The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-07

naturally lapse for lack of such proof.
But the buyer of the policy is I'M
thoughtful of all such incidentals, and
goes cheerfully on his way conscious
of cutting an important figure in the
business world by reason of those fine
documents
False teeth have become a fad with
the corn and cotton field negroes. They
of all people-for they have by nature
the whitest and sOundest teeth-have
developed a Partially for the dentists
fwares. And artificial sets of tombs-
stone-like whiteness and unnatural
| size and shape are seen in mouths of
young and old.
/ The pain undergone in the drawing
out of perfect teeth that others may be
substituted is more than compensated
for by the pleasure of being envied by
ones acquaintance and having them
exclaim admiringly at the dazzling new
possession. Young girls and men who
cannot raise the Sc necessary for secur-
| ing whole false sets, follow the fad as
far as may be by having their front
teeth filled with yellow metal or even
composition stuff
Cavities are drilled in perfectly sound
teeth in order to admit of the coveted
ornamentation. And this even when
the dental work is procured at the
sacrifice of much-needed clothing and
| essentials. Thus does the negro adopt
the sophistries of civilization.
| To have bank book and life insur-
ance papers and gold-flled teeth is hap
piness indeed. but to go on an excur-
sion or the 'scussion," as it is popu-
larly known, is to put browning
touch to the autumn's jollification. The
'scussion" is fast taking the place OF
the fall camp meeting in popular esti-
nation.
| Baskets of goodies are prepared for
it. New garments and belongings are
made ready and gaudy handbags and
travelling gear make their appearance
in the cabins.
| To get to ride on the train" is to
realize the utmost heaven of anticipa~
tion. And the black man and his wife
and children, the stranger who is visit
| ing him, and the helpers who have
helped him get out his crop, all get
tickets days beforehand fer this adven-
ture into wonderland.
The excursion exclusively for color
ed people is something new under the
sun. 1t is run very cheap, 1t does not
go as a rule over 100 miles and it takes
care that it's goal shall be some town
or city where there are trolley cars for
the excursionists to ride on, exhibitions
of trained animals, cheap, games and
| other treats to attract the crowd.
A few years ago the plantation darby
who had made a journey on a train,
or at least had ridden on a train more
than once or for more than a short dis
lance, was hero in his neighbours es-
timation. Now, since the seventy-flve-
cent and one-dollar excursions have
been instituted each year during the
cotton picking season, the number of
those who have never seen locomotive
or felt a trains motion is greatly less
ened
A few there are among the older
heads who are shy of the new expert
ence; but the majority, especially the
younger ones, will spend their last
cent and even go in debt to go on the
'scussion" and go in right trim-that
is, with the proper quality of lunch
basket and correct loggery.
Many of these travellers come back
sadly jaded, worn out with excess of
excitement and from having had to
stand up ali the way, the seats pro-
= vided never being enough for the
/ crowd. Their ambition however, is sat
isfied, Their neighbors know that they
had the experience. And they can al
| ho1y % ;r%o -
the tales of what was done and seen
on the 'scussion."
The rage for spectacles and eye
glasses has struck the country negro,
and young and old indulge in this rath-
er serious top when they have money
to spend in the qualification. AS rule,
the negro's eyesight is excellent, even
to an advanced age. But the town OPP
ticians and the agents who peddle
glasses find the plantation folk an easy
prey, especially as the negroes regard
the glass eyes" as a dignified append
age, calculated to make them appear
learned and important
Some of them have much the same
appearance decked with their unneeded
spectacles as a stalwart OK looking out
from behind the blinds of bride when
usually he has been accustomed to go
along with only the yoke on his neck
and his face free. The spectacles so
popular in the fall season are worn only
until they are broken or mislaid; then
the owners eyes happily go unfettered
until the next fall term, when the new
crop gives him money to indulge his
whims.
October is the season when all man.
ner Of new wares and strange devices
appear in homely places. To people
used to conventional patterns of goods
for domestic and personal wear it is re-
markable to see the odd character of
things turned out for the negro trade.
Uncle Horace, the cattle minder and
mixer, appears in a new, tall crowned
hat, evidently strayed from the wo-
mems hat department of a past steeple-
chase fashion; hat provided with a
regulation mans hat band but which
gives the old servitor peculiarly rak-
ish air as he goes about his tasks. His
wife meanwhile is picking cotton in a
pink flannel wrapper on which the &C.
centric sleeves Of a half dozen years
ago are Topping conspicuously.
Purple felt hats become the rage
with those men workers who have Sc
cured winter outfit, and grotesque
looking scarlet and purple shoes appear
on pickaninnies whose fathers are pros
| porous minded. Giddy looking tubs and