The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-28


Fold has already been published in THE
TINES 1t Is now produced IN full for the
first time IN these columns. however and Will
be found well worth reading.
Editor American Field
notice that many Of your correspondents,
in trying to initiate the negro dialect. fall into
errors IN using the expression dis am, or
this am in quoting him. No race of people
possess the natural ear for music 20 greater
extent than the genuine Southern negro, and
'discordant notes are more readily detected
by him than by white people. The eXl res
sion dis am does not 'harmOnlZe' with
him in fact il would "buss de drum o. bis
ear'-As musical ear-lf he used II or heard
it used by another. | stand ready TO set 'em
up for the man that will show me a genuine
Southern darby who. in his hearing
ever said dis am and those who
misquote him are either "onacquanted' with
him. or through inability 10 catch on mis-
represent him. That they use a great many
quaint expressions. and furnish fun for the
millions by their failure 10 use simple words
TO express themselves and generally bust
on the big ones that they try 10 use. Is well
known fact but II is also fact that although
they bust on en- 50 far as their meaning or
good grammar are concerned. they rhyme
well. 1 once met an old darky In the road
aud asked him the following question:
old man upon what hypothesis do you
predicate the assumption OF your magnanimi-
ty;"
Without stopping for a moment 10 think.
and not knowing the meaning OF a single word
IN the question propounded. lie answered
Boss, you talk 30 komeroshigate 1 can't
consequent you
In negro minstrelsy. and to make the words
fit in, We am, dis am and she am are ire
quenty used. and they do not seem 10 be so
much ont OF place. The Lime Kiln Club"
ffaaa fHs.st .,
produced. and are true to nature IN many re-
spects, but suffer from these errors.
Well, II was not my intention when /
started out 10 write this letter 10 criticise
those gentlemen who barring these excusable
errors have been entertaining me for years
with their readable articles IN your paper, but
TO tell little story OF an old negro in this
state who belongs TO that class Of Old Viz
glnla colOred arlstocracy which Is fast dying
out. and the like OF which will never be seen
IN this world again
During the war General BENJAMIN +. Butler
landed at Dutch Gap. about ten miles below
TINS city, and his reputation as fighter Of
deienseless women and children had become
so widespread through the James river low
lands that the people lied IN every direction
before him. Among those who reiugeed was
the family of Mr.. Ball. 10 Richmond leaving
faithful old colored man III charge Of the
tspoonsj property on the place. When the
naA AANacu MI D returned and found
the old man holding the fort and everything
III as good shape as could have been ex-
pected under the circumstances. lie rewarded
him Tor his fidelity by giving him that for
which every negro so much lOnged-forty
acres and II muie-so that lie could 90 off and
fnrm II 10 hissef.p In few years the old
folks moved up TO this city. having sold ont
their possessions 10 a Penusylvanian. Old
Uncle John still retains the strip OF land
winch his old master gave him, and delights
to talk OF de good ole times befo' de war"
when all dat de niger had TO do was to do
what de white folks tole him." and every
thing to eat and wear was plentiful, and when
de niggers didn't have to take no thought
for to-mOrrer."
Being invited by young Mr. Ball to go out
oird hunting with him accepted, and we
went down to the old neishborhood in which
ne had spent his boyhood, end from which he
nsa taken hasty leave on the approach of
the Federal troops. Hearing that old Uncle
john was still alive. and wishing to see him
once more before his departure to the bright
ana shinin' shore" he proposed that we
should 60 IN that direction. On reaching the
ola mans humble cottage We found him in