Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-31
THE DIFFERENCE.
SAMPLE OF SIMPLICITY.
An Old Darky ut an Unveiling ~
south Carolina Wanted to sina
"Crown Cap'n White Lord OAll.r
Eject of Educatioa and Of Politics.

What was there about the "old-timo'
negro which caused. and which still
causes. the old-t;me southerners to this
day to like them so much? This question
Is Otter asked me by the younger gene
ration OF whites. and will explain It ss
follows: The old-tinier was not educated
as is the young negro of to-day. He had
heap OF hard. horse-sense. but never
paraded his 'larnin." He WAS natural
and child like. The world admires that
which is natural and simple. and =
is all-put-up. A smart alick." whether
he Is white or black. is a nuisance. The
trouble about the young darby Is that
he knows too much. The "old issue" Is
ever ready TO learn. and his department.
is that Of one who knows but little and
is willing to be told about things OF which
he knows nothing. Advice with him Is
a friendly favor. while 10 the young II
is taken as piece of presumption.
DON'T WANT TO BE NEGROES.
Education with the young negro has
made him feel that he must no longer be
a negro, possessing all of those qualities
which characterized the old-timer. such
as humility. happy, sunny disposition.
freedom from care. and whole souled.
hearty laugh, and every now ana then
breaking forth into an old-time negro
melody. Oh. no. no; but he must assume
an air Of self-importarce. Independence,
and appear to be a white man with "a
dark skin IL he could find some bleach
ing compound that would change his COM
plexion from black to white he would In
vest his last dollar in 1t. What a pity!
HE'S GOT TO LIVE HERE.
He's got to live here In The South. or
go away. Where can he go? To the
North where he is not wanted and where
he is a "coon," and Is not allowed to
compete with white laborers In any OF
the trades? Where he Is addressed as
Mister to his face, which greatly elates
him, and when he turns his back is
spoken Of as that ID nigger!" The
happiest negroes l have seen since tho
war are the Mississippi negroes. There they
are practically disfranchised, and they
are working hard and getting rich. Tho
race problem is settled down there. The
white people are as kind as possible. and
in the country districts the white planters
are always ready to help them by lending
them pillow, wagon. or an ox-cart,
just as the people do their white neigh
bors I'm this country. and where they are
Industrious and manifest disposition to
get along honestly and support their
families. they enjoy the respect CT all
their white neighbors. The negro recog-
nlzes the fact that the white man Is going
TO govern the country, whether or no.
and. therefore, does not NEEDLE with
politics. The same is just as true In Vir-
ginia, but our negroes don't seem to so
understand II, and it is a pity that they
| don't at once tumble to the racket"
| CROWN CAP'N WHITE LORD o. ALL.
Speaking OF the simplicity, child-like.
and natural, of the old-issue negroes
am reminded OF an occurrence which took
| place at Fort MIL S. c., on the list
| of May, when Captain Samuel II. White,
at his own expense, unveiled monument
TO the Faithful Slaves OF the Confede-
racy" Just before the ceremonies COM
| menced, it was thought that a song from
| the negroes would be appropriate. Cap
] tain White suggested that "Marsa's In
| the Cold. Cold Ground" would be the
| most suitable OF all the old-time negro
| melodies The darkies commenced at
| once to 'qure roun' among the assembled
| multitude TO know who could lead II.
No one appeared to be sufficiently
| familiar with the tune TO tackle 1t. and
old Nelson White, a man who Is loved
by all Of the white people in that sections
and whose name comes first on the monu-
ment, spoke up as follows:
l. 'Inezmuch ez dere appears ter be no.
body erbout who ken lead Us In dat chune.
I would sugges' dat we sing All Hall dc
Powah 'er Jesus Name" an when we
gifts ter dat part what hit says crown
i'm Lord Of ALL dat wen Jes sing Crown
Cap'n White lord o. all!
The Captain was deeply touched by the
old negro's gratitude. and, filled with adj
miration for his innocence or what might
be considered sacrilegious, told him In .
fatherly and friendly way. "Oh, no, Nell
son; that won't do; It would be sacrilege."
POLK MILLER.