Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-01-22
Why They Steal Chickens.

The little African Methodist Church at
the corner of Boil and Juliet streets in
Dallas. Texas, was enlvened the other
night by about 800 dusky-skinned folks
who attentively listened to the colored
orator, J. W. Henderson, editor of the
New England Torchhght, of Providence,
r. |. In the course of his lecture he
said
The northern people have varions pic
lures presented to them, all teaching them
that we are chicken thieves. They be-
licve that in August all you do down here
in the south Is TO hold camp meetings and
steal chickens. The Utica Globe increases
its circulation from 30 to % per cent. by
illustrating the darkey and his habits
Why, an edition had a large plate show
Ing the darkies holding camp meeting,
and every colored man and woman had
chickens peeping from their pockets and
dresses. This is serious matter to us
Some of these pictures and writings are
put in the papers IN the spirit of fun, but
such fun is harmful. 1t tends to prejudice
one race against another. 1t is hurtful to
the colored man. People are not inclined
to assist thief. They don't want to have
anything to do with him. 1t would be as
much of funny thing to cut man up
with knife.
''lf you want 10 know here particle
Of truth of the story about the colored
men stealing chickens can be actually sub
stantiated, 20 with me TO the plantation
on which 500 or 700 colored men are work
ing have some conception of it, as |
was compelled to 90 through much of the
trials and hardships that befall him who,
unfortunately, Is compelled to labor on
the southern plantation. You will find
hat si.,r ~.
occasional pullct is a natural reason. How
could he help il, living as he has so long
among the whites: We are imtators
Every one tells us so. Yes, we are mita-
tors. Were it not that we are imitators
we would not now number 5000 600 peo-
pie. The Indian is not an imitator He
does contrary to what a white would do,
and he is steadily decreasing, almost OBJ
literated-bloticd from his own home be
cause he does not initiate
In this stealing business one out of
every twelve times the thief steals in the
same manner a. does any mean fellow who
wants that which is not his, In the other
eleven times the matter is reversed. The
colored man sees that he gets nothing for
his toll. He notes that the gentleman Of
the big house grows richer and richer
While he must be content with corn bread
cry for soup. and get an occasional old
dress for his wiie-a kind of Christmas
present. Well hen the moon disappears.
and the stars hide behind the clouds the
black man goes to the chicken roo>t and
selects breakfast. He steals tender
pullet from the gentleman of the big house
while the gentleman of the big house
steals from the black man the Just price of
his labor. The black man does si 900
worth Of work for the big house man and
receives about S,3 pay, enough to buy corn
bread with during the wear Here is a
man taking 1000 from the poor black
man each year and giving him in return
about S.3
~ have case in mind Of a poor fellow
who was imprisoned for theft. He went
to roost, secured IA couple pullets and
brought them home. When he reached
the house a family council was held, and
the pullets were discovered to belong to
som" other than the man he had been
working for George went out in the
darkness and restored the chickens to their
roost. He then went to the roost of the
gentleman of the big house, and in trying
To bring away what he thought was part
OF his wages he was caught, thrown into
jail and was sent TO the ptnitentiarv. The
man who sent him to Jail had been gettiu.
about eight bales of cotton from George
and had given him in return just about
S-3."