The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-23
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
Bill Says Politeness Costs Nothing and
Pays Well.
atlanta Constitution.


Politeness costs nothing and pays
we'll. Whether it is natural OF artificial,
it always makes an agreeable impress
sion. The oldtime negroes are yet the
politest people I know, but they have
nearly all passed away. There are two
that we meet or pass almost every day,
and they arc favorites with my folks
because they bow humbly and give the
sidewalk with alacrity. One of them
goes bent with age and deformity. His
body is nearly at right angle to his
legs. He is set just right for digging a
ditch or chopping wood and makes a
fair living at it, for he is no beggar and
says he loves to work when he is well.
Sometimes l drop dime in his trcmb-
ling hand, and he always says Good
bless you, massa; you is gemmen,
SIR His gratitude and his compliment
always reward me. The other day
overlook him as he was struggling
along and, as usual, he shuflled to the
edge Of the sidewalk to let me pass.
I didn't have dime, but half-dollar
came into my hand. Out of mischief I
said: 'Uncle Jordan, didn't you drop
this money back there on the sidewalk?
''No, sir; no, massa. knows didn't,
for bless God, I didn't nave no money
like dat. .jes had two nickles, sir,
and Ise got dem yet. was jes gwine
to Mr.. Stanford's, sir, to buy some
bread for Sunday" 81 reckon you
must have dropped, this money" said l.,
sFbut if you didn't, you had better take
it. You will want some meat to go
with the bread" His old gray head,
his bent form, his astonishment made
picture I would give a dollar for it
in photo. looked back at him and he
hadn't moved. He hadn't taken it all
in and seemed afraid lest it was IT, rick
to get him into trouble. That old ne
gro carries me back to the days of my
boyhood, when went to school with
his young master, Roddy Gresham, at
the Manual Labor school in old Gwin
nett. The Greshams were good peo-
pie, and old Jordan was happy until
freedom came. Nobody cares for him
now, save charity-thc charity of the
old-time white folks. 1t has always
seemed strange to me that negroes
were so Indifferent to the poor and
afflicted OF their own race. They will
bury them with great satisfaction and
ceremony. They will hire the finest
hearse and carriages and buy coffin
with silver handles and have dress
parade and weep and wall at the grave,
but that is all.
The other negro whom we pass and
repass is a curiosity in his way. He is
love crazy-as crazy and as devoted as
Shakespeare's Orlando, who wandered
about carving the name of his love on
the bark Of the beech trees. This darky
flame is cook for one of our neigh
bors, and she will not notice him. In
fact, she hides from him. Day after
day he walks past the house to and fro
all the day long hoping to get glimpse
of her ebony face. The corner of my
garden overlooks the backyard OF this
neighbor and there he comes and stands
and poses in despondent attitudes. 1t
would be romantic and pathetic ii it
were not so ridiculous, for he goes dirty
and ragged and is mortal ugly. But he
is always humble and polite ana that
will give favor and friend even to Il
vagabond. These time negroes
will soon be the missing link between
the slave and his master. Shuck foot
mats and horse collars and baskets and
brooms have already gone. The new
set have neither good manners nor po-
likeness. Education and the ballot
have alienated them. Our children
and the children of the old slaves have
no common bond to bind them, and the
animosity between them deepens and
broadens as the years roll on. reckon
it is time to separate, but how is it to
be done and who is to do ite OF course
these good old negroes will not wish to
20, and it would be cruel to force them.
| remember when the Creeks and Cher
okees were forced to go and how some
Of the old Indians were left behind. |
remember old Sawny on Sawny noun
tain near Cumming, and how his old
wife and four of his grandchildren
were allowed to stay with him. When
the old folks died these grandchildren
followed the tribe. But, Of course,
force is not to be used with the ne
groes, and it is not certain that any
considerable number will go. Bishop
Turner says they will, Booker Wash
ington says they will not. One negro
paper in Atlanta processes to be in
favor OF going. The other is opposed
to it. Their exodus is yet afar off, for
Congress will not vote Il dollar to it,
but if their ballot is eliminated maybe
We can get along in peace. Suppose
we try it. White primaries should be
the watchword in every town and
county, and then we can elect legisla-
tors and municipal officers who are not
afraid of the negro. AS it is now,
neither our law makers nor our mayors