Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-04-26
"ROY'L."

lima, near the boundary line of Virginia,
that is noted as a railroad junction,
seven different roads meeting there.
Doubtless people are BORN live and
die in Weldon with independent his
tories, but the outside world only
speaks of the town in this way, "Did
you make the connection at WeldonT
There was disjointed period when
ii seemed exceptional to make this
necessary connection promptly, in tray
Cling South, and it was my lot to
miss it by half an hour. They told me
at the depot that there was nothing for
me to do but 10 wait twenty-four
hours at the hotel. The one hit upon
proved very dreary, having the barren
air of restaurant in which no one has
stayed long enough TO make 1t feel in
habited. To add TO The loneliness, the
rain was pouring down in great tor
rents outside, and the only books /
could discover in the hotel parlor were
ponderous gilt-edged Bible, a moth
eaten copy of "Burton's Anatomy of
Melancholy" 'sBaxter's Call TO the
Unconverted" and some old census
reports.
/ cherished my fascinating illusions
/ about the South: its romantic social
! life beckoned TO me invitingly through
the perfumed vistas of orange groves
10 come on and get initiated into the be-
/ quilting ways of dark-eyed women with
soft speech, and strong under-tow of
easy-going men, whose chivalric DALI
ance formed but light coating for the
volcanic energies of C9ur de Lion.
loved this land of extremes, but il
might be a "Great Tropical Delusion
today, for all that was visible of it al
Weldon. My tour must be short
one. Delay was irritating. Could
nothing be done 10 make this day
county
CHANGING at the negroes who were
waiting on me at the table, | had e
confess, that, though attentive, they
were far from picturesque. There ap
peared TO be a great many of them
Judging hastily from this dining-room
one might infer that the staples of tn
, South were negroes and flies; the latte
charging at me in battalions from thei
ambush in the fringed arsenic-greel
! papers attached to the chandeliers. Tn
, fried chicken and corn bread, however
, were compcnsating.
When cmbowered in my solitar,
; bedroom began TO count the hours 4
9 be spent ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; and
( would be impossible TO sleep ava
1 more than eleven of them.
Hark. Somebody was croonin
snatchcs Of a quaint tune in the bac
premises.
n An idea broke in upon me- dis
+ ROBBED my banjo from its .'travelin
: ulster"
g Why not spend the time learning tn
5 songs the negroes Were singing owe
:. their work down in the yard an
d kitchen? In all the accounts of Soutl
$ ern life had read in novels and mag;
l. zines the negroes were represented
s. always singing merrily, except whe
i they were drowsy and nodding.
IS | tuned the banjo; then the sor
,, stopped. Not another note did he
u for al hour; there was plenty
$ noise, but it came from the clatter I
@ dishes. the slamming of doors, q
y steady rainfall and the shricking I
the locomotives on the seven roads.
. was not TO be baked in my projec
III | rang Tor the chambermaid, and ask
8 her 10 get some colored man who cou
ne sing and play the banjo to come up al
IN give me a lesson-I would pay hi
=. well.
IN She first gazed at me vacantly for
q moment, ms if her brain were busy c
ST larping to receive a bra Gd-new ide
n then she grinncd from ear to ear.
IL eyes. miss, I'll see eff | kin find y
IN one of dc good singahs; eff you h
~ only a sont word fo' you arrove, a
e, rot it norrated roun' dat you w'
&c structions in de banjer-dat would
es been de hes way. But Louvinia III
" dc L s' she kin for you. | gwine
y, be real good darkey to you while
ho heah--dat l is; you can put 'pennal
~ on dat, miss"
= She talked to herself all the "
down the hall about what she meant
do for my comfort while | was at
hotel.
~ Imagination now began TO WORK
y expected to see lively young fell
at with laughing eyes and dancing /
led ushcred into my room. 1t would
Ia Jolly; he should teach me all he kn'
III Presently mufiicd knock came
!. my door.
va "Come inl"
Ill A large. middle-aged negro, wit
on very grave and very black face, ST
no on the threshold, making a low
.he with all the department of 4 TurN
mi drop. hat in one hand, banjo in
Mo other. IIo wore shabby blue tw
md suit, his toilet getting poorer as II "
tho down, the coat still attempting
he. make an impression of style, with
-O.. double row eff white china BUTT
INV the pants well patched about the Il
Che and thrcadbare in spots, and the s.
,cal broken into gaping holes, and
10. with red Irvine strings.
est "1es, come right in. | sent
i. you. WHAT'S your namey