probably Il knsWoman. bcfcit Of her only son
bv the war. in broken health, with the cares
of ruined estate and large es-
Establishment dcyolyed upon AN inexpe-
rienced daughter, who. herself Is forced TO
teach negro school at int day for a pit
lance, who, | say. could believe that III
such a catastrophe this mother and daughter
had been entirely fOrsaken for whole year
or moreg That She could have been driven
to make Il former slave, faithful, perhaps,
but still a slave, her executor, rs IL were,
the depository unknown to her daughter,
though il was intended for her usc), 0fthe few
Jewels she possessed, and to make him
the guardian Of that daughter, whom
she WIS forced to commend to the
generosity Of distant Yankee! Thal
the widow could have been allowed
10 depart without the hand of one min
istcring friend 10 smooth her dying pill
lOw'or close her weary eyes, ana have been
laid out by her daughter ana one negro
wOmanf Who can believe that that daugh
ter could look 10 no matronly friend OF hel
mothers. no maiden cOniidantc OF her OWL
for advice and sympathy in the most delicate
q ID m0mentOus event ola wOman's life: " h
can believe that Of all the gay young gentle
men who had cOurted her regard in happier
times. not one would appear 10 renew ms
deyotiOns, 81 at least call, and by his sym
pathy for her desOlate state, attest his re
| spect for the memory Of her brother, hl'
comrade who fell in battle by his sidel
Who can believe that the Kindness of oul
people had been exhausted by the armlc'
| they had maintained, and had been forced Il
| take refuge in the hearts OF negroes or ina
| the chiYalry which had gained twsniy-on'
| ont Of twenty-three pitched battles ant
made a draw out Of the other two had dice
AT AppomattoX: and that only lanke'
captain who had renounced the land Of hi'
for this aud aided 10 desolate and enslave II
had remembered the Kindness Of the mOthel
| and the charms Of the daughter
~ tribute Of praise to the civilization OF
! the south"u If Meh Lady had appeared
ANONYMOUSLY. | should have said, IAN enemy
hath done this" II told that it had beer
written by Mr.. Geo. W. Gable. | should haN'
said. "of course" If had been informed
that il was written by Mr.. Ih0s. NeisQi
| PAGE. native Of, and reared in. the nelgh
bOrho0d in which the scene is laid, and tina
he claimed il as "a tribute Of praise 10 ou
civilization" | should have been astound,d
And now few words as 10 Gncle Blliy
whose fidelity is 50 strongly conirasted witt
! the hCarilessness Of the white people
! Mr.. Page has failed to produce an actual
| for his IDEAL. The original Of that sable i'm
| nos ibilly. De tells us. was an olt
servant a the late Mr.. Archibald Bol
/ ling. of Cumberland county, who staiC
win his masters family, first IN thai
county. and then in this city for nine year,
after the war, that is until 1874, Whtl
! he die,i.. He does not appear q
! nave rcmaincd with, and waited on
/ "a broken hearted widow and her helpies'
daughter. bat with family consisting 81
one daughter and four brothers, who, ID
seems. were able % take care Of them-elyes
and. most probably, Of their uncle Billy
also. 10 whom. | doubt not. they gave
"ineat. meal and fire" and sufficient
wages for an. or nearly all. the services he
| rendered. How il would hsye been WIN
| him If the case had been different, we M
more know than we know how II would
! have been with Mr. Pages uncle Hilly
after the diamonds had given out. but inc
probabilities are against them both. Really
! here was nothing very rcmarkable IN an
Old ncgrO's staying with his mistress a.
| long ~ the meal lasted. But the willow
made the mistake which, IN her total aDand-
/ onment by her white irend-, WAS very natu,
raj. Of ascribing to him more fidelity ana
strength Of character than his nature couid
carry. And Mr.. Page seems 10 have
fallen into the same error. though ms
expeficnce of his Il ucie Balla' ana "a
! wider observation should have taught MIN
/ better. instances Of this fidelity nearly
ALWAYS temporary. 10 their old masters and
| their families. occurred all over iie south
at that time. But such cases embraced am
! inapprccable per centagc. oil lne iVVN''"0
other negroes. that went aimles,!y roaming
over the face of the country, stampedet Dl
emancipation. Those who have studied Tue
negro character. particularly as alec'tu hl
the TEACHINGS of the ahOlillOui~is. know ihdi
lie sort of fdelitv-caninc fidelity AWAY
mixed with cunning and oi'cn with dupli-
/ 1iiv. exhibited by them, was ihe exception
| 90 The rule. Many MASTER, nit,efed ihem'
6 ives that they had each seine best negro
| I'M the world" ButeNperleuce soon ul-lE u
cd that Illusion. and cOny lmced them thu 81
was only discipline and training that kept
them I'm their proper places; ana lllat Nheh
that was removed they Withdrew from ihtli
masters. displaying their true character
only when they voted against them al inc
polls. and their false one when they SOLICIT
/ ed fayors. and that any unusual iideliti
was the effect Of discipline IN forming q
habit. aud not the effect OF principle or dura-
bile Affection
4 good deal Of observation has persuaded
me liat this view of the negro characloi
has been correctly taken by the South senef-
aIlv: and do not see why MIR. PAGE per
sisis in the vain cndeaNor To perpctuate th'
character OF an imaginary. certainly an cA-
/ tinct variety OF the negro. IN any case an eA-
cfptional. when the solemn problem j. what
10 do with the present existing blacks, who
are clOgging our CIVILIZATION IKE fahh- w
wholesome weeds, threatening the peace oi The
whole country, and wickedly used BY th'
Republican party, 70 supplement the hate
their people bear the south, and aid them
80 far in pluudering us and preventing oui
/ development.
In all of the above it is due to Mr.. Page O.
say that for him | have only the kindesl
feelings. But in what have written am
performing what l regard a. duty to my
! State and her society, and not expressing
my personal feelings.
FRANK G.. RUFFIN.
STAMP AGENCIES.