Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
UNCLE REMUS' VIEWS.
What He Thought Of the Exodus to
Africa.
A CONVERSATION WITH CHLOE
Preacher John Henry Tells Why che Negroes
should Go to Africa, and the Old Man Tells
What He Thinks of the Preacher-The Coon
and the Polecat
Written for the Fvenlns STR.

TO be accounted for BY the fact that the modern
reporter. sharp "a ne is has never yet learned
the art Of getting information from the negroes,
particularly if they are disposed to hold their
tongues. In truth, the African exodus, so
called is important "a well serious 1t is
more extensive than the newspaper men nave
any idea Of and has made a very deep i'm
preston or a certain class Of negroes
Uncle Remus Miss Sally discovered this
fact the oil er morning while she attending
to her domestic duties. and heard a very inter-
esting controversy in the bargain. The old
man went into the kitchen, as was his custom
before going TO his work. On this particular
morning Chloe. the cook seemed to be in a
very good humor. She saluted Uncle Remus
cordially and then asked in tone Of friendly
solicitude:
"Ain't Won gwine home?''
"Ain't I gwine wharf responded Uncle
Remus.
.Ain't you swins home? Lots of 'em gwine
home
What l gwine home fer when des come
fun dar?' inquired the old man, looking at
Chloe With puzzled expression.
''Ah. Lord,' exclaimed Chloe, wiping the
-four from her fat arms with her apron, ''you
Amt been dsr yit- You better git ready an
How come I amt bin dsr? You don't speck
bin trollopin' 'roun' FUN post to pillar de
whole blessed night. does you:"
II went down Ter Zion Chapel las night an
dar hear Brer John Henry. Man, sir! l amt
never hear ANYBODY talk purifier dan what
Bier John Henry did. He say. he did. dat we
all mus 20 back home-go back ter At lea
vhar come fun, an he KEEP on tell he make
Us all feel right thankful. Sis Ria she jump
upan' hOller bless God she gwine. an den al
IN Us holler dat we gwine. hear talk er deze
white folks preechers-nan, dey can Aol Brer
John Henry a candle when he git up dar in de
pulpit an begin ter rock FUN side to side an
swing his arms You better come an go
wild us-better come on an go home.
''WhO-me:' exclaimed Uncle Remus indig-
nantly: What gwine to do in Afhky? Iain't
no Afikin niger"
Yes you is. too" said Chloe, somewhat
wrought up. ''kaze Erer John Henry say dat
colored folks ali come fun Af ica an dem what
nv it speaks fun ignorance uv de sperrit''
What he know bout it?" asked Uncle Re
mus. scornfully. Down yonder in Putmon
county dat ar same preacher call hisse'f Tom
Perryman. an now he come up here en- call
hissef John Henry FL he amt know his own
name, how come he know SO much about
Ahky? Now des tell me dat"
''Ah, Lord exclaimed Chloe with in e yjri)-
able JUNCTION. .-Brer John Henry knOy He
couldn't a talked no pulitzer dan ef he'd dom
seed ii. An We all gwine. / gil i'm
dollar. an Sis Ria gi i'm a dollar, an all un
um 81 i'm a dollar.
who got de money!! inquired Uncle Remus,
'dsh yer JOHN Henry?"
No" said Chloe ''iey wuz a man dar an he
tuck lie money. Heconie frun way off yander
an he say he gwine take it an buy tickets ter
At lea fer us al. He say he done got de tickets
and he gwine ter stribbit nm 10 long, des soon
ez de ship coma IL"
Here Cncle Temus uttered dismal groan.
"WUz you dar when dat Ton-en-Jerry
preacher"
He name Brer John Henry" exclaimed
Chloe indignantly. dat what he name"
.'Wuz YOU dar, Chlory." Uncle Remus went
on. when dat ar John Henry preacher en- de
ter man went 'roun' behime de house en- 'vided
de money out?'
''So, wa'ntr exclaimed Chloe, turning on
the old man viciously, AN nobody else amt
seed um-daJ's what
Il speck dat So" said Uncle Remus, rub
bing his beard thoughtfully. ''Dey err lots too
slick fer dat"
Il dunner what you want ter run down yo
own color fer" remarked Chloe. Better
leave dat fer de white folks"
Whose color? inquired Uncle Remus, with
angry emphasis IF dat ar John He lry amt
paint hisse I, he's a rank merlatter e3 de sua
ever shined on He amt none err my color.
/ nj full-blood Niger, myself, en- / leone fruIl
Ferginny:"
Dat what make me say what does" said
Chloe. in n tone at once friendly and confden-
tial. ''Bein eZ YOU IS full-blood Niger. Won
oughter come an go long wild U.s. You Oughter
come an so home ter Afica wild us. Brer
John Henry say dat lie full-bl coloTed folks
is got mo pint-blsuk rights in At icd dan all de
yuther folks put together. Brer John Henry
cert'n'y say dem We y words.
Uncle Remus leaned against the wall and
groaned- Chloe, ignoring the Old mans APP
parent contempt for the scheme. continued
after little pause:
''Brer John Henry say we all des as well go
now eZ TO go later. He say dat Az lea blongs
ter de eClOred folks by good rights. en- he say
dey oughter go en- take acceptance er de Ian
10 u git token up by white folks. He say that
all dis country whar We at now longs to de
lnjrns. an dey er swine ter come back here
an take il. Dey done broke loose out yander
now, an Brer John Henry say dat what dey
hghtin fer. on account er de white folks takin'
der Ian fruTn UNI. an when dey come de col
ored folks what stay here Is got ter fight 'em.
Brer John Henry is sholy say dat. kaze hear
I'M Wild my own years.
The only comment that Uncle Remus made
was a heartrending groan.
You may well ter groan." Chloe went ON.
''iou may well ter groan eff you amt gwine
home wid US, kaZe or all or gwine. De col
ored folks is done commence ter move. Dey err
comm here fun Texas an fun all out dar."
Comm WHARF asked Uncle Eemus.
Comm here. ter dis yey town"
'Is dis Ailky!'
NO. faint. but it's On de road an de colored
folks Is q moyin'."
How long is dey gwine ter stay 'roun' yer?'
Uncle Rsmus inquired, strengthening himself
up
Tell de ship come" said Chloe
"Ak-yim exclaimed Uncle ReIaus. "Twel de
ship come. Datdes zactly what lowed. Dey
gwine ter stay twel lie ship come, en- betwixt
dis time en- dat what dey gwine do? Who gwine
ter feed UNI
''Dey gwine ter feed dcy self" said Chloe in
Elegantly. Who feed EN- whar dey come
fun: Day had ter work dar-let EN- work
here"
Il amt SO mighty sho' en- certain bout der
workln.' said Uncle Remus placidly Il bin
noticin dis. Cat whar you in niggers keen
fer ter trapse about sum post ter pillar dey
amt apt ter hurt deyse'f vid work. Some IN
III bin runnin' fun wo-l. ever sence de farm
Ia DAYS WA over. An dcy er maxim "a great
TODD bou; gwirs Of ter Affiky kaze somebody
done gone on toie um dat al dey got ter do
sster deg git Gar is Ter sit i'll de sun Ell watch
de truck grow. All dsy GO; ter do ia set dar
en- let der bar grow bushy. Amt de man
what wuz Vi,iin out dc money wild dat ar
JOHN Henry preacher white man:
hat Ct LIE is" responded Chloe snap
pi-hIy. What dat 90: ter do wild IT.
Da- us" exclaimed Uncle Remus tri-
nnphantly- You dunne- whar he como fun.
lou dnnner how long he gwine stay. You dunnGr
rh'r he gwlae tide nisgers is giyin' i'm der
money, en- maxim ready ter go ter Affky. hey
e. dee ca sNvarmin' ter Atlanta Gu maxim ready
Ter cross de Atlsnta ocean. when 'twont mo
dan kyar UNI cross town On back. En- Wit.
here yon Is tslkin' ter nc bout bein' er white
folks niger"
II don't keer; don't kerr exclaimed
Chloe. u know what Brer John Henry saw"
III dat ar white IEan wuz ter come hoIieyin'
'roun' me, continued Uncle Eemus. I'D do i'm
Lac de coon did lie yOlecat."