The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
yur DRUmMER AND THE NEGRO.
Whv the Latter Declined the Pronered
linn, IA of III Former.

the southern negro always proved 1erp-
" interesting study to me AS child at
ala "Studlev." In Hanover county,
nlaved with them, was nursed ana ten
denly cared Tor by them, grew 10 Hidh-
hood with them, and. III one way Vi a.
otner. have always g d a black laCe heHi
me and black. willing hdnus aluihs hiS
i'm life S struggles. 1 claim 10 know anu
appreciate them, and, what more 80
dearly love some OF them. IL u,u ~
the memory of my innocent anu Happ'
childhood days would lose nan It's mean
ing Their love and faIthiuiness khe"
no bound My love and gratitude Tor anu
towards them / trust Is as DOundless'
cannot believe IL Is through malice, pn''
nevertheless. 1t is a fact that II has
grown TO Ue a sort OF habit win me
whites To publish the faults ana weak
nesses OF numDle but friendly, race,
and TO scant tribute TO their
merit. Ono. an PANIED TO see in proin-
inent newspapers and periodicals Dur
lesque ana Characterization upon Inc ne
gro as exaggerated as unsenerous. Most
OF this uninendy notice comes from their
northern fnends O.. would That II were
altogether SO. When their poor adNdh-
tagcs are taken into consideration the
most pTcJudiced among us can hardly de-
ny that since their liberation they nave
made most cOmmendabie progress. Now,
/ would not like to be- charged win
paradox as / proceed TO relate an expert
ence with my driver while WORKING the
southern trace Tor a New York manufac-
turer There Will be no spirit OF ridicuie
in my narration, for i found my man pc
lite, honest and faithful, but uncducattd.
''oiias was his name. We were max
ing a twO-days' country trip from Athens
ia
before leaving the hotel l had provided
myself witt q lEuCn Tor mid lay ~eiresn-
ment, quite enough for BOTH Silds ana
myself, or. at least. 50 1 thought.
BY noon we were well on the road, and
bringing form my lunch, partOOk OF II
lightly. Offering the larger portion 10
Siias. who promptly declined, saying.
Thank you, boss. / don't choose none.
He was urged. but TO no purpose. 80 on
we sped presently coming 10 caDln,
in front of which lay a once stately pine
that had been shiyercd by lightning, l.
with some curiosity, inquired OF him why
IL was that the occupants Of the hut
did not utilize Tho wood!
What boss. burn dat wood In de fire?
Oar amt marry Niger IN dis here hole
county whar gwine burn wood what de
iitenin' done hit. / doubt if many desc
here poor white folsk gwine put dat wood
in dc fire."
But why do they object to burning it?"
DE low, dars some bad luck or mother
in it,"
do you believe it, snas?"
well. boss, l can't say as zackly
believes In SIGH as dat
The next question proved sumner and
also proved my dryer TO be "A man who
would not fatty give dishonest answer.
Here it is:
Would you burn that wood. slas?"
Giving the reins d sudden JERK, ana
saying TO the horses. cit up. dar,' he
youchsafed this ovasve answer
Oars plenty wood dOut dat boss
Now the sun is sinking in the west, and
we are driving up To- the door OF an inn
in a little country town-cOunty seat. 1
have often thought what a pleasure II
would be for one of these feliOws-we
nave all seen them-whO wanted TO be
waited on ITO the inch OF their lives. who
would like hotel proprietors TO iorsake
father. mother. wife. children, business.
everybody. everything. and renOuncing
every other earthly obligation, turn their
undivided attention to him or them.
say what a pleasure such a fellow could
get out OF the dear old man at that Dar-
ticular inn. file met me AT the door, shook
me warmly by the hand. gave me seat
made remarks upon the weather, asked
me If l wanted TO 60 TO my room before
supper; wanted TO know how ia haze
my eggs cooked before ] had even
thought Of eggs. lie bowed me into the
dining-rOOm stood near me during the
meal, and assisted the darkey in serving
me. After tea he entertained me with
long accounts of people he had entertain
| ed wanted me To look over his register,
'as Perhaps ] might see the name of some
one | knew. lie followed me TO bed.
wanted to know II / had cover enough.
! If / wanted the light TO burn what time
| generally arose and If I'd like to be
I called. Some men. as | said before, like
that sort OF attention, but honestly, It
| makes me tired.
But must tell about Silas. After plac-
| ing my grip I'm the polite old mans hotel
! he addressed me 10 say:
| Boss, Is dar anything elsef
Yes. here is your board money. Silas,
| and ten cents win "lilch 10 get yoursel
Thank YOU boss Boss. what time you
want de team in de morniny'
lie was told and away he went. The
next day we were well on the road when
Silas broke the silence TO deliver himself
of the following:
| Boss. you know you tooken offer me
| some dat lunch yesterday Well, | lowed
| I'd tell you how-com | didn't took none
| Is right curious kind "A niger bout some
things You see. dat lunch whar you
had wouldn't no morc'n start me. didn
| eat no breakfast much, neither dat morn
| in we start. You see. ! was in hurry
10 get to de stable fust, so as ter cit desc
here horses. Dis is de best par in de sta
BILE. and all de boys want EN-; but like
| | saw. desc here lunches whar / see III
drummers eat amt no moren bate L
me- Den | done hear dat cullard LADY
keeps "A restaurant in dat place whar w
was gwine. so / lowed ia save UP M
APPETITE SOS to git de wof of my monel
outen 'er her. Cord, you ought 10 see M
eat dar last ntei
| soon ever / Slt udl uTllih "ndr yol
done gin me de money 10 pay for / wall
down dar and say Good even. lady.
She say. Good even | say. Does yol
| keeps dis here eatin' house? She say
| Yes. sir Den / say. What you AK for
| meal Il always HAYES onderstandn' II
! ever eat airy crum) She say she AWAY
| git twenty-five cents. Den / tell her
take a meat and AK her what she got.
"She lowed she had bacon and cab
bagc 'taters some cold beef some fresl
fsh. bread. and some coffee and milk.
tell her yes IN. she can bring me some @
all dat whar she done name. She fetch !
and put IL down dar on de table. ant
! 'twant long fore | clean tail up. Boss.
see scme folks dat soon's ever de eat az
what's in one dish de call for mo. Da
amt my way. | generally cleans up ever
Cords thing what's in all de dishes for
ever | bother bout more Den l know
what dom. OATS de way ! tooken don
last mite. Den / Token take my fo-
andhit de table Wild de handle tel she com
and AK me what | want nov. ] tell he
she can bring me some bacon and cab
bsge, 'taters. some cold beef. some fires
fish. breed and some coffee and milk. Sh
never said marry word. but went Ion
/ l.. tlros httf. 10. he