Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-10

In a general kaock-about over the
country. and especially at the north
/ have been struck with the amount of
ifnpertinence, not to say insolence, on
the part of people who are employed
to give at least polite, If not efficient
service to the public In the south
any stranger gets a civil answer from
railroad, hotel or other employees. He
may not get the service he expects,
but he is treated courteously.
From Atlanta to Washington the
sleep car porter is all civiltty. lie
expects and receives the customary
tip, and he seems to be fully aware OF
the fact that he must behave himself.
Leaving Washington he becomes an
other sort of individual, and when ne
goes out of New York, to Buffalo, Tor
Instance, he Is insOlence itself. 1t is
doubtful whether this latter type was
born in the south. 1 have an idea that
he is northern born and was brought
up to believe himself the equal OF the
white man, and perhaps better.
When you ask the porter on New
York Central sleeper to make up your
berth or do any other like service he
makes no answer, although you are
certain he heard you. II you repeat
the request he glares at you with a
look intended to freeze your young
blood. The northern man takes all
this as a matter of course and says
nothing. The southern man gets on
his lynehing clothes. The other night
/ saw this glare, and but for sober
second thought there would have been
one insolent New York Central porter
less in the world.
had hardly regained my normal
state Of temper when l witnessed a
scene that should have meant a
smashed nose, but in this case the in
stigator of the riot was White man.
A poor weak stranger gave an order
at one of the numerous restaurants
out on the Pan-Amertcan grounds
The man waited and waited TO have
his order filled and finally uttered a
mild protest against such treatment.
Then of all the tongue lashings I ever
heard that waiter delivered II. The
poor fellow knew his physical weak
ness and took 1t like a lamb. Having
plenty of troubles Of my own, l did
not mix up in what didn't concern me,
although / felt 1t all over, and per-
haus the many others who heard 1t
had equally as good excuses.
At another restaurant a gray-haired
old gentleman called for a glass of
water TO accompany his meal. The
waiter told him to drink beer. The
old man said he diu not drink beer
and wanted water. Then this walter
flashed in the pan and told the eus-
toner he must drink beer or do with
out. The old man glanced at the
number of the waiter and when his
meal was finished reported the pro-
ceedine to the head waiter. and was
&Enk nc HIHEV
time to attend to 1t.
On Broadway, in New York, car
never stops for a lone individual. You
may stand at the proper place and
swing your arms like windmill, but
the motorman looks straight ahead
and the conductor looks at you as II TO
saw: Sorry, but the motorman failed
to stop" This is exasperatlng, but you
have to take your medicine and
walk.
Coming back to the sleeping car por-
ter, remember an instance that goes
to prove that the southern born negro
knows who he is throwing his insolent
looks at. 1t was on train from Toron-
to. Montreal, and my partner, also
from the south, wanted his berth
made UP early. The number of his
berth was IL and IT was made up
promptly. was not tired out like my
friend and was seated at the end or
the car reading when the porter
asked eff dat man OATS gone to bed
wasn't from the south" l told him
that we were both from the south,
and wanted TO know why he suspected
ms as southerners. From de way he
said to make up 'lebben." The manner
in which my friend pronounced the
word brought up recollections of crap
games. On the train was an English
man going to Montreal and several
men who we're evidently northern men,
Judging from their accent. To these
men the porter was very insolent,
treating them as his interiors, while
to my friend and myself he was very
humble and civil. He knew the tenn
per of the southern men and that it
wouldn't be safe for him to be sassy
to them.
There is a vast difference between
the northern and southern negro. The
first looks upon the color of his skin
as his misfortune, and goes through
the world regretting it. This sours
him against the world, and you never
see him in good humor, The latter
negro takes his condition as matter
of course, and only in few instances
does he regard himself the equal OF
the white man. Instead OF envying
the white man his skin and many
privileges. the southern darby looks
upon the white man as his natural
friend and flies to him in case Of trou-
BILE. 1 don't suppose it ever occurred
to the northern born negro to turn to
the white man as a friend in time of
need. This probably explains the in
science Of the negro at the north. An
?