The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-10-18
"DE u0RTUIS ~~~~ :"

There was a death out IN Edgewood
last week. 1t was not chronicled to
the world as the passing of some great
character. There was no conspicuous flar-
ing Of funeral notices, eulogy told at
the grave-a mere incident of daily life 1t
was-the passing away of an old negro wo-
man.
a small circle gathered to mourn her
loss. fer Nanny julie Ann had been
faithful family servant, and they came to
give the last tribute to one whose life had
been a life of devotion. When the lament
ed Senator a. II. ColGui.t came from
southwest Georgia to enter political life
IN Atlanta Nanny julie Ann came also
and remained with the family.
1t was nothing notable-just the death
of an old, toothless, wrinkled white-hair-
ed negro woman, who had been suffering
for many months and talking sometimes
ncoherently about strange people, people
of the Old days-her slave assocIates-call-
ing up in her wild tmagnings old planta-
ton memories Of Baker county; picturing
again the scenes about Pine bloom in days
of prodigality when she was young and
the plantation life was very gay.
No, it was nothing. this death of Nanny
julie Ann; but It was the departure of Il
type soon to be extinct. the disappearance
OF a specimen of old southern life, well
defined in the civilization of that day as
the planter himself and holding q position
or honor.
She was no mental. this old "rieger mann
my" She presided with portiy dignity
over the smokehouse and the pantry, and
her frown was feared as much in the par
Tor as 1t was IN tho quarters" She be-
came o. kind Of undcrstuiy to the head
OF the household and was thoroughly tden-
titled with every phase of family life.
wrapping the swaddling clothes about the
Infants. presiding at their birth and I'M
pressing race traditions upon the children
as they grew up by telling marvellous tales
CT the feats Of their forefathers and cali
ing upon them to develop and do likewise.
She frowred and Numbered at times.
but there was always smile ana sunshine
concealed for this old niger nanny had
heart enough to encompass the wide do
main Of fertile acres. She was the only
who dared TO vent irnpudence In the
face Of the cole Marstcr." but this was
made In a spirit of mock:ng raillery, which
told the kindly humor prompting 1t.
Tney are going fast, these old relics In
after days Of individual effort except In
rare instances. they were nisfts and free
dom to them meant curtaIment of lib
critics. n sudden narrowing down from
which they never recovered.
And Nanny julie Ann was one of these.
There was in her the pure pride of aris-
tOcracy-the spirit of n0besso oblge which
caused her to scorn the sordid tendencies
OF this day and generation.
Was 1t any wonder that on her death bed
visions came of old Pine Bloom with the
gray moss streaming down from the mag
noias, and the chorus of the field hands
ringing out from the cotton fields; that she
saw the white vine emboWcred colOnuade
peopled again with black faces peering IN,
while the dance went on in the huge hall
way; that she recognized her young mis-
tross curtsey!ng in the Inazes of the reel,
that She heard her CID marSter call and
hurried to ansWer-for this. all this, was
her heaven. A. &. n.