Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-04
BATTLE ROYAL WITH MARBLES.
Polk Miller Descants on nm Old
Time Southern Game.

Born with a gun I'm my hand almost,
and during my boyhood's days accus-
toned TO its use In shooting every iety
OF small game, all l had to do was to
raise IL TO my face. pull the trigger, and
the game would tumble. The wonderful
feats Of craftsmanship performed by me
in the presence of the negroes on the
plantation made them think that there
was something in my composition which
drew the game within the reach OF my
gun. "Cungered IT," they would say.
The darkies had no money, and no use
Tor II. All their wants were supplied by
odd Miss" and the question as 10 the
source from which food and raiment
would come. never disturbed them I'm the
least. They had the greatest fondness
for ginger cakes" and that constituted
the currency with which they made and
settled their bets. I'll bet you ''hoss
cake was common expression with
them, and many a cake have | enjoyed
as reward for my good shooting at
copper cents thrown into the air for me
10 Knock away. For making these cakes
they used every variety OF moulds.
rows, dogs. cats, and horses In the
shape OF cakes could be seen around the
cabins. but the horse cake was the most
popular because the head. legs, and tail
furnished several good mouthfuls before
~.
when caused me 20 shoot so well with
gun was also the cause OF my great suc.
cess as marble shooter Playing mar
pies was a favorit0 pastime with the
whi'es In the "Old South" and partIcu-
larly In Southside Virginia People would
come for miles I'm the summer after
Moons 10 The cross-road stores 70 wit
ness these games. The negroes OF all
ages could be seen playing on SUNDAYS.
| From mnrpipof F,h
tnem IN 'front.' OF the cabins. down about
tho stables. and up and down the road.
every now and then hollerng out "vence
| 20 ups law line. l CALI Take dat mar
ple from behine dat man whar [ ken SEQ
/ 1t sub! Fat an go lar
wen, II Is useless for me or any other
southern-born boy 10 deny the fact that
have played marbles with the negroes
/ on sunday. "A good whipping was the
! penalty II caught. but where, | ask. is
/ the boy who would not, I'm old times. run
| the risk OF getting a whipping occa-
/ sionally 10 enjoy that which was. 70
him. the greatest OF all earthly lows
| Playing marbles with a niger. on one
! occasion my rather took me on horse
] back behind him 10 little village. where
championship game was 10 be played
! Inc crack players Of Prince Edward were
/ 10 play against "A like number from Motto
/ way 20 decide the championship When
! the game was called the cracks" az
well as the rooters. from every quarter
/ of the two counties had come 10 witness
| the contest, and a murmur Of surprise
/ went up from the crowd when | was put
/ In as one Of Prince Edwards representa-
/ tives. Pitted as Tswas. against grown
men felt somewhat shlky. and II was
| very much increased by tn look Of dis
/ gust my partners put on as they saw "A
9-year-old boy put into the game by his
/ daddy" Goodbye. old Prince Edward.
said one OF the rOoters | ralrly trembled
My partners thought better Of me as the
game progressed. for / was the best in
the lot by the votes Of my countymen.
We were playing "iive-up," ana the game
stood two and two. Because | was small,
they made me go last. and our opponents
had gotten four OF the five men from the
ring before | left the taw-lne BY the
rules of the game II there was a single
man left in the ring. the man who was
1 on the taw-line had a crack at IL for
the middle-man. 1t was put in the centre
for me TO shoot at.
Talk about your base-hits az a critical
/ period In a baseball game why. Sam.
/ witt. Ned Catlin. and John Crutchfeh
! ought 10 have seen the roofing done here.
/ All depended on me- When / pumped
] tHdl NllNl'-Nldu from Jaw anu won
I the game for my side the rootcrs went
+ wild. and I grew a foot In five minutes.
/ but. Oh. how little DO We know what the
/ future has I'm store for ne. While bushing
/ with excitement over the great victory |
had won. and feeling that / was the
hero Of the day. with all eyes turned
/ TO me as the champion player I'm the
county. Mr.. Abner Robertson. who I'D
the NOttoway players. cried: well. gen
/ tlemen. it's no use talking: we can't beat
/ boys who play with nigger5 on Sunday"
! How he knew H. when he lived ten miles
away from my home. was mystery TO
me. Ny father. no doubt, suspected
} II too. but said nothing. It cured me.
/ From that time on. 7 never played an
/ other marble on Sunday, either with the
white boys or the black. and shall never
| forget the lashing which a guilty con-
/ sclene gave me. when Mr. Robertson
I told on me. POLK MILLER.