Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-31
Written for Ihs Evenine Star.
UNCLE RElIUs NONPLUssED.

Written for Ths Evening star.
UNCLE RE,rUs NoNPLUssxD.
How the Old Man Took His Firse RIA On
an Electric Car.
ONE PLEASANT DAY NOT LONG AGO
OUncie Remus concluded that he would TAKE
a ride on the electric car. He had been en-.
gagged for some time in making up his mind.
There was enough Of mystery about the means
Of loeomotion to make him somewhat skittish.
In point of fact, he had his own private opin-
ion, fortified by an abundant supply Of super
~stition, in regard to the whole matter. Never
theless he decided to make a little excursion on
the car. He saw other people riding and what
they did he could do.
So the old man was on hand whom the car came
down to the starting point, where there 10 .
wait of Eve minutes He watched the con-
ductor reverse the contrivance that connects
the motor with the overhead wire. and then he
got on. He smiled a. he took his seat, but even
his smile betrayed his anxiety. He fumbled
about in his pockets until he found a quarter,
which he proffered to the motor man.
'Don't be in a hurry, old man." said that
important functionafy, ''the conductor win
get your fare"
.'Yasser,' said Uncle Remus. ION de ter
line, whar dey got muels, halter ri de money
q oO W az lliuAC 4 u y WI NOa.
Dish yer amt de same kind er kyar. Hit look
mighty blank out dar. I'd feel lots better eff
dey wuz q Vaughn tongue stickin' out dar, er
some muels er sumpin."
why, If we had mules out there" said the
motor man with a consequential air, "they
wouldn't last five minutes. We'd run over 'em.
We'd grind them into giblets."
"You hear dat!' exclaimed Uncle Remus,
solemniy, addressing no one in particular.
After a pause, the old man continued:
sEDo.s - IA s<rH wh,x ~,ola l,sb I~>-
go, is she de same ez dat what make dc
thunder?"
''The very same" said the man.
Ain you skeerd?" asked Uncle Remus.
SHAW? y said the motor man; 80 long as it
don't SINCE the hair on my head I amt afraid"
swell, sub !" exclaimed the old negro, look
ing at the man admiringly. Then, after a little
pause: "Boss, does you keep de truck in dat ar
churn dar?" indicating the brass cylinder con-
tanning the machinery for turning on and hut
ting OF the electric current.
Something in Uncle Remus' lonesome sug-
gestion of unusual politeness and affability-
caused the motor mar to look at him more
closely and the look was followed by a pleasant
smile, which was at once a recognition Of and a
tribute to the old negro's attitude of respectful
anxiety.
YES" said the motor man, 1--WE keep it in
here" touching the upright cylinder with his
foot, ''snd when we want any we just turn it
on"
cdmc uhe you QIuW summon Dcer Out II q
barrel" > suggested Uncle Remus.
Eyes" said the motor man, somewhat SINH
~larly."
Sometimes said Uncle Remus, ode beer
got sech a head on 'er dat she'll fly out en- few
all over you. Do dat truck do dat away?'
ut amt never done it yet replied the
motor man, land when it does l want to be
plumb away from here
it's de same kinder truck what busts
aloose in de elements" said Uncle Remus, ''dey
must be enough un it in dat churn dar ter
make thunder endurin' a whole summer"
The motor man made no reply to this. In
response to a signal from the conductor he
struck the gong sharply with his foot, causing
Uncle Remus to dodge as if he had been shot
at, turned on the current and started the car.
A negro girl sitting opposite Uncle Remus put
q corner Of her shawl in her month and tit
tered. Tn old man tnrned Oh her ferceiy and
exclaimed:
"whar yo' manners. gal? Is dat de way yo'
NANNY rarn you-come gigglin' in de COM
p'ny?"
''De Lord knows / amt dom nothin',' said
the girl, twisting herself around on the seat
II des settin' here ten'in' TO my own business
/ WANT sayin' a blessed word to nobody"
Who you GRIMM an gigglin' at denf'
asked Uncle Remus severely. "Youll be
ngwine on dat away some er deze odd-come
Den what you gwine ter do?'-
Mister" said the girl, turning to the con
dnctor. Il wish you'd please, sir, make dis col
ored man femme lone. 1 amt doin a blessed
thing to him."
Fare - exclaimed the conductor. He spoke
30 loudly and SO Unexpectedly that Uncle Re
mus lodged again. and this time he flung hi
right arm above his head, as II to defend him
self. This gave the angry CIR. the opportunity
she wanted
.tJes look at dat oil man :" she cried. "a
b'lieve he goin' crazy! Then she began II
laugh again. Even the conductor smiled ant
Uncle Remus perceiving this smiled himself
but somewhat grimly.
As the conductor was giving him his chang,
a peculiar grooming sound issued from tn,
motor underneath the car.
Boss" said Uncle Remus, somewhat anx
iously. ''wharbouts is all dat ~zoonin'? Hi
SCUM like de win BLOWN thoo a knot ho;s."
Its the current" said the conductor.
Vase" exclaimed Uncle Remus. IDA
what 1 lowed hit wuz. Hit blawlin' down da,
like a steer calf lef' out in de rain. She aim
gwine ter bus loose en- tar up nothin', is she
boss?''
Not right now, I reckon replied the con
ductor.
This was very unsatisfactory to the old negro
particularly as the zooning and grooming sount
continued to grow louder. He looked out o.
the window. first on one side and then on tn,
other, and then rose and seized the hand stra,
and gave it a jerk. Seeing that the car kept on
Uncle Remus gave the strap a more violent tug
and then another and another.
"Ef she's a runnin away" he exclaimed
''des say de word en- I'll tar up de 10 but II
git out'n here"
Seeing the old mans predicament, the con
ductor pulled the bell and the car stopped.
dat what make ] say what I does, ex
claimed Uncle Remus, with some show of indig
nation, ns he shufiied toward the door. I'm
gwine ter tell you all goodbye. You kin set dal
en- listen OF de interruptions gwine on in de in
truls er dish yer kyar, but IN gwine, l am.
done foun' out long ergo dat no spectacle mig
ger amt got no business gwine whar whit
folks fear'd to resk dar mucls. I wish vol
mighty well!" JOEL CHANDLER HAnR1s.
How to Suppress Trampery.
Philip Roster in the Chicago Evening Post.
A possible remedy for the tramp nuisanc'
might, I believe, be obtained by copying tn
German method Of treatment. In America