The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-25
BY MILr SAUL.

Outside of the political significance
 which may be attached to the tour of the
 tv enty Republican Ccagressmen who
 went through Alabama as guests of Rep
 resentative Charles w. Thompson. there
 were features of the journey that intense
 iy inter ested the tourists. and which are. therefore, of inteve.t to their friends and the country at large. Unlocked for events and incidents transpired hourly. ranging ip importance from an impromptu presi- dential boom for Mir Littleheld to the de- hut of Mir. Dahle as songster.
 Iuskegee the home town of MT. Thomp- son. Is right in the heart of the Southern Democracy, and some of the inhabitants of the surrounding co intry. moved by tie fact that they had never looked upon a Republican of national note. drove miles thrctsh the country to gaze upon MT. Thompson.s guests. The party arrived et ed when the train pulled in and the Re-
 publicans alighted from the Pullman.
 There was a brass band from Booker II.
 washington's school at the depot and the
 leather lunged musicians put all their
 wind power into their efforts 90 that with
 the shouting of the assembled multitude
 the blare of the horns and the throobins roar of the big brass drum. the reception at the first stop in ''the enemys country
 
 deed. Democrats from the backwoods showed nnd pushed each other to get
 good view of the visitors.
 Of course. there was a reception com
 mittee from Tuskegee to cordially vel
 come the visitors, and the manner Tn
 which they did 1t may be inferred when
 it Is understood that Tuskegee is one Of
 the most cultured and aristocratic little
 cities in the cEtire Southern country.
 The first day in Alabama was spent on
 MT. Thompson's plantation. six miles in
 the country, and it was here the North
 erners witnessed perhaps the most inter
 esting feature of their journey. In
 grove of wide spreading old water-oaks before the ante-belium mansion. gen- uine Southern barbecue was spread on improvised tables. More than thousand field hands, male and female. old and young. who had been given holiday by the overseer. stood about in the shade of the trees during the morning. They were dressed in their best Sunday clothes and such a mixture of vivid colors had never before afflicted the eyes of the Con- eressmen. There was the long. gaunt darky in homespun jeans; the little saw" ed-off darky in boiled shirt and green trousers; the ancient black nanny with flaming red bandanna on her head, | and the waller gall in pink frock. Bow | legged little pickaninnies swarmed over | the lawn. some half naked. some so tight | Iy dressed that they were half dead with | discomfort In short. that collection of darkies was just a typical piantatlon gathering and it afforded the Yankees the
 best possible opportunity for seeing the | negro of the South in his native element. | Along in the afternoon. when the new ] ness of the party's presence had worn on | and the darkies had come to feel more al I home, as 1t were, plantation pastimes were inaugurated. It was MT. Thomp- | sons idea to have the negroes carry on | this part of the program with all the 1 freedom and abandon customary on such occasions, but it was said Booker Wash | Iington had passed the word along the line l that his race should be somewhat circuni- spect in their conduct, and In conseduencs | the dances were a little tame. Neverthe. Hess the character of the negro when ht | is enjoying himself was presented. 1 On q raised platform, a small fiddle, g horse-fi fiddle, an accordeon and pair oi cymbals constituted an orchestra, and tc the tune of these the darkies danced They gave exhibitions of clog dancing
 buck dancing. quadrilles and cake walks which outciassed any of the attempts al | limitations seen on the vaudeville stage IT ! cities. s,,.
 NIT. and Mrs. 1ittlefeld, Judge Fuller l Mir. Barney. Judge and Mrs: Smith ol l Iowa. and others If the party gathered about the platform and enjoyed hugely | the filings and fancy steps
 Sandy down dat Mobile buck!' crtet | the caller in a .auadrille. and they | 'sanded." "Cut dat pigeon wing! Hug youah partnerst" and they hugged. to th' | intense amusement of the spectators. l A crap game was instituted in quie' | corner of the grove; a number Of coor | songs were sung; a banjo was Set tt | singing q throbbing melody by blacl | hands, and finally. after the guests hat partaken bouutifully of the roast sheer | and pig on the tables, the entire crowe of darkies were let loose on the remains | of the feast and furnished one of th' | great spectacles of the day It Is nc | common everyday sight to see thous and hungry field hands at work on bar | becued meats. When the crowd cleared away from the tables not even a bone was left unpciished. The negroes were greasy frcm chin to eyebrow and Iron finger tip to elbow. Besides the darkies about 300 citizens of Macon County were at the barbecue
 They came in all manner and Kinds o' vehicle, driving horses, mules and oxef even. The grove was literally choked uI with wagons and buggies and the tether ed animals resembled a camp of cavalry in the field.
 Of course the Republican Cpngressmer