The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-10-05

the grove were black for miles around
with gaily bedecked specimens oi inky hu-
manity, all hurryng to chu uch.
Sitting on the porch of convenient
crossroads store it was Il sight seldom
equalled to watch the Philippians a. they
passed in review ON the principal county
highway. As far n one could see the
road was packed from fence toience with
| nigroes, big and little, on foot and horse
back They Travelled in nearlyeyery con
&C.; -a'lc kind Of vehicle Now and then
some OF the elite passed by in whimsically
trimmed turn-outs. while others less for
tunate seemed satisfied To ride in rigs
that would have created n panic had
they accn even momentarily exhibited on
| Fifth avenue : aristOcratic boulevard.
Intermixed with thecarriages buggies
pLrtons, buck k-boards, carts, sulkies and
other conveyances were number of
heavy farm wagons carrying anywhere
from fifteen To twenty-five colored people
oi all ages Occasionally one OF these
wagons would hold score OF showily
dressed women. eiiervescent in spirit and
holding white silk parasols over their
heads to prevent tan Their dresses
were rcspendent in rainbow hues for
brilliancy they easily put the immortal
,,.J lI,t-tn. - A,r,ru fp ahnmn
Many darkies of the II ncle Tom type
were in the procession. Ii was truly
ludcrous spectacle 10 watch these old
fellows when by chance they came can
tering by. proudly mounted on the bull
warks Of their respective beasts ofburden,
always displaying great dignity. Few
rode like cavaliers Of the old school, and
their stceds did not bear much resem-
hlance of being related TO horse show
ribbon winners; but for all of that 1t Is
doubtful If their riders could have dis
PLAYED mere attractive attitudes had
they been mounted on the pick Of horse
dom. Clothed in white trousers and black
frock coats, OF set by immense black silk
beavers or drab hats. and with pedal eX-
treInities covered with low-cut patent
feathers. the horsemen were the. drawing
card. nconsciously they sat their
chargers with the ease and grace OF a
mastodon and with the vivacity OF one
accustomed to doing heavy work in a
stone quarry.
At the church services were held stimuli
taneously in the ediiice and on the out
side in the grove Some very eifectual
sermons were delivered by the visiting
ministers But the one that attracted
the most attention and comment, was
delivered on the second night by the
moderator of the assembly. On this
night the moderator, a small, well built
negro OF solid mould, startled his hearers
by a rather fierce denunciation OF the
treatment accorded the colored race by
the whites. 1t was an intensely hot
night despite sharp shOwerin the alter
noon. The church windows were opened
wide. and throughout the interior oil the
structure fans were visible in many
hands. 1t was hot, but the temperature
of the air was not unlike the condition OF
the moderator's brain when at times he
became wildly excitable.
The sermon was more OF series OF
personal remarks than anything else, and
did not seem to meet with much favor
from his congregation. For nearly an
hour and almost without pausing for
breath. the moderator delivered his
heart-to-heart talk. During this time
none of the congregation became happy
suah nuff, )" as they say when they go to
see de Lawd, nevertheless now and then
violent stamping of many feet, moan
ing. and cries of Eyes sub, dat am TACK,
sub" =" eyes, Lawd, and "yo' am sutenly
right. brudder," drowned his voice Tor
moment. He went on to tell how the
colored race needed elevating, with the
aid of the whites, and by great patience
and independence from themselves. As
he spoke large beads of perspiration
gathered on his brow and rolled of onto
I 70 floor at a rate that bid fair to
/ food the edifice if the flow continued
long. It was only when the perspiration
rolled in his eyes and momentarily blinded
him that he paused to wipe it away with
a large bandanna handkerchief that he
carried in his left hand.
He emphasized every climax with the
index finger Of his right hand. At times
when he became wildly excited he would
wave his arm with such rapidity that
his hand strangely resembled one huge
blur.
The moderator strongly advocated
education as one of the most necessary
factorsin the education of Ethiopia, ''and
said that there were few white friends OF
the negro compared to the number there
| should be.
LET me tell you, brethren and sisters, "
he exclaimed passionately, " the time has
long gone when we might look toward
the white race for much assistance. 1t is
now imperative that we work out our
owndestiny. But two things will serve to
put us where we have every right to be-