Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-13

Dy any one VINO mas not himself been IN q
similar situation-the event that had Just
taken place, the effect it would have on
my family, and thousand circumstances,
connected with home, travelling backward
In time in retrograde succession All
this proves that duration of life does not
depend on hours, but on the number of
impressions Conveyed to the brain.
ANDY JOHNsoN's TOAST.
| George Keeble, Barber Talks About Mr.
lL1ncOlnS Successor.
History is not altogether written in
books nor carried in the minds of savants.
The sources of historical information are
varied
For instance, says the indianapolis
News, one may get an idea of the charac-
ter of President Andy johnson from a
talk with his bar Der, who happens to live
in this city, and is none other than George
|. keeble, one of the proprietors of the
Young Mems Christian Association barker
shop.
Il might have been the first free colored
man to De married in the white house, -"
said George, but | was not willing to
wait until we could go from Nashville to
Washington. 1t happened in this way:
My wife was Mrs. Johnson's maid.
She waited on the front door of the Johr-
son mansion and was very affectionately
treated by the family
when Gen. Johnson went to Washing
ton, knowing that was waiting on Mrs.
Johnson's maid, we were asked to go along
and be married at the capital.
| The circumstances of my counting were
unusual. One day | was walking past the
governor house when saw the captain of
the army, wel-known In Nashville, walk up
to Mr.. Johnson, who was in the yard and
| begin to use abusive language
Among other things, l remember he
| called Johnson a traitor. Johnson fired
up in an instant.
His right hand and arm were paralyz-
ed. With his left he struck out brisklv
and tumbled the captain down upon the
grass. Afterward the guards We're placed
about the premises with instructions 10
exclude all persons not having passes.
This interfered somewhat with the
ether young fellows who were. like myself.
paying attention to Mrs Johnson's maid.
But it helped HE.
The maid at the front door told the
| guards to admit me, and by the time the
governor was ready to go to Washington
l had prosecuted my courtship to a sue
cessful result"
How did Mr.. Johnson conduct himself
toward the colored people?''
| He was free and easy with us. For in
stance, he would come down to my barber
shop of a morning and about the first re-
mark would be: Well, George, do you
know where | can find a good mint
julep?'
Il generally knew whege to find one,
and ne would invite me over to try the
liquor with him. In drinking he would
generally propose toast, and this was the
most common one: God bless the white
folks and the Lord save the niggers. "
| Eph Got the Chickens
| you northern folks don't begin to
know the southern niger as he is" OBJ
cigar and leaned back in his chair.
Mo-
They are not vicious. but they are
without moral obligation Confound him,
he's a thief from head to heel; l never
saw an honest niger vet
THAT'S very sweeping, colonel"
But it S truth. I'll defy you to find me
an honest niger in all Georgia"
Il should say that grey-haired darkey
over on the cotton bales could be trusted
to watch a gold mine
You would, Ell? Heah, boy, come
heah'
whats wanted, Kurnel Peabody?"
asked the old man, as he came over with
his hat in his hand
Say, Eph, l want you to do me little
favor this evening"
'Sartln'
''I'll pay you for doing it.
Dress your soul, sah.'
Il want you to steal me a couple of
young chickens and bring EN- to the store
at clock"
''Steal EN- for suah?"
Yes. I'll give you ST.
'AIl right. Mars Peabody. I'll hev en-
dere by seben o clock if n alive
What do you think of the niger
now" asked the colonel, as the old man
moved away.
I'm astorished.
well, you be on hand at 7 o'clock to
see the chickens. He'll have 'em here"
So he did. He came TO the back door
OF the store with u couple OF pullets in a
Dag, and as he handed them over he
said:
lie got EN- for you, Kurnel, an dey
nebber say muffin bout it. eh?"
Not word, Eph? Here's your dol
lar
had no argument to make that even
ing. There was the niger. the chickens
and the dollar. What could | say? Mex
morning I went down to the colonel;
|; Office, and | had scarcely stepped inside
when he called OUT
What do you think of the niger
, now?"
Anything new happenedd''
Il should say SOL Where do you thinl
) cid Eph stole those chickens?1