The sun., 1897-01-10
WEIRD ART OF THE NEGRO.
1T PRODUCES THE MELODIES Srya
IN MEMPHIS LEVEE DIpiS

Craps, Vet Its Music Oren 4. sung ~
World Over-Tbe Di-arming Room os
Dive where Weapons Are Checked.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Jan. THE levee dives 4,
Memphis cannot be duplicated In any city on
the globe. with the possible exception of Nov
Orleans. They are supported by the roustab.ut
negroes and afford them what they regard n,
the three essentials Of enjoying life wilma
women, and craps.
A ground floor and cellar arc necessary fo,
the operation OF q levee dive. but a second and
third floor. divided into small. dirty rooms
make building more desirable for the location
OF dive. The ground floor 10 divided in,,,wo
compartments. in one of which Is n cOmblns.
tion saloon and grocery and in the otLer,l,
entrance to the cellar. The cellar In al leya.
dive 10 known by no other name than ,ns nn,-
so called after tho hold Of q steamboat. On,
who has never seen one OF these places Will
wonder why the entrance TO the cellar I. IN ia,
ground floor. The reason is that the rous,aban,
when mad with jealousy or drink. or both. isa
dangerous fellow. His weapon Ia the LGife.
and when In an angry mood the sight OF blood
seems to drain from him the last ve.t,ge q
humanity and civilization and make him q
veritable savage. The Memphis police allow
the dives to bc operated Just so long as the dive.
keeper maintains strict order. A murder would
mean the Immediate closing OF the dive and
but for the prccaution which tho diyckeoper
takes murders would be q nightly occurrence.
30 II is that the keeper has at the head OF ihs
stairs which lead TO tho hold largo ,ab.c. ltns
and broad. which 10 presided over by burly
negro. generally some fellow who !s known 10
tho habitues and patrons of the dives as a bad
man.
The influx Of patrons Of tho hold begin, al
about O'Clock In tho evening. All persons,
men and women. who go into the cellar are
searched By tho negro ut the head Of the stairs
and every weapon is taken from them. Cheeks
for the weapons are given by the searcher to tho
searched. and the weapons are returned pre-.
sentation of the checks. The system l. the sans
rs that by which one checks ones umbrella or
coat at q theatre. the only difference being that
the checking In this instance 10 compulsory.
The sesrcher's table at 10 o'clock in the even-
ing--for at that time the hold is usually crowded
is . sight. Keen-b -bladed Barlows. rusty razors
pistols Of every size. Sort and description brass
knuokles, slupg shots, loaded canes, aud dag.
gers arc there. nicely arranged so that tLe
searcher can readily md them when the owners
call for them and present their checks.
Tho hold is the wonderful part OF the dive. A
white person other than the dlvekeeper Is
rarely allowed to 60 in there. A white man. 10
he wishes. may drink In the saloon or eat some
OF the mouldy goods from the grocery. but un.
less he has the permission Of the divekeeper. or
10 backed by the policeman who happens TO 70
on the beat. he must stay out OF the hold.
Tho hold Is divided into two rooms, large
where the crap table. are. The gambling room
In well patronized dive pays the divekeeper Q
gam bling rooms, eIcspt in It's dirt and the a5.
tence Of all other sorts OF gambling eGcspt
IL fnvoT os b
and is ono at which the player stands no chance
at all. barring phenomenal luck. unless tLs
10 no keeper. each player taking his turn vita
the dice and betting his money against the
mTfR:y TRsy al s1E E !. the ShS SGy:T place ol
Others In dive 1t 10 tn. Bohemia OF the nesro
,cB.sy Ts ns sTay to .hiss .Snsi s
catchy music. and where dancers Of perfect
vulgar danes. Apoand the tho veal wall. II the hs
lo1S Senehe; ~ are placed for the comfort OF ,hs
IL weak-toned plano. where q negro hammers
out the music for the dancers and the singers,
The piano and the piano pounder'-he Is
inclosurs OF thick boards from any beer cans -
pieces OF chairs which may be thrown at them
been marred by discord ant note. In that cor.
nsr OF the dance hall In which the piano is sit.
raised about two inches frym the door is placsi.
On this single aud douole dances are done. Tbs
TS. asnoins sas,s On me nG9r % oi the ball
the miniature elevator. by which beer and other
d rlnks are sent into the hold from the ssloon
70 beer. which is sold In large cans. The stimu.
liant. however, which the mi maicrity OF the femas
lake this stun before they retire contentifs
themselves with beer In the early part OF tho
night The dances executed are those chAras-
ter.tic to the negro. except the Persian dance
which Ia done by the women. The performers
are not paid by the divekerpers: they dance aud
,dnF sosnSss shs{ Ike to and because they ks
vnlgarity the dances are beautiful. The time 10
always perfect The music Of the singers, too.
II will perhaps surprise some to know that
among these very devil-may.care. dcbauchel,
but happy negroes originated the tunes 81 sonrs
Any Miss issippi River steamboat mate who has
been employed at his work for the las. fifteen
years. viii attest TO the truthfulness of tho
ooom-de-ay" 10 sung Is one to which about two
hundred verses OF vulgar doggerel were sung by
.vsr heard Of the song which she mad. famous.
Tho song "Oh, My Baby" which mas mad
great run. originated in 4 levee dive. Il bears
The New Bully" % with INV whish Nav sqns irwn rGaad mad:
such hit. was sung with different words long
before the frolicsome c9medienno ever heard ot
.ro sung in the dives OF this city to music which
vas happy ebuiiton OF tho heart OF some ig.
educated audience would enjoy them would be
.hs work OF but a few moments.
The dive singers have a readiness for rhyme
making which is remarkable. and thi. accounts
or the length OF their songs. In Tennes.ee
he agent OF tho penitentiary is Joseph Turney
l,r brother her Of the present Governor. For nearly
ilar intervals, from the Jail In Memphis 10 md
'enitentiary in Nashville. and he has becomX
he dives composed a song OF about one hui
red verses. describing Joe Turncy and a trip
Nashville under his guardianship; This soV
: very popular. and almost any habItue of hn
Il the dives can sing II. though neither TN
cords nor the music ever appeared on papeN
The words are simple. but the music Is beAutH
IN