The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29

MOUNT HOLLY. y. J.. April S.-For
many years the colored settlement OF
'Timbuctoo" on the Rancocss turnpike,
two miles below Mount Holly, has enjoy
ed or rather submitted to a nominal form
OF government that would appear 10 be
entirely repugnant 10 our republican in
situations. 1t is, in fact. a limited mon
archy with a hereditary sovereign in the
person Of Lewis b. Armstrong. who has
for many years enjoyed the title Of
king The first man who occupied the
5hrone was David Parker-'King David"
as he was known from one end OF the
county to the other-and wise ruler he
was. For over forty years he bossed the
affairs Of the municipality in a way that
pleased his constituents and gave great
delight TO the white politicians on the
borders OF his kingdom. King David
word was law. He settled all disputes that
arose. and when one of his subjects came
home from Mount Holly on Saturday night
with an extra load OF appejack and at
tempted TO break up housekeeping the
King did police duty himself and walloped
the offender in fine style.
At the close Of the Parker dynasty,
which was brought about nearly twenty
years age by the sudden demise Of King
David. due to an overdose of scrapple. his
subjects decided to call Lewis B. Arm
strong TO the throne. as he had long been
identified with the Commonwealth, was
well posted on all legal matters. a natural
born orator and the owner Of horse and
wagon in his own right. The latter con-
sideration was perhaps the most powerful
one and the result was there was not
dissenting vote For a long time all went
well King Lewis handled his people with
rare judgment his scheme being TO keep
them amused as much as possible. He gave
Watermelon parties frequently when the
season arrived for that delicacy and always
kept a bottle Of liniment under his throne
for use in the event OF any Of the brethren l
getting the collie from overindulgence. /
Then when the Camp-meeting season ]
opened he would secure first-class talent I
and for weeks the entire population lived .
in the woods. sang hymns. ate chicken and /
had a good time generally until the nights
began to get too frosty. when they F..
would break camp and return TO the settle F.
merit with enough money realized from the .
basket collections TO keep the religious de-
partment in good shape all winter.
Recently il was decided 10 put the Bucto
Church under the charge Of the African .
Conference as this was thought TO be .
good move, and would result in having q
preacher always available. King Lewis .
offered no objection to the plan, as be
had been shrewd enough some time pre-
vious to this TO buy up mortgage on the I
church. which he thought would give him
the necessary pull" in the event CT any /
attempt on the part Of the conference to I
oppose his wishes. Then il was that the
trouble began. Some Of the newcomers IN F.
the kingdom were disposed TO buck against .
The King in the conduct Of the affairs OF .
the church which made him all the more 4
determined to rule the temporal as well 4
as the spiritual affairs Of his b8iliwick- /
Finally a faction was formed against the .
King. and the preacher stood in with the
faction. The altar committee wanted TO
paint q red dado around the coal scUtue I
and change the lock on the coal bin. King
Lewis vetoed both propositions and locked 4
the preacher out OF the church. For
while there was no rel gious consolation +
distributed in the kingdom, but truce
was finally patched up and business was
resumed at the old stand, only TO be rude
IL disturbed a few weeks later at the op-
ening OF the cunning season in the fail, I
when some Of the members wanted 10 pre- .
sent the preacher with hound dog and
double barreled gun as he was very fond I
Of hunting and the rabbits were numerous. /
" 'Twontdo," was King Lewis answer. !
You'd better pay the debt offen de choTch 4
first fore you 90 buyin' dogs en- guns for .
de preacher. III give him dog myself
and you kin hand de gun money over ter
me"
When the preacher learned that King
Lewis had headed of the testimonial he
and departed for a more p-omis-
ing field Of labor. anf for a considerable
Derfod the Bucto Church was without
pastor.
Finally another was secured, and all
went well until the recent watch night
services. when some one stuffed the sex
tons overalls in the chimney and smoked
the entire congregation out In trying
TO locate the blame for this another quar-
rel ensued. which reached a climax last
week in a rattle for an IS god watch,
which is said to have been won By Louisa
Giles. an elderly sister Of the church.
As there was some delay In securing the
tine-piece. Louisa made a complaint 10
King Lewis. who promptly called the
preacher down. whereupon the latter
meeting King Lewis on the road on
Tuesday, proceeded to punch his head, |
hui wss restrained from doing him Sc
who dragged him away from the scene
by main force. The preacher was duly
arrested. ard placed under bail and in
speaking Of the event today King Lewis
said. Hes got TO hunt a new place. he
has. cause be can't do no more preachin'
In de Bucto Church. while I'm 10 COM
maud. Hes nothin' but a Georgia mig
ger. and dey makes De wus preach
Frs dat was ever turned loose Never
seen a good one yit. It's lucky fer him
didn't have a stalk knife handy when
be- tackled me. fer I'd a carved de meat
onen him like a ham bone. De confer
.nce needn't send no mo such preach
ars unless ,t wants 10 have EN- carved
~. Why. ne threatened to cave ny
head in Wild de seat Of my own wagon.
larn him. I'll show de conference who
am king Of Bucto-and I'm goiu' TO land
lat preacher in jail See 10 I don't.
4 kin run Bucto all right as a town,
1ut faint no easy job to run De chcrch. !
OATS Whar all de troubles start every |
inc. never had no furse Wild my
people 8 long as I let EN- have dar own |
Ksy In ruuuin de chorch and jes as
oou as 1 Undertuk to haul EN- in a
lit dey banked on me, so now I'm 'gUine |
10 let De chorch run herself and see how
& works"
THE GRAVE OF ST. PATRICK.