The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

~ OlAlLO | ] IL
| out of seven, and seven-tenths is seven out
OF ten.''
Still Mr.. Bell hesitated. EVERYBODY in
court was still, too. Every brain there
was absorbed in mental calculation.
'Three-tifths, at last said Mr.. Bell.
Az d then his attorney interfered.
"Oh, you can't get this young man out
of the trouble I'll make for him if l can"
| said Attorney Ames sleefully.
Mr.. Bel folded his arms defantly and
scowled.
Yes. if you cam be snecred.
'Oh. you'd put him in Jail y said At
torney Scnooler, losing his temper and
burlesquing the dignlfed demeanor of
Fisher Ames
There isn't pc son in this courtroom
that can solve that IrobIem." Schooler
declared Indignantly. Il don't believe he
can himself"
"The common denominator," began MIR.
| Ames dispassionately, lis seventy. Five
seventbs equals ffty-seventieths. Seven
tenths equals forty-nine seventieths. The
d ference is one-seventieth.
He said one-fiftieth a moment ago."
declared Schooler.
"I did not" said Ames.
''He did,"
II did not"
You did"
Il did not"
YOU
''Gentlemen." purred Judge Coffey's
soft voice to his lead pencil, please keep
further apart"
One day a few years ago when 1 was on
Sutter-street car the gripman halted at
Octavia street. The length of time we
waited attracted my attention finally, and
looked up 10 see who the important per-
sonage was for whom that lordly being, a
streetcar conductor, waits.
expected to see a beautifully dressed,
charming young girl--for even a car con-
ductor is hum amor putting millopa ire,
writ all over with the assertion that
wealth is privileged, or cripple, dunn bly,
pleading that misfortune is exempt from
the strict letter of streetcar law.
But it was none of these. A spare old
negress walked up briskly, but not with
undignihed haste, entered the car and
again the wheels of business turned.
She wore the plainest of black gowns,
scant rather in the SIX TT, long, large,
full immaculate white apron, a green
plaid shawl, large black straw bonnet,
tied down over her ears with broad black
81 ribbon. and white collar at her thin
wrinkled throat.
Its Nanny Pleasant" explained the
gripman. I'VE always wait for her and
she pays US well for it,
| When Nanny Peasant walked into
court Wednesday afternoon and was
called TO the witness-stand courtroom
fend behind me whispered: There she
comes. She's smarter the whole
shootin' match"
I'm inclined TO believe that no char
acter, however great 1t may be, is as great
rs its reputation. This gaunt, tall black
woman. the most interesting figure in
San Francisco to-day, compels such re-
spect for her mental quaIifoation-leav-
ing out of ;ne question her moral worth
or unworth-thas reporters have probably
been tempted to add TO the reputation she
has for managing, for controlling, for US
ing the power OF The mentally strong over
the weak. On the other hand a great
Sharon case, said of Nanny Pleasant:
This old woman, without whose ad-
vice Sarah Althea Hill says she
did nothing, wrote nothing, promised
nothing, has missed her vocation. If she
has strength CT character sufficient, not
only TO influence, but to guide and con-
troll such a woman as Sarah Althea Hill
Van Am burgh would have been glad to
hire her as a lion-tamer."
The dark skinned lion-tamer walked to
the stand. Her face Is very, very thin.
One can scarcely see her hollow, dark
eyes under the shadow of her scoop
bonnet Nanny Pleasant is aging
but not weakening. She walks with
firm, quick step and her voice
is full, decided and has less of the
negro accent than the voices of many
white girls OF Alabama or Mississippi or
Kentucky.
This old colored woman is as self-pos-
sessed as-as Bernhardt. She hasn't a
particle of self-consciousness. She is pos
sesseu of a simple, natural dignity that
makes the stares, the presence of a crowd
of strangers utterly Indifferent TO her.
She sat up straight in the witness chair
ing readiness. When a long dispute in
terrupted the course OF her testimony she
drew up another chair, rested her feet
upon its rungs and covered her face with
her long, black hands. But it was no. to
escape the inquisitive gaze of the peope
in court. II was simply that she was
weary.
Her habit OF command betrayed itself
twice once when Attorney Schooler