The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-01-26
SHE LIVED TO BURY THEM ALL.
Aunt Chany's Retort Upon the "Rising
Sisters of the Setting SUM-"

Aunt Chany's Retort Upon the "Rising
Sisters OF the Setting SUM-"
Just after the var there sprung up
as by magic In various portions of the
south an infinite number of societies"
among the eolored people, male and
female.
Nothing like them was seen before
! upon the face of the earth, while their
names were as homogeneous as their OBJ
jects and aims. Thus there were
Weeping Sisters of the Glad Tidings."
Holy Daughters of the Scored Perdi-
ton" immaculate Sons of the Nine
Cities" Daughters of the Sacred
Candlestick," and so on.
The negro who didcnot belong to one
or more of these organizations was a
social pariah; the very children would
curl up their lips at him or her in pass
ing.
Whatever the occult forms and pur-
poses of these various societies. all of
them had one public and avowed OBJ
ject-namely, the turning out in full
regalia-collars, aprons, OF uniforms
at the burial of any broth r or sister;
not only the particular organization of
which the deceased was a member, but
also all the others participating with
infinite pomp and pride of circum-
stance.
1t was surprising how many deaths
they contrived to exc out in a single
small community. Ladies were driven
half distracted over the repeated leaves
| - lo-oo &,l-1- -, &l ooo1-. 1o,,
dresses, and maids. because no AMOUNT
of bribery and no necessity of illness
could induce one to forego the enjoy
ment of a street parade.
The mania prevailed with equal po-
tential energy among the sterner sex,
the members of which deserted the
pillow, the shop, any and all employ
ments, with this object before them.
Possibly the annoyances that grew
out of this practice give rise to rumors
which were heard in some localities,
that the a~ll-prevailing desire for more
funerals caused the providing of SUBJ
iects.in the persons of certain old peo-
pie who did contrive to die very sud-
denly.
1t is certain that some ancient col.
ored danes showed a remarkable anx-
iety to go off" before the societies
should expire by limitation or exhaus-
ton. This was the case with old Aunt
Chany Pegwell, an octogenarian dame
of Elizabeth City, n. c., who was a
member of the Rising Daughters of
the Setting Sun"
Aunt CLANCY had been an honored
member of the society for nearly two
years, in all of which time she had not
failed once of ''toting" herself in the
procession in full regalia, from the
house of the deceased person to
the church and thence to the
cemetery a mile or so away.
She had paid her dues regularly
and enjoyed a thousand times, in an
t~icipation, the triumphs OF her own
funeral, when she would have, as she
explained it, "a big black huss N
blooms wild white bosses, jest lack de
white folkses n all de niggers err
draggin' arter."
Some d~isaffection had finally sprung
up in the order. when several sisters
withdrew. Fearing disintegration,
Aunt Chany TOOK to her bed and soon
worried herself into an illness That
was pronounced mortal by the physi-
clan who was summoned.
Chany expressed her satisfaction at
this decision, babe those present good
by, and turned her face to the wall to
die. She was silent so long that the
two sisters who had been delegated to
watch over her while living and lay
her out when dead, ~agreeably to the
practice of the Rising Daughters of
the Setting Sum-" supposed her spirit
had taken flight, and therefore laid
aside all reserve.
de s'ci'ty's gittin' so 'scusin' POI dat
Sist' Kizzy Glars ives jis' gotter chop
off Expense. So, bein's Ain Chany's so
oil n no count -"
Here there was a movement in the
bed. but the two sisters, whose backs
we're turned and who were greatly in
tent upon their gossip, did not hear it.
"Yaas," broke out the other sister,
''dat's right. Us kin tote her out in err
common cart n thee sisters go out
wild it fer de looks. Real oil folks lack
her shouldn't 'xpec' no turnin' out, no
ways"
Waiter yer say? No turnin' out, n
no huss? Den | haint err gwine ter die.
yer sorry sarpints."
Whack, whack came Aunt Chany's
big walking stick upon the back of
first one and then the other of the as
tonished sisters. who fed the room in
terror.
Nor did she die either. but lived
twenty years longer, or until she was
a full one hundred, having the pleas
ure of attending the burial of the last
one of the sisters before her own final
call.-Chicago Tribune.
Too Many Funerals