Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23

J ! VF
Written Exclusively for The Evening Star.
There is a colony of African negroes
in Texas" remarked Professor Gustav
Bender of Congress Heights to Star re-
porter "of which but little has ever ap-
peared in the newspapers, though the col
Cny is a large one, or at least was at one
time large. They were imported originally
direct from Africa by a fund raised for the
purpose. They were slaves. but just about
the time they arrived in this country the
war of the rebellion broke out and, OF
course, the slaves were free to do as they
desired. \ few of them may have re-
turned, but very few. They seemed con-
tented TO remain and organized themselves
into Il kind of a cooperative colony in a
rude way. They minded their own business
very well considering everything and the
circumstances Of their coming. and have
managed fairly well since The most of
the original members of the colony nave
died OUT. but their children and grand
children have run things since. They, I'M
til late years. kept apart remarkably from
the native negroes, though they are not
SO separated Row. They are located on
what is known as the low lands of the
Brazos river. lands that until they came
were not worth owning or paying taxes
fer. The Africans, however, by industry
managed to keep things running along
and making ends meet. They preserved all
OF tine customs of their tribe and always
have held at stated times their wild orgies
and feaSts which generally wind up with
dance lasting about twsnty-four hours,
during which time they are exceedingly
lively. The native negroes of Texas fear
them and have rarely ventur9d to take any
part in their ceremonies or even to witness
them. Their devotional exercises are a
series of iucantations that are as savage
the ,yiiIs of Africa Though they are well
known in Texas they are seldom heard of
elsewhere. even in the adjoining states
x
''Th.. civil service is q success in many re-
spects. but ii operates very peculiarly in
regard 20 the Waterman service of the de-
partments, observed official Of one of
the downtown departments TO Star re-
porter. ''At present wheE there is d va
cancy in the Waterman service the civil
service commission has to be called upon TO
furnish eIigibles from which the selections
are made. In many cases they certify
Young men. who rave passed the necessary
examination, in some Instances almost
boys. for the places. | do not know but
these young men make as good and eff
cient watchmen as the older men who gem
orally have such places. but somehow he
public demand or look for old men as
watchmen. The idea is that they are best
suited for the work. ard. anyhow, II has
always been the custom to have old men.
midde-ased men end older. for such duty.
In nine cases out OF ten when young men
are given such appointments they use them
As i stepping stone. as ii We're. until they
can secure a better place. The duties of
their position are such that they can have
2 good deal OF time to study, and thus pre-
pare themselves for examina lions for pro-
non lrg1 Iyf
successful. The captains of the watch
forces give them a good rating, and ti.eir
record Tor efficiency counts considerable in
the matter of promotion. The captains are
often strongly tempted to reduce their
rating If they honestly can DO so. for they
know full well that high rating will nave
the effect OF taking them off the watch
man service just as they are thoroughly
broken III for the work. and their places
filed with others, who have to go through
the same apprenticeship. in many cases to
leave as soon as they have learned the bus
mess Of course. il is creditabe that this
klHJ OF promotion can be mad. but changes
IN the watch service are not desirable as a
rule. for all departments like to hold on TO
the men who are well broken ~
= 4
IF there ever was tired set of mon >,
volunteered driver on the avenue line of
the Traction railway to a Star reporter eft
was the drivers on tht. avenue and nth
street lines for the first week after the
burning of the power house Indeed some
CT them have not got thoroughly rested
yet Many Of them had never had auy ex-
Perlence as drivers of horses, or at lea st
Oh such horses and mules as were drafted
INTO service for the first week after the fire.
ana, although they could only hold out for
half the usual hours of work. they were
nearly dead when they got off their cars
There were not more than five out of the
Nhole number who Were able to comb their
hair FOR three or four days or even to get
their hands up as high as their heads. The
weight OF the work seemed to he on the
1orearns-With the levers on the grip cars
the pain which frequently followed holding
a grip all day nearly always struck about
the shoulders or sides But with the fiery
and GntaIned steeds that We had to con-
quer and drive. and il was Just as much a
JOB !" DO one thing as il was the other all
the PAIN centered in the forearms and
Wrists Now that the horses are better and
are getting used To the work there is a let
up 10 the misery that fellows hangIrIs on TO
a PAIR OF horses. grinding the cTake and
LOOKING out Tor passengers for from eight
To len hours On stretch.
ne only Thing that secured the resump-
tloE OF traffic On the day after the fire
was the force of hill boys that the company
secured In most cases they were the hill
Work before the cable was put into opera