The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
DARKEY AND NA'KINLEY.
Asked Him II He Was the "shO' Nun"
President.
From the New York Journal.

From the New York Journal.
One of the incidents in the recent visit
of President Mckinley and members of his
cabinet to Richmond. Va, which did not
get into print proved 10 be exceedingly en-
PERTAINING 10 those who witnessed it, while
the President could not restrain his irdi-
vidual interest and amusement.
During the ride from the jefferson Hotel
TO the ship yards, where Mr.. Mckinley
was to address the vast audience assem-
bled TO witness the launching of the tor
pedo boat Shubrick several well known
Richmond citizens who rode in the process
sion near the Presidents carriage noticed
a familiar figure scrambling along as near
as possible and keeping keen eye on The
President. Despite the crush in the streets
this old man kept up close 10 the Presi-
dents carriage and NANTES ed the liveliest
interest in the presence of The distinguish
ed visitor. The patched pam alo0ns, calico
shirt with suspender extending diagon-
ally across his back and attached with a
wooden peg, had been discarded, and Old
Uncle Ephraim johnson was rugged out
in a broadeloth frock coat smooth with
age and rather 100 K ose; new brogan sho 9
a silk hat, discarded a few seasons back,
and gaudy necktie
The cd man who knows personally near
ly everybody in Richmond, and who for
many years, before his age debarred him
as hack driver, piloted thousands of tout
lists to the places of historic interest in end
around Richmond, attracted general at
tention as he trudged along with a smile
of mingled satisfaction and curiosity
spreading over his lips and showing two
rows of perfectly white teeth. The kinky
gray hair the wrlnk.ed face, the stopping
figure, at times leaning for support on a
heavy crooked stick, which had served as
crutch, dog protector and fire poker COM
bined for twenty years. and grown sleek
from constant uSe-all left no doubt that
Uncle Ephraim was one of the ante bel
lum, old-school Virginia darkies.
Once the President looked at the pictur-
esque type of the Southern negro, and the
latter, realizing that he was noticed by the
nations chief executive, bowed low and
| lifted his hat. The President recognized
the courtesy by a gentle wave of his hand
toward Uncle Ephraim, whose smile of
satisfaction was as genuine as his interest
in the presidential party
When the Presidents carriage turned
| into side street to get to the grand stand
| Uncle Ephraim was lost sight of; but att
er the President was settled in the stand
] of honor erected at the foot of the grand
| stand for himself, the Mayor and a few
| distinguished guests, the familiar stoop-
| ing figure of Uncle Ephraim was Sc n
working its way through the great crowd
in an effort to get next TO the stand No
| one became offended at the old man who
| finally reached a point on the street on V
| a few feet from where the President sat
| The chief executive recognized Uncle
! Ephraim as the same old darby who had
| been so faithfully following his carr age
The negro proudly Acknowledged this fact
| and inching up close to the stand he
! stretched his neck over within easy speak
ing distance of Mr.. Mckinley and asked:
us you, sab. de real Pres'dint. he sho'
! huff Pres dint Of dis here couniry?"
| Mr.. Mckinley smiled perceptibly and
said to the old negro: yes, l am the
! President"
! Uncle Ephraim looked absorbed with in
! terest for a moment. and then a some
what puzzled expression spread over his
| face.
| Il mean de real live Pres diut. case. you
know, we black folks bin fooled more'n
| once by dem whar claims ter be de Pres
! dint. when dey wusn't de real g.nuwine
| Pres dint like Mister Dick Taylor was de
Mayor of de town. So I ies want ter ak
| you ef you was de Pre'dnt fur sho?'
Mr.. Mckinley smiled again and said
! loud enough TO be heard several yards
around well, yes. you may say / am
| the President fur sho',' and then his at
| tention was attracted elsewhere.