The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
THE BELLIES OF
THE TENDERL DIN
Constance Mortified Spends Night i'm New Yorks
Gayest Quarter, and Describes 1T for the
Readers of The Age=F1erad.


and there are both white and coored folk
there. But it's no end of fun. They drink
beer-no champagne there-tell fortunes,
and have nice little performance on the
stage at the same time. You can hear the
violin scrape the strings for a week after
wards. 1t is out of tune. It's low there,
but the place is one of the sights of the
Tenderloin."
II don't want to see anything any lower
than this" l replied But as we're In for
fun, let's have funi Why not take in gen.
uine darkey dance house?"
agreed" said the Rake. They'll let
us in. They know me! But it's up two or
three streets. and not far from Seventh av-
enue. 1 promise you fun there. Many's the
night I've dropped in"
DO white men care for colored dance
houses?'
Cert" said the Rake. They're no end
lively. 1t wakes a fellow up
Through the lively, noisy Tenderloin we
went-the Tenderloin which every New
Yorker loves and is proud of, as the New
Orleans people are proud of their most riot
Gus, yet aristocratic, Mardi Gras; and the
French people are proud of their ball.
Here we are" said the Rake. Its quiet
in front, but come back through here"
Opening the door of a saloon where 1t
was marked Ladies Entrance" the Rake
led the way along a hallway to room
back of the little saloon, and suddenly we
stood in a blaze of light. Before | could
regain my eyesight heard the shuffiing or
feet, the sounds of loud calling Off, the
pats of many hands on many knees and the
banging of a ng-suffering plano.
Oar, we's donei" said a voice with a
strong colored accent. AN now we want
Suse ter sing for us. Will some gentleman
find Suse?"
HE doan have ter fin me-" said Suse,
a d0OrwaV
But If yer mean dat Use a-goin' ter sing
yer's way off Cause I amt"
"Why Susel Why Suse!" exclaimed a
chorus of indignant and astonished voices.
1T mean what l says. No singin' fur me
ter night
"Why, Suse, what's der matter?" from
dozen voices.
Matter huff Cause de crowd here Is
too stngy ter 'preciate singin'. / declare
ter Gawd dat sung tree songs here las
night widout anyone offerin' me as much
as nip ter drink Dis gal, Suse, amt de
one dat can git up a nice sopranner tune
fer folks dat acts like dat"
Instantly dozen black hands went down
into the depths of a dozen uncertain pock-
cts. and the wherewithal for a refreshing
set of drinks was produced for Suse ana
one of the piano players as well.
Oats better" said Suse Then, sduaring
herself off in a picturesque attitude, with
one big foot extended, her hands jauntiy
poised on her hips and her head tossed to
one side, she broke into a chanting song
which to me was inexpressibly weird, as II
f1oated up into the shadows and came dane
ing back in little waves which were caught
in the folds of the gorgeous red plaid waist
which Suse wore, only to be tossed up
again, to come back again. Color and sound
and girl all seemed to be one dancing,
chanting lot.
my ole miss, she promised me
1s-1 rI..1 ~ wa frn0
chanted Suse in deep rich contralto; then
rising in tone and measure,
$50 hurry up, niggers, can't yer see
Dat It's time ter take up de breakdown?
She lived so long dat she grew bald;
I tho't she'd never die at all.
Den hurry up, niggers, can't yer see
Dat it's time ter take up de breakdown?
"Some folks come here ter dance an be
gay
But de debil he stops dem on de way.
Den hurry up, niggers, can't yer see
Dat It's time ter take up de breakdown"
AS Suse progressed in her song she grew
more animated. and her audience, ready to
be sympathetic, became very enthusiastic.
When the chorus of the last verse went
floating up to the rafters there were hand
clippings with 1t. and Suse's heavy, but
well-timed foot was beating out each sylla-
BILE with accuracy and earnestness. Then
she paused, out of breath, and stood smil-
ing at the audience IL defying any of
the others to do as well.
''T'ree cheers for Suse, de Patti of Sew
enth Avenooi' shouted one hoarse voice.
and the applause was speedily rung off.
Now, Suse give us somethin' funny"
was the next demand.
II doan know nothjn' OATS new" said
Suse, "but I'll sing De Masher' fer yer
if yer amt tired O. hearin' it,
mol No! We amt tired of DE Masher.'
Sing us about DE Masher.'"
"An de gal dat beat him outr' exclaimed
some one.
"An' de time he got his pretty mug all
spoilt," cried another.
Eyes! Yesi Yesr all came in such vol
leys of applause that Suse yielded to the
encore and again taking her position
upon her in such queer shadows, she began
as before, but little more gaily:
"De masher he come up de street,
Swingin' his big dude cane.
Smilin' at cherry one he meet
Swngin' his big dude cane"
Suse paused and waited.
"swingln' his big dude cane," roared out
the audience with big smiles upon their
shining black countenaEces.
'De masher spied cullud gal
Iookin' at his big dude cane;
He kissed her an she slapped him well
On de head wild his big dude cane'
ION de head wild his big dude cane" yell
ed the audience, now convulsed with laugh
ter, while Suse, wound up to the point of
singing, went on with the bold deeds of
this bold, bad masher.
'Well, how did you enjoy the dancing
and the fun?" asked the Rake as we got
out In the street once more.
''I enjoyed 1t as much as anyone in Suse's
audience" said ]. "But isn't it against the
law to have places like that open?"
Eyes and no." said the Rake, who was
certainly proving himself an authority on
all Tenderloin topics. ut would be against
the law IL admission were charged and II
they were noisy But the prop ietor tells
the police that these people are his friends,
and the police let 1t go on because they are
never disorderlyi and II thes-s~ere put out
thex-sssArlse-cadse real trouble in Hther
ways That girl Suse isn't going to sit by
the Preside and spin-llke the girl in the
nursery tale"
a,yovv where do we go?" questioned the