The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-08
NEGRO CHARACTERISTICS.
Z Happy Go Lucky Race-Raising Cotton
Shares.

MEMPHIS, Oct 6-There is nothing
in this locality so amusing as the dar-
kies and the donkeys, or, in local phrase
ology, as ''the niger and the mule.
If there are not enough mules to go
around, they fall back ON the patient OK,
and have even seen an.animated skele-
ton of COW, ha1nessed with a compli-
cation of ropes and bits of harness,
driven by a dignified old Uncle Tom,
who sat in state on an'old chair in the
dilapidated wagon.
They are all Unfortunately fond of be-
ing drivers of something and owners, if
possible, and from the we'll dressed pri-
vate carriage and hack driver to the
dilapidated bundle of rags in the coun-
try gocart they are all in their element.
The carriage of the heavy bales of cot
ton is all done by tandem teams Of
mules attached to the old heavy two
wheeled sloping body drags. The driver
entreats and discourses with them in
most amusing way CHOW, mule, hurry
long dar See dat hole? Pull through
dat Now, mule, what de matter wild
you?' etc. They are not always inclined
to use moral suasion, and when in
censed grow very unreasonable and bru-
tai. 1t is pathetic to see how jolly they
are in all their troubles. "Lordy, mis-
sus, ;" they say, "I'd die if 1 couldn t
laugh has troubles enough to down
me, but I'll sing.
The more white blood they have the
more moody and less cheerful they be-
come. The disgrace of their birth ran
kles in their minds, and the struggle
between the two natures often leaves
them without the philosophy of either
and the emotions of both. There is ey-
cry possible variety of face among them.
I often see ebony counterparts of many
of my friends The common idea that
they are all mere animals is a great
mistake. In fact, there are few faces of
the distinct African type. They are Of
ten copies in black of the average Amer
lean.
The man who brings rs chickens from
the country is very much inclined to
stretch the truth. One day my sister
said to him, William, where do you
expect to go to when you die if you will
persist in telling SO many lies?"
"Well, missie,'' said he, not at all
abashed, ga white man done tole me
there hain't no hell any more, SO jes'
speck we's all 'bleeged to go to heaven. -
a very comforting philosophy for him.
The farming and cotton raising are
mostly done by them on shares in the
most primitive way-no tools, no mod
ern ideas. They just go along in the
same half hearted old way, working
wornout land without tools or money, so
it is no wonder that when the crop is
sold and the money divided with the
owners of the soil profit consists largely
of debts and they begin another year IN
der the same diseOuraging circum-
stances.
What they would do with the encour-
agement of profit, things to work with
and the stimulus of success is hard to
tell. They have the greatest affection
for the word ''lady." It seems to them
to be the acme of human bliss to be call
ed a lady, and it is often amusing to
hear them use it.
The wife of one Of the ministers here
is a thorough northern woman, and she
used to be very indignant at first when
she would hear ring at the front door
and hear a voice say to the girl when
she answered the call, 'FDoes the woman
Of the house want lady to work for
her?''
She has got so she can laugh at it
now, but at first she was very much as
tonished. What they would be removed
entirely from the influences Of heredity
and their environment it would be hard
to tell NJ. = SAUNDERS.
Little GEN." &C. Every body smokes it