The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
EXTREME RACE PREJUDICE.
IT INTERPRETERS WITH THE SAFES on
Automobiles IN ONE CITY.

|
| According to An Old Memphis Resident =
| Wealthy Negro Ordered one of the New
| Machines and That Killed tho Trade
Some Rich Colsrod Folks In That Town.
People who live north OF Mason and
| DiIon's line" said a man whose business con.
| stantly takes him to the South. can't realtz,
the intensity OF race prejudice that prevail,
| below the line. 1t has its humorous features,
as might be supposed. have heari mon say
In the Routh that they won't ride bicycle
| because niRRers have them now l was sit
ting In one OF the hotels in Memphis the other
day when an autom obie came down the street
An old man was sitting next to me whom sup
posed to be ono Of the oldest In habitante and
who either retired from business was idle
from tho lack OF having something to do. This
kind OF nau Is com un ioative He sat In his
chair momentarily hitting the soles OF his
Shoes on tho tiled floor and looked as II he was
waiting for chance to begin a conversation.
no turned to him and said:
81 see you have automobile In Memphis
Yes he replied. we have one and we're
going to have another, but twos all l can posi-
lively stand for
"Of course 1 wondered why there should
never be moro than two automobiles in Mem-
phis and quickly asked, 'How's thatY"
Nggers was the contentious reply. You
see. ono OF our leading citizens went to New
York not long ago and brought automobile
back with him. He's going to sell EN- here.
He rides his friends around town in his new
machine. and lot OF people began figuring on
buying one. Before the machine had been in
Memphis forty eight hours in walks a coored
gentleman to the mans store and says he
wants automo bile as quick as it can be de-
livered. A little thing like paying $1,000 for
enc Of these machines didn't bother him. He
could draw his check for many times that
much. Now what d. you think OF THAR and
the old fellow turned around on me with SO
much feeling in his voice that was afraid to
say exactly what thought, but 1t was evident
that he thought automo bile sales in Mem phis
would be quite limited
Have you wealthy negroes In Memphisr
Iasked.
Have we?' said the old man. there's ono
Negro here that's worth close on to half mill
lion dollars and that's big pile in the South
whom cotton amt bringing five cents pound.
Why. he goes to Europe now and then and
doesn't think any more Of going to New York
than l would of going ten miles down the
river Didn't you ever hear about tho time
the white women called on his wife, ="
''Of course hadn't and the old gentleman
imm ediately began to tell me.
Well. he said. the rich negro built a fne
house out in the best part OF town and some
OF the white ladies were just dying OF curiosity
to know what the inside of that house was like,
/ guess some Of them half thought there
would be little niEgers sitting around the floor
eating out OF pans. and soap box pictures and
calendars hung on the walls. and receipts from
the furniture installment man and the colored
didn't talk bout anything else and they heard
such wonderiu Ia es about what was in that
see So one day lot OF ,'em goes over and
ElnEsT the tr0nt door tell, and servant let's EN-
wa
fSo .1 to call her a5Eed one q them while
they heard Mrs Blank coming down the st aiSa
heads as high as Daughters Of the Revolution.
Ia comes Mrs. 81 ank and one Of the white la
a c GOD m Nc 4ha saw W. would like 80 much to
be.h2wn through yeur new house
the old man. hitting his nst on the arm Of the
chair Why. that negro woman Just turned
sned sWsey sSd .Sd very TIVE %e Ta VII VII
call my maid and then she sweeps out Of this
, fpsm and the white women all try to catch
NY. my, continued the old man, without
aFs to es arSe n Sor
III WORKING tot hor ana he other aay yS Vent
into the kitchen and had a little row
calling e. wb her over the After
to town. She got or one Of these street cars
on the ear. She pranced down the aisle and
white woman aud her mistress at that. They
We M.rs b9th bound for II: same store too and
the Same bargain counter
" had to stop the old man at this point. for
pan!pF that had to get t. shaved. s'' n.y. OK
hs sea hs ss the street