Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18
ON THE EASTERN SHO
Where Prosperous Past is Buried Beneath
Incidence and Indifference.

| a gently rolling peninsula, lying close to
the great, bustliHg world, and yet far
removed from its progress and it's life as
the stars are from the earth. There may
be romance still here, but 1t is buried too
| deep to find the Eight. There is great
shadow over everything. Behind it lies
the memory of the Eentlefolk who had the
best slaves the finest horses. the most pro-
| ductive lands and charming homes One
hopes in vain for the active world. bent on
its own work, to discover any beauty in
this forlorn wreck, that has not even the
energy to knock at its door.
The old rules are used for blowing and
sowing, and the crop that is reaped is
| sorrow of indiffereEce. for the land is large
| ly burdened with mortgages. The reason
| is apparent and on the surface. Drive
| through the beautifully rolling country,
watered every few miles with living
streams that murmur over the brown ana
yellow pebbles, and note one of the many
| causes of debt, that grinding monster that
has the land In possession.
ThriftIess and Indifferent.
Expensive highly improved machinery
| left in the fence corners or under conven-
| lent tree until the next years crop is
| ready. AS likely as not it has been bought
| on credit, for where Is there the agricul-
| tural community that refuses to buy if
| note is due the wood is rotten, the bolts
| farming does not pay! No marvel that
| the whites grow moro and more unfit TO
reach out for larger rewards, even to
hold on to the good things they have
| They are blind to the demands of the
hour. They refuse to send their chill
dren to school unless gowned in the latest
style. with a hat for every day in the
| week. and all these follies that crowd out
education to fill their pla INMATES with envy.
Contrast the children of the thriftless or
Woodworking whites brought up in idle
| ness without restraint, with the negroes
sent to school in their clean calico slips,
barefooted If necessary, and know why a
white crowd is so aggressive and why the
negroes treat with manners everybody"
Decoration Day Observnnces.
Only the negroes on the eastern shore
decorate the graves Of the soldiers. Some
how we had got into the crowd. There was
| the usual band music. marching, the old
soldiers with as many, medals and deco
rations as a much-aecorated foreign gen
eral. Following them came little log
cabin on four wheels pulled along by boys
with paper caps. red. white and blue. A
large placard told us this was "Onkle Tom s
Cabon." Another group of boys with
wooden guns and sashes and larger cabin
marked "Old Folks at Home" In it sat
negro dolls-men, women and girls-hid-
eously ugly and grotesquely absurd.
They halted at the gate Of the cemetery
where the white soldiers are buried and
proceeded to decorate their graves, which
was done before they went to the negro
graves at the other end of the town. A
mounted marshal gorgeously costumed,
kept back the crowd. and one was al
lowed to enter, except those in the process
sion and few whites, who were escorted
with much gravity and courtesy to the
best places. The spectacular effects were
much increased by a boat covered with
nags drawn by four horses with balls and
nags and roses of red. white and blue
cr1mped paper. At the mast was the throne
on which was the Queen of Liberty, a
pretty little yellow GIRL around whom were
little black tots Sleeping, singing, gazing
and grinning with wonder. These were the
states After the speeches. prayers, sing
ing and the firing of the volleys over the
graves the crowd dispersed to meet at
night in their town hall.
In the Town Hall.
When the whites asked If they might
witness the closing ceremonies a very tail,
grave negro bowed and said, 1--WE shall
feel 1t an honor" The negroes faced about
TO make a way as If royalty was in their
midst and ushered them to seats on one
side of the stage. while the negro speakers
occupied the other end.
A hOary- headed G. A. r. man got up and
told them of the glory Of the soldier. of
the 'prickly thread of existence" of the
negro soldiers who died with their faces
~ AiiS LUG, ditQ luaI -tHe HFSl DlOOu SheQ
In the revolution. was that of a negro SOL
dier;' that General Lee was in every
thing the equal Of General Grant, and
had the advantage of him in every battle
until the negro came and fought for free
dom; then the God of Battles gave His
support and victory came, which would
have been withdrawn until now but for the
Afro-American.1
This was followed by music and a men,
Der OF the Charles Summer Post, a young
negro. who praised the soldiers present and
raise his hand for freedom He spoke of
the beauty Of the Aihambra. said that in
spite OF the superstitious religion and cru
city OF the Spanish race 1t was chivalric,
tory; told them that he was opposed to
this war; that "the negro in the civil war
knew what he was fighting for, but If you
how viii you answer? This is the ,'t White lite
mans war; let him fight it out" There
was silence that could be felt. He said:
make no astronozpical flights, no philo-
no exodus to Afric1. Let all exode who
wish. but I exode not worth u cent If
am drafted go t0.fght like man, and
SO must you for your country, your flag
your race"
From Another Poiat Of View.
Then the other speaker told them that
now they fought to make themselves a
nation; that Spain had cursed the world
AZ wv ySaiSB tudtS YVES .tiie Dattl6 OF
light against darkness. TO all which there
was loud applause. The speaker wiped his
face and continued reminding his eager
hearers that the way they conducted them
selves in and through this war would de-
eide their place in the future, but that any
nation that put its foot on the neck of a
weaker people deserved to be wiped out;
that the time had come for Spain, and he
hoped there would not be one left to tell
the tale, when he was Interrupted by
numbering cheers. which induced him to
ado, impressfvely, N'not one"
Now, 1t Is evident that down on the east
ern sho' the heart Of the negro is In the
war, and this wittAaif the beat of drum
and all the extends that appeal to his
emotional, picturesque nature, for. no re-
cruiting ofhcer .has come 10 awaken his
silmbering patriotism. -
+ fhen, too, while the white crowds in
the same locality Jostle and swear. these
poor. ignorant creatures behave with
dignity thst almost grotesque. and give
courtesy that domes only from the highest
ranks OF civilized society. Because the
negroes live close TO their best traditions
ana seize the advantages. within their
reach, they are entitled to help and respect.
3. 3. e.