Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-23
PINCKNEY MARSH.
by GEORGE ABE.


''stand.
The stand consists OF an old-fash-
Toned arm chair placed on top of a
bisected dry goods box. Both the
box and the chair are studded with
brass-head tacks and other orna-
ments, so that they resemble the
dais and throne of a cannibal kings
reception room
Mr.. Pinckney Marsh usually has
the market page of yesterdays
paper tucked under the chair cush-
ion. so that the customer may read
while his shoes are being cleaned.
Pinckney (the common abbreviation
being Pink has a corner reputation
as an expert sinner.
He gets the final polish by breath
ing heavily on all parts OF the shoe,
which is then attacked with piece
of red flannel Pink" has to be
something of contortionist in order
to breathe on the heel of the shoe
without disturbing the man in the
chair, but he does it, and takes
some professional pride in the ac-
complement
Pinks shirt is black and white
study OF trellises, with vines climb
ing up them.
The vest is double breasted, and
was once polka-dot silk, but now
the dots are mostly blurred away
and the pockets have begun to ravel.
His trousers are a black and
brown check, aud are worn thin at
the knees and ragged at the bottom.
The shoes are extremely pointed,
two sizes too large, cracked across
the top and protuberant at the heel.
When Pink is dressed for the
street he wears double breasted
coat tightly buttoned, spreading
blue necktie that has been handled
once or twice too often, high white
collar and light brown hat with
q high crown Pink improves as
you study him from the ground up
ward.
His apparel might be judged as
follows:
Shoes-Utterly disreputable
Trousers
Coat-BadlY worn.
Necktie-Showy.
Collar-Splendid.
Hat--Magnificent.
What need to tell of the coal
black face, the broad Hanged nose,
the elastic mouth opening on teeth
Of pearly whiteness and the close
growth of kinky hair?
A song of passing popularity tells
that all members OF the Ethiopian
division look alike to me- Pink
is one OF a thousand is, so far
as mere appearance is concerned.
When it comes to a consideration
OF the higher being, the sure-enough
ego, Pink is different. He sees
things from his own standpoint, and
there is room for no one else on his
pedestal.
In walking, and especially while
indoors, he allows his foot to shuttle,
50 that the movement is a slow
dance step.
He seems to be keeping time to
musick which only the rapt and col
ored soul may hear
Pink leavens all the conversation
in the barber shop
Whether the BARRIERS be discussing
the Immortality Of the soul, the
heavy weight championship, pro-
posed tariff legislation or things to
eat Pink says something entertain
ing.
The BARRIERS like him and pity
him.
They are men who have given
much study to public questions.
For instance, chair 2 argued with
chair 8 for q solid hour one day last
week, the question under considera-
ton being: "Did Fitz foul Sharkey?"
II follows that men who are foun-
tains of useful knowledge must pity
q colored porter and bootblack such
as Pink, who knows comparatively
nothing about the tariff.
At the same time they like him
and enjoy his observations. 1t is a
historical fact that men whose minds
are intent for hours at a time upon
intricate problems find rest and re-
taxation in frivolous talk
The BARRIERS can afford to patron
Ize Pink occasionally, never for
getting, however, that there is a
social gulf between a barber and a
brush"
Perhaps Pink does not fully APP
oreciate these fine gradations OF