New-York tribune., 1899-12-17
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
FORMER NEGRO SLAVES sWINDLED BY
AN ALLEGED PENSION SCHEME.
A CoNGREssMANs wIFE's EMBARRASSING MIS-
TAKE-ToBAcco FOR THE ARMY-TALK OF
ENLARGING THE WHITE HOUSE.

| TAKE-roBAcco FOR THE ARMY-TALK OF
ENLARGING THE WHITE HOUSE.
Washington. Dec. 16.-The project of pension
Ing former slaves Is causing great excitement In
negro circles not only here but all through the
South, which has been visited by pseudo agents
who have announced to the credulous coored
people far and near that II they would register,
pay % cents initiation fee and 10 cents monthly
they would. when certain bill passed Congress
| land there question of it's asking). be en-
| titled to a pension for the rest Of their days.
| These agents have reaped a handsome profit
! from this nefarious scheme. which was Justly
scored in the Senate on Monday
An old negro nanny" living in the family OF
member OF Congress went TO her mistress not
| long ago and con1ded to her that she had been
approached by an agent who had importuned
her to register herself and her children making
| the most tempting promises.
Nanny" said Mrs. K don't you listen to
the man. don't you put your name down. don't
pay cent II such bill ever does pass Con-
gress the Colonel will be able TO get your money
for you without any cost either to you or to
him."
'Is dat 50, Miss Mammie is dat SOP" asked the
old nanny, but he say II doan't register
woant git nothn; only dem gifts pension dat
registers, and you knows doan't want 10 be
one Of dem what's left"
THAT Is all right nanny" responded her
mistress. II pledge myself that you shall get
this money II the bill ever passes Congress. but
II probably never will"
How is dey ever to know dat 'longed to ole
Marster Cabell, dat was a slave and dat my
mudder and fadder was slaves way back how
is dey goin' to know all dat and put my name
down in de bill TO It passes II doant register?'
They don't have to know that, nanny" ex-
planned her mistress. Now, you believe what
I tell you and don't go and waste your money on
that fraud" Nanny nodded her old black head
only half convinced.
You won't give them any money, will you
nanny" asked Mrs. X.
"'Cose you knows best 'cose you knows" was
mammy's non-c n-committal response
In few days Mrs. X. spoke to the old
negress again. We'll nanny" said she. did
you give the agent any money!"
Nanny looked guilty. You see. Miss Man,
mie." she said ut is q good ting to have friends
on all sides. Use firm Christian and has
been ever since I fust got religion. but amt
one OF dose who says bad tings bout de debil
for there amt no telling In this world how much
'thority he going to have In de mex, ana IL s
Jest the same way bout dis yere agent You
say dat you know he am no good, but you
doan't I sartinly did give him money. and
registered all my chillen, too" Nanny. in fact
had paid the agent some s. for the registration
Of herself and her children and in monthly fees
This Is only single instance.
To be thrust suddenly from the limited social
circle of a small town, where o'clock tea is the
popular form Of entertaining, into fashionable
life at Washington is rather bewildering to the
average woman, but, be II said to her credit.
she makes the most OF the situation and man.
ages generally through the aid OF a comprehen-
sve book on etiquette and her natural tact,
to come through with flying colors Her mis-
takes happily are not always chronicled In
deed they are rarely observed, but member Of
the Diplomatic Corps could tell story In this
regard II II were not for his profession and his
innate chivary. This man is bachelor, and
lives In sumptuous apartments in the West End.
The other afternoon, just he the
point Of leaving the house to make some visits.
his valet brought him the card OF Mrs. b,
which he recognized as the name of one Of the
new members OF Congress Wonderingly the
Minister stepped into the drawing room to well
come his caller, who most cordial In her
greetings The diplomat responded with dgni
fed reserve but finding his fair guest, who was
quite at her ease a most attractive woman, he
soon became interested in chatting with her.
The call lasted for some twenty minutes. when