The Iola register., 1891-07-17
nrHEsHADow OF rnr ~srosE JUe.-
The Sunday Of the Dusky childrsn Of the
Razor and the Banjo I'm CINCINNATI.

4
The Sunday of the Dusky Childrsn Of the
/ Razor and the Banjo I'm Cincinnati.
J Quite in contrast to the teachings be-
ing expounded bv the eminent divines
( were the scenes in and around the famous
''Stone Jug on the western slope Of
Walnut Hills. Down in deep deeliv-
ity are tenement houses and novels, and
Sunday is looked forward to as the day
OF all days in the week for diversified
/ pleasures. While the bells that SUM
moned church-goers to their devotiuns
we're pealing forth they seemed to be
doing dual service, inasmuch as mot
ley crowd were vending their way down
the roadside and narrow plank walk TO.
where stands the old "Stone Jug"
| Women. men and children Of all shades
OF color, from the mulatto- tanned child
70 the dusky old nanny, had grouped
themselves in various shaded corners Of
this spot, and from windows with shat
/ tered panes leaned men and women
whose tangled hair and tattered clothing
told of the depravity 10 which they are
! accustomed.
Over on a pile of lumber in the bruil-
ing sun were lying three negroes sleep
| ing off a debauch OF the Fourth Of July
| OF which there was still reminiscenee'
the ground being strewn with burnt
rockets, irecraekers and melon rinds.
From one small frame on the side OF the
hill came shouts and curses, the cause
being traced to quarrel between two
white men and a negress, each OF whom
claimed the woman. The onlookeess
seemed to keenly relish the fracss
which TO them was only daily occur
renee, and the matter was finally set
tied by all three leaving the hoase xHd
going over to tree. where child
stood with bucket OF beer that had been
procured from Tom Frey, whoes SU1-
day business. judging from the racket
and confusion and the rushing OF groyl
ers, evidently Is prospering. In Sfe
side part Of a rickety' tumble-dOwn,
frame. whoes roof has been so freque Mt
ly patched that il has the appearance OF
having at one time had a severe attack
Of smallpox, there were gathered quite q.
crowd OF loungers who were in the midst
! Of a peculiar enjoyment A short. thick
set black man sat upon a soap box tuning
banjo. He was OF that stamp that de-
noted him to be Of the species roustabout,
and while picking the strings quietly
amused his audience by telling how he
and 'tJim," a companion boatman. bad
! given the mate on the steamer Ohio the
| slip at Louisville ''Yo see we WIS gwine
froo de canal, and de mate says: Git
all dem Aurora beer kegs out Of de hold
on de forecastle' Jim wus snoozing
over on bale of rags. I pulled OF his
shoe and smacked him one in de face
and ee woke up Den l dun and tole
him bout de beer kegs. Bofe ub US play
ed sick and axed for our money. De
mate didn't catch on, but paid US OF noe
heah we is. Gwine to work to-morcey
eft doan rain. He, he! he"
The crowd seemed to appreesats tbe
Joke and there were COMMISSIONS d
laughter, with one yellow woman shout
ing 9gI,
"Bfess my soul, you uns couldn't play
dat on Josh Harrison Whar's yer hos
pital stificates?"
Down into the recesses Of v,Pj filthy
striped flannel shirt dived the banjt
players hand, and from an inside pock
ct he pulled out a razor. cotton-hoos
handle and a greasy and sOiled paper.
''Dah's he. Gwine TUX it down in
mornin' and git some medicine. Dii
niggah's up to snuff, by goIJ =
| This rejoinder was the signal for an.
other outburst. The banjo by thi.
time was in tune, and, picking the
strings to lively tune, :he player and
Jim '.jined in" and sang:
Choose 20 partners, times ershyin'.
Take 20 places on de 1o';
DontyOu heah dis banjo cryin'
| SieKerdemus ebDermo',"
| There was no chorus. but a lively
strain 70 which Jim" responded By
dancing and going through a series o1
comica. gyrations peculiar to the plan
tation darkey. The melody and the an.
tics Of Jim" had catching effect, as
two wenches and two men got upon the
rickety Dorchwsy and rendered a regIL
lar hoedown. With the ACCOMPANYING
clapping Of hands and stage plank walk.
Beads of perspiration stood out on
their dusky brows, but the player. evil
IDENTIFY enthused with the crowd that
surged into the narrow yardway, rolled
| out another verse after this fashion:
'Lawdy. see dat ole Jim Slater.
How ne bow en- scrape aToun':
| Head look Ike peeled pertster-
Slick as glass upon de crown
The dance kept up for some time tos
the infinite amusement of several white
men who had chanced to be passing and
stopped to look on, when the banjo
player. spying them. slipped up in a
comical manner to one Of them, saying:
Please. sab, give me dime fur a
watermillion.
The dime was readily handed over,
and then "Dan"-for that seemed to be-
the banjo picker's name, smacking his
lips, resumed his seat, and, changing
the tune sgain, sang:
DE Ohios running up de stream
Glory hslalOo:
She's faster than fiyin' machine.
Glory haIaIoo.
HNb'nly kingdom Look at MARY
Bofn eyes shinin' ike de moon:
Don't git wary. don't git wary
OATS de way 70 change de chUneg
At this juncture Jim came back with
the watermelon, and, whipping out his
razor, sliced it in four pieces, giving
Dan one, helping himself and giving
Mary and the other female dancer a
portion.
A little remote from this spot there
was another crowd down on their
knees upon the ground shooting craps.
but the game came TO a sudden stop at
the approach Of the strange white peo-
pie. Not more than a stones throw
from this scene emanated religions
singing from small frame house that
stood at the top Of the hill Presently
there emerged from its doors number
OF well-dressed and well-behaved colored
people. who had been seeking devotion
in a Baptist church, that looks down
upon the scenes as above depicted.-
Cincinnati COmmercial-G Gazette.
Compelled to Dfsgorge-