Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-07-31
UNCLE ZEKES PROBLEM.
WHICH Is DE NOS BE NEFTCTIL 10
NAN. MONET OR EDDTCA IRON?

Young Marse as the Judge e-Introdnecd 10
the EboniEed Society of nuntsviiIe as
ga Man Dat's as Wise as Solomon aud
as Meek rs Moses
A commercial Traveller, whoe father
was one of the large tslaye holders in the
State of Alabama, was recently ma ing
a tour of the Southern States. lie
stopped day or SO at Huntsville, lis
native town. Tie ne Ns of his arrival
spread rapidly, and saon old ashy wool
heads, with dusky wrinkled faces, and
young shiny black faces, with gittering
white teeth, were peering into the
windows and doors of the hotel office,
anxious to get a glimpse of Young
Marse," who soon found himself in tie
center of an admiring and critical CROW d.
Nothing escaped them, from his glossy
silk hat to his patent leather shoe.
Old Unkle Zeke observed that Ef ole
marse had owned cane wild s;ch load
of silber on de top, he'd had nigger
come along to tote it. Sposin' de ole
man could raise hisse'f up outen de
groun' now, he'd think twus his own
shadder standin' thar Each one of
the crowd had some comment. to make
and some question to ask, Just to
see if young marse had forgot de ole
times. Slim Jim sauntered arou ID in
front of him, and eyeing him from head
TO foot, and lowed he'd done furgot all
bout dat lickin' ole miss guv me, when
you, yo'se'f, done throwed dc bail
through de winder, and niver tolc lie
diffunce, kaze you 'peared so puny like;
you done furgot dat, aim you boss -
After answering the numerous ques-
tions and gratifying their thirst in the
expected manner, young marse"
walked off to attend to some business ut
the other end of the town. He soon be-
came aware that some one was follow
ing him, and turning around saw Unl1le
Zeke. The old man came lobbling up
with bent head aud an air of one who
had something important and mysteri-
Gus to impa;t.
"Young marse, hit pears lax to me dat
Providence has sont you here at dis time
fer de 'justment oh one de monentouses
problems dat agitates dis whole nation.
Expressing his gratitude for the honor
conferred upon him, young marse prom
ised to accompany Uncle Zeke to the hall
that night where the weekly meetings of
the Ebonized Socieyy We're held. At the
appointed hour Uncle Zeke appeared,
looking, as Aunt Dinah expressed it,
powerful pompous in his swallow tail
coat, worn by "ole marse" in years gone
by. A white shirt, with puffed bosom
and a red necktie, added elegance to
Uncle Zeke's appe; rance. The hall was
over a blacksmith sshop, and was reached
by an outer stairway. The lights burned
dimly, and the smoky walls formed a
weird dingy background for the faces of
those seated all around the room. Every
one present felt well acquainted with
"young Marse, but nothing could have
prevented Uncle Zeke from making the
Introductory remarks he had so studi-
ously prepared. He stepped upon the
platform, and placing the presidential
split bottomed chair near the front, sta
toned himself behind it, and then, after
making as profound a bow as his rheu-
matte back would permit of, began his
remarks.
"Membahs OBJ de Ebernized S'ciety,
has de honah to interduce to you man
dat's as wise as Solomon and as meek as
Moses-a man dat's trabeled from whar
de sun rises to whar de sun sets, sellin
goods. De intelligence glis'ens from his
eye lax de jew ON de water milIium. His
manner sets as easy on him as ef he wuz
ridin' pacin' mule on dirt road. He's
a nachal BON jedge by heredity; kaze
b'longed to his gran daddy, an der amt
been no jedge since Solomons time dat
could decide anything dat cum along,
from hos race down to de most tro-
cious murder case, lax de Cronin, an he
did'n need to panel no jury, he jes' used
de brain dat Providence guv him. Dis
here young man favors de ole jedge
powerful sight, an so widout furder
preIiminariesI 'pints him as de honahble
jedge on dis 'casion.
Uncle Zeke announced that the ques-
ton to be debated was, (which is de
mos beneficial to de human race, money
or eddication?"
Unkle Ben rose slowly to his feet
you've all hearn dat money is de root
OBJ all ebil. Oar is many kinds OBJ roots
in dis worl', an dey isturrible important
in dey places. How would de trees
grow lessen dey had roots 'tachin' dem
to de groun', an eff it WASH fer de sas-
safras root purifyin' de blood in the
spring de graveyard would be planted
two deep; and dar is de calamus root.
But what's dem roots 'longside dat yuther
root dat pays fer de meat an bread ?
Mos honahble jedge, whut you gwine to
say to dat?"
The most honorable judge admitted
that it was a very convenient root to
have around, but he would like to hear
some Of the arguments in favor of educa-
ton
A lean lank figure from the FAR corner
popped up like Jack in the box, and OBJ
served dat he had no desiah to glib pus-
sonal, an didn' mean no disrespeck to an
antiquated pusson present. Hit 'peared
to him lax some foxes knowed mo- bout