The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-05
LITTLE WASHINGTON INCIDENTS.
The Disappearing AuntIe-AniabIo Walters
Comments or Negroes.

Ehe DisAppenrlHE WnlteF1-
or Negroes.
WASHINGTON. June 4.-That times have
changed and customs with them, was forcibly
brought home the other day 10 n young girl
from the far South who was making her first
visit to Washington. In the little town which
is her home the old colored people still love tho
families in which they lived before the war, still
preserve their old.time Difference to white folks,
and would be surprised II addressed otherwise
than Ss "Auntie' and Uncle" 1t is differ
ont in Washington. Here the Afro-Amerioan
thinks very we'll of himself. knows his rights,
and Is very careful about preserving them. and
s s4lT di disco%st wSs ts sse e' WSs OF on the sb soT "1PscP
alone, trying to find the house OF a friend. Tho
avenues have a way of intereecting the streets
In Washington which 10 confusing to any but
thu, oldest inhRbitant, aud the girl found her.
self getting hopelessly adrift in her effort to
reach her destination. and did not know which
way, to tack. Just then she met q middle.
aged. very respectable looking colored woman,
The sight cheered ner, coiored people were al.
ways SO, kind to her down home, and she hur-
ried to the woman and said most sweetly;
oh, Auntie. l have lost my way. Won't you
Instead Of the expected "sYaas, indsod, chile"
rasping tones, as she stalked haughtily away:
Il amt 20 Auntie-Tse 20 ekal!"
In some Washington hotels the walters remain
a long time. and they get a way of giving advice
and oftentimes much comfort to thelever return.
ing travellers. They know just about what is
good or bad in the hotel larder, and you cant do
better than, accept their suggestions as to
patron said at breakfast time that he thought
he would have some soft-boiled eggs. The
waiter had grave doubts about the egg being
that morning, so after thinking it over a min
ute, he remarked insinpatingly;
Deed. boss, / think you better have EN-
dis mahnin'.'
At one Of tho best hotels you find a happy
combination of colored walters and a menu writ
ten entirely In French. Negroes never like to
admit that they can't understand anything
and everything. as was discovered by q West.
ern guest, who was rather outraged whom
confronted by the French bill of fare.
Bile waiter. You can't understand French,
The waiter shifted from one foot to the other.
and then breaking into smiles said: NO, sir,
but l kin most"
Washington boarding house keepers have an
unhappy time of it. as IL we'll known. because
the chronic officesseker who has slid down the
scale as his money has vanished, from swell
hotel to side street lodging houses. is all the
time moving out with q largoSbill owing and q
very small prospect OF payment in sight OF the
landlady. Naturally the landladies try to keep
track of the delinquent boarders and TO find out
"hCAN tlCy VIA hCAL nav SoONlCs bO 40 W vi
low them up. The bo&rders have q way OF Civ
ing the moving man q drink or q tip, to prevent
the new location from being disclosed. Negroes
are SO quick witted that their replies to the in
quiries Of the signing landladiesa are often, full
OF interest. Last week some trunks and old
handbags were being carried out of a house
when tho mover was stopped by the owner of
the premises, who asked:
Where are you going with those thingsl"
The colored man was tired Of the question
1t was such an old. old question to him, hut he
replied with perfect good humor and with his
mind on the war:
~ come from Spain an Use gwine to Cuba
see daLi"
The facility with which the negro coins words
to suit every occasion IL always marvellous.
The day the District regiment embarked for
Chickamauga was. of course, q great day for
Washington people and the sidewalks in front
Of the reviewing, ground were packed TO suffo.
congestion of the crowd was really dangerous
and an old colored man whose wool was whiten-
ing with age said as he struggled along. wiplng
the preparation of his face With his arm:
MY LRwd! l never see SIGH q state oh JAM
moration In all my Dawn dAys!"