The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-10
UNCLE MINGo ON EDUCATION.
The Old Man Takes n Pessimistic
View of the Subject.

View of the Subject.
Uncle Mingo is not very enthusiastic
over the beneficial effects of higher ed
ucation as applied to the average colored
youth. He says he considers it makes
the boys mo no-counter an trifiin dan
wot dey was befo'."
The old mans youngest son, Pete. now
about 16, has been attending school in
the country for some four or five years.
Uncle Mingo could get no work out of
Pete at all; when he wasn't at school he
was idling or frolicking with other boys
of his age. The old man finally decided
he had put up with that sort of nonsense
long enough.
The other day as he was going to work
he noticed Pete, who was monkeying
around as though he wanted to take a
sneak" The fact is, Pete was playing
hockey, and was anxious for a chance to
slip off with his friends.
Come here, Pete" he called; how
come you Amt gone to school to-day"
mo school to-day, got hollerday," said
Pete, mendaciously
''Wot you got hollerday to-day for?"
asked Uncle Mingo.
Pete fell to drawing hieroglyphics in
the sand with his big toe
IT'S Washington's birthday" he said.
mo sech ting" said Uncle Mingo; you
tink 1 don't know nothin' cause 1 don't
go to no school, Ell? 1 knows as well
you does dat dis amt no Washington
birthday; l knows we'll as you dat Wash
ington birthday come on de fourt' o.
| July"
! This was apparently a solar plexus
| blow for Pete, but he was equal to the
| occasion.
q. -
said; Il mean Booker Washington"
Co. Booker said Uncle Mingo. II
neber know he had no birthday yit. Wot
| is you arnin' at school, anyhow?'
| We'll jogafry, history, an'-an' phys
les"
"Physic" exclaimed Uncle Mingo, lis
you Iarnin' to be a doctor?"
20 no! Not dat kin O. physic 1t tell
| you how to do all sort of tings. Like l
| take dis rail, just de en- under dis log
| den 1 kin prize up de log-dat's a lever"
AN you larn physic for dat? 1 knowed
all bout dat long TO you was born. Wot
| else you is learnin'?'
"Sence las mont de teacher start us in
Latin"
IAN wot dat is?" asked the old man.
IT'S a furrin langwidge," said Pete.
| i"Ohr said Uncle Mingo; lit is, Ell?
Well, tell me; how you call coat cen
| Latino"
Pete thought it would never do to say
! he didn't know, so he made a bold bluff.
Coat alorum," ne said confidently.
| "Humphr' grunted Uncle Mingo, land
| how does you call hoe, cen Latino"
Hoe alorum.' said Pete, his inventive
powers being exhausted.
| "Humph" grunted Uncle Mingo, IAN
how you call corn?"
| Corn -alorum," said Pete, promptly.
"Humph" grunted Uncle Mingo; 80
| OATS Latin, is it? OATS a mighty fine
| ting 1 wonders how l ebber manage to
| git long to my time o. life widout KNOWN
| nothin bout it befo'! But Use thankful t
make his 'quaintance now, anyhow an
| it make me feel like Use high ole cock
| alorum. Now you jis listen to me- he
| added with increased emphasis: Use go
| in to talk some Latin myself an Use
| goin to talk it plain dat don't tink you
| won't hab no trouble bout not unner-
| standin' it. needer! You take off dat coat
| alorum, an pick up dat hoe-alorum. an
| go an work dat corn-alorum; an if you
| don't make haste. I'll take dis whip-alo-
| rum, an frail you on de back-alorum, on
tell you can't set down for week-alorum.
| Now you hear?"
| Pete saw that the old man wasn't fool.
ing, and at once proceeded to make haste
| all right.