The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-17
TOLD BY
POLK MILLER

Among the changes which have taken
place since the negro was set free there
DIS none so marked as that which we no.
tice in tho attitude of the two races to-
ward each other. In former years every
white man, except the very poor, on meet
Ing with IL negro, would have something
pleasant to say to him. To pass one In
the public road without speaking to him
In the most cordial manner was taken as
an evidence of an absence Of gcntlemanly
qualities. Therefore, our young men
were always on the lookout TO do the
polite thing, and particularly were they
taught to be careful never to slight the
humble whether he was white or black.
The negro, too. was careful not to be
guilty. of a INCONSISTENCIES of the rules
of etiquette. But, oh! how different It Is
now with the young of both races. They
seet;, to cultivate the opposite course;
Ones a ''nlgRer' and the other Is 'po'
white trash and so they so. each seem
ing TO say TO the other. Just let me alone
and / won't bother YOU. The old timer,
upon the negro as weakling and In the
habit of dong all in his power to heap
him. still chertshes the same kind OF
feeling which was born in him. and in
spite of the fact that the negro does not
appear to recognize 1t, he sticks to him In
time of trouble
Not Icing ago Judge witt of the Hust.
ings court of Richmond, had before him
Il negro boy about Is years of age. who
was charged vita Stealing gold ring
OF the value of SIS, said rng being the
property of Amanda Green Amanda
was the only Witness. When summoned
she felt that IT. was an outrage that she
should have to'f'go into dat coIc 'ous. as
witness. when de ring and de boy was
boz dar to show fer deyselves," Amanda
was cf the opinion that had the case been
an otiense against one OF our Franklin
street ladies "instid O. her the boy would
have been punished and the ring sent TO
Its owner. So. having worried over 1t for
a fortnight beforehand, she was not in a
happy frame of mind when the case was
called
Owing to her naughty bearing, and tho
dsde.nful air of onended dignity, ut be-
ing summoned before the court, the kind
hearted judge asked the sergeant to let
ner SIT IN the ante-roon. apart from the
black horde which usually thronged the
luYttngs court.
she was atttred in a black dress of the
moire antique pattern evidently given her
by her wealthy mistress during the war;
and i had the appearance OF having been
Folded Thousand times In a certain way
as a eviaeaced by being worn out in the
creases. over her shoulders was a bright
canary-colored shawl while on her head
she mad n hat as broad as the antlers Of
an elk, with flowers and berries of every
held a white lace parasol with an ivory
handle. In the other she had a fan OF n
oright pinklsh hue, tipped with ostrich
r rfbhn,, VINE a couple OF yards of green
one end being tied to the fan. The SER
geant cried:
Amanda Green Amanda Green! Come
| into COURT"
When she walked into the court room
ard was sworn she kissed the Blblc with
a freezing GOODNESS. She took her seat
~ me witness chair as though it was a
great condescenscn for her to sit in an
orainsiry wooden chair and with her eyes
fiNed on the ceiling of the court room. she
Jaw n,ither Judge, Jury. nor the cloud OF
N front Of her face with the rapidity Of
the wings of a humming bird.
inc commemorative attorney was a
y you man who did not grow up with
acquainted with the characteristics Of
that class OF negroes who felt that. hav-
ing been raised by white folks of ''qual
f,ty they, too, are quality, and, there
Tore, are entitled to treatment different
from the ordinary run OF negroes.
me prosecuting attorney picked up a
goa ring from the desk, and handing II
Amanda, look at this ring and tell the
gentlemen OF the jury whether 1t Is yours
She turned hor face slightly. and tas.
ing hold of the ring, gave II a passing
glance. resumed the MIGRATORY motions OF
her fan and replied:
1T looks monstrous like IL, sub"
rs II yours?' asked the common.
wealth's attorney
u has tole you It looks like It," and
went back to tanning. The common.
wea,th's attorney turned TO the clerk AM,
said:
please enter nolie pros in the case.
lows:
1--WE are done with you. Amanda"
II she heard II she couldn't believe II
end kept her seat.
Here was a good-for-nothing low-dowr
niger. who had the impudence to com,
Into her house and steal her ring "wha
the court would consider the importanc,
OF the parsonage from whom the ring wa,
Stolen, and that she would hear some
/ thing about 'penitontiary for nfe or hang
ng." But no. Tho boy IN DISCHARGED
was what she heard.
Now the Judge 10 prepared for a scene
ans mle,d while the jurymen and OF
fcers Of the court have not the sprhtes
suspicion Of trouble. for they are youn,
men who have grown up since the war
ard can't read the negro.
The judge Dervously picked up a news
paper, hc'ds II close to his face. shuts hi
eyes ana MS ears: and awaits the crash
for the adminstration ~ law. she rlids
ont OF her chair and out Of the cour
room. saving M she ala &C.
VOL, ! mus. say dat dere's slsaco Jus
The commonweaith's attorney iumps 3
HE feet ana cries cut Ia an excited NAV,
Ky ,,'yo. ", honor !. that woman kas snsslte
ls-kut ~ H. if = - lit-<sht 49, K