The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-10
IN AFTER YEARS,
The Old South and the New-An Affect.
ing Incident.

I saw a curious bit in the drama of
life the other day, and it seemed to
stand out the more effectively for hav-
| ing, small as it was, a certain historical
background.
1 was taking a modest chop in
little Sixth avenue restaurant. The
walters were negroes, and from the
time went in had looked at the head
waiter with interest. He was an
elderly man, with the patient, sub
dued, gentle courtesy that told story
of "befo' de wah,' and that affected
| the character of the very wrinkles IN
his ancient, well brushed dress coat.
| He established, or rather he showed
| his willingness to establish, relations
| of an ideally intimate character with
the patrons of the place, utterly ser
want like, and yet prepared to note
| your tastes and cater to them with the
devotion of friendship.
When was half through my meal
two young women with the air of ladies
| entered and sat down near me. l could
not help overhearing their talk, quiet
as it was. and it soon appeared that
they belonged to the ever increasing
army of girl bachelors that have taken
the town. They are students at the
Art League.
The old head waiter stood near. by;
then he came and changed the glass of
celery for a fresher one. Then one of
the Young women asked him to have a
certain window lowered at the top.
He sent some one to do it. and then
! said to one of the girls, re-arranging
the table little nervously, in his soft.
old voice, Excuse me; but I've been
hoping you'd excuse me since that first
night you came in. if l asked you what
paht of the South do you come f'omP,,
''MeP" said the girl pleasantly. 81
come from Tennessee. l suppose you
knew was Southern by the,way talkP
Yes, m; yes, 'm," the old man said
hastily, taking the plates from the
waiter in charge, and speaking with
an odd effect of furry. My young
mist'ess she marry down in Tennessee.
She was one oh de Kentucky Prentices. ,
He stopped abruptly and looked at the
girl and she was staring at him. SHE
marry one OBJ de Tennessee Sinclairs,
he added.
"Why, that was my mother!'
''She was my young mistess," sait
| the Ald man.
The girl held out her hand to him
"Why, my mother always loved he
old people so much" she said, tn
tears springing to her eyes. "She al
ways wanted to know what became Q
all of them after the wah. but sh
never could learn much. Now"-sh
stopped. The whiIom slave wa
trembling all over.
please tell-please tell her that Ike
Yellow Ike alluz-"
The girl was looking at him stead
fastly through mist of tears-''She
deadr' she said.
The old man leaned hard on a chai
moment and then the habits of life
N time of self-control and Difference t
other peoples comfort came to his aio
he stilled the workings of his wrinkle
face and took dish from the waite
as he came up, although his hands sti
shook little.
b ''Pll wait on these ladies'" he saiC
q and then gave some direction aboI
81 another part of the room. He caugt
y the proprietor's eye fixed rebukingl
upon him; but he stuck to that table
Things went on silently for som
=. moments and then he said, as
3 brought dish that had not bee
! ordered, soto Uoce There's nothir
8 here fit for you, missy-is ye name
4 for your map" The girl nodded.
I Il thought 1 knowed you by tt
= favor" he added, trying to smile b
- dog-like affection upon her. and th'
he took himself off to a little distan
and stood waiting upon their call.
was putting on my coat when
heard the Southern girl, who had BET
y very silent, say to her friend, Il su
0' pose he would rather never have SCI
me at all. really, than to see me he
-1l like this" And then 1 left, but thir
the girl was wrong.-M y. Herald.