The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13
OUT OF THE COMMON.
How the Family of n Princess Broke
Down the Color Line In Florida.

Correspondence New York Post.
The death, in October, of Mrs. Mary X
Sammis, widow of one of east F1orida's
pioneers, created so much comment and
brought forth so many odd "reminiscences,
that I accepted an invitation to attend the
funeral. I was curious to see the spot in
a Southern State where a white man could
live a lifetime with a colored wife and not
quite lose caste.
There was nothing, from the neat parlor
to the well-dressed white company, to in
dictate that a mulattress lay in the hand
some fower-decked coffin. A white minister
OBLIGATED, and the pallbearers were from
good old white familes." Her own rela-
tives, now chiefly quadroons and octoroons,
were the only colored persons in the as
semblage.
When the funeral procession passed into
the sandy road. a small group loitered
through the familiar grounds. 1t was a fine
old place, rich in fruit trees and Towering
shrubs. and shaded by giant live oaks.
THE last look at an old landmark" said
r. 1T won't take Sammis's children long
to divide Up and change round. Yet it
seems but a little while since we were
dined and wined by Colonel Sammis in the
big dining ROOM
But not your wives" I said, taken by
surprise.
Not in a society way, of course. But in
stances were not wanting of our wives be-
ing entertained by Mrs. Sammis, who had
early. won their entire respect. She was a
thoroughly good woman and as muchs of a
lady, as culture could make her..
She was unspoiled,"' added d. 1.-THE no
tice of white people didn't make a fool of
her. and she never presumed upon it. She
would sit at the head. of her table, in a
antly and looking after our comforts,
but not dining with us. She knew her
Yes" assented F., she played a diff
cult role singularly well. AS for keeping
such a thing than aid aid her n9 moth rnf thg prio on
s'The princess?"
was in those good old days when pirateers
and slave ships were matters of course.
slave-trader. married, on one of his African
trips. the black princess who had captured
made his home there, and there. during his
frequent absences his wife ruled $500 slaves
I'm wha' To- nor" asked a cracked voice
/ behind us.
We turned and saw a small. dried-up negro
man so old-so very old-that death seemed
really, and without any figure of speech.
to have forgotten hin-so withered and de-
cayed an object that it was a wonder to
see him standing there, even with the aid
Of two stout sticks.
Hello, Daddy Buck cried F., "ain't
you lost? How did you get here? BY hoo
doog We're in high company to-day"
turning to me This remnant of humanity
NJ very Princess Tai's dottah dead. en-
me com t see. Her fadah tribe nesta
king, en- king son. en- king dotta6 come @o yerl
~ on de slabe ship. Buckra steal UNI er
Duckra buy UNI; a. de sem. He tie chain
,roun UNI neck; en- cram UNI way down de
mol, wey dey choke en- sick t def. Strong
en- eht ones Come 1n out en- wuk en- buckra cotton
wife. She ride en- cabin. On Fort rne Ge eopa
she p-incess-oueen Niggah on'y eat, en-
sleep en- lib cause she let um. But she
seer lash no tech my back"
Yes, Daddy Buck. that's an ancient
royal palm; Here you are"
F. tossed him a coin. and we followed
suit. His erstwhile majesty did not con-
descend to render thanks, and, apparently,
they were not expected.
The Wandering Jew done in black" said
when he came here. His subjects captured
him, brought him to the ship and made
* afinss ;m q present res iat; Of him t%st to get rid
and was: to speak lightly. despotic. She,
he was an affectionate husband. st,ran nae
to say, ne had not a particle of color pref
ha,ee. The race question never troubled
Northern seminary. highly educated and
aecompl s Even then it Was only be
South that he wanted white husbands and
wives for them"
No easy task. I should think
Oh, 10000, the marriage portion of
each daughter. was no small Involvement,
especially to men not brought up with VIC
lent race prejudice. Three white men of
good character. Sammis, Baxter and Nc
Neil. thought it worth the incumbrance of
in this country. Their sons and daughters
were educated North, and came home to
seek, in their turn. white husbands and
II am mistaken in supposing such mar
riages to be contrary to Florida law?'
mo, you are perfectly right. But love
laughs at locksmiths under all complex
tons. What do you say to going out to sea
With your best friend, a chaplain, a pretty
1T would impart the last spice of ro-
NANCE that could, possibly be added to a
story: And they lived happy ever after
| hope it ended SOL
"As happy as most, T believe. Sammis
iunked at first, and would run away, I've
neard my father say; but as Kingsley in
xariabiy hunted him up and brought him
back to his wife, he settled to the inevi-
table. Or course, each generation, favtne
less and less of dark blood, found it easier
bloodg' i "hfpe
One of the women became a widow
and afterwards married a negro. Her SON
by the white husband, also cast his lot
with his mothers race: but they are dis.
blotted out" ~ han
While the others are growing winter and
litter
Some of them are very white indeed. /"
answered F. THE present Sammis married
a pronounced. blonde. / met him not Ions
since with his little boy, a lovely child
with yellow curls. heavenly blue ewes and .
roseleaf skin. While Sammis is quite light
he shows the negro blood, and 1t sounded
ODD enough to hear that exquisite, fair child
There must b many a romantic story
connected with this family"
Yes" said p. "The Kingsley daughters
and granddaughters were all handsome,
clever and good. They successfully refuted
our theory that no woman who possesses
a drop of negro blood can live vfrtlously
They were as chaste, modest and higf
minded as the proudest Caucasian that ever
lived. And they fascinated more than one
ing marriage"
THAT was their chance said T.
1T was; but they were wise enough to re.
fuse 1t. They knew that they and thei,
children. would be repudiated by their hus-
bands families. They were too proud ano
too well aware Of their own worth to submit
to such a fate"
"A cruel position, at best. for girls such
as you describe. 1t is easy to imagine Their
unhappiness."
o they had a good time" said F.. "AI
the granddaugbters went to Europe, anc
while in Paris one of the Baxter girls ere
/ ntn6 N1ifA a SnodatiA. CHI -. ~ -