The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23

his party who remained behind with the
special train on the side track here at Snedes
have had ample opportunity to observe
the negro brother in his simplest phases.
When the special train arrived pretty
much all the black population Of the Smedes
and Omega plantations was gathered
at the station, which is at the same time
the plantation store and post office. The
steps Of the store and the cotton platform
ON the other side Of the track were filed
with negroes fairly gasping with antici-
patton.
As the train ran slowly by so that the
President might leave his car at the cross
ing one OF the porters Of the train leaned
out of the cafe car window and exclaimed:
"Can this wear be Smedes?"
"Dat's right shouted an old woman to
thosa about her. indignation and humlia-
ton ringing in every syllable, Oats right.
Oar dey go Tryin' to make us feel small
already"
Back Of the cotton PLATFORM under the
shadow Of the gin, is an institution on which
the visitors have conferred the title Of the
Smedes Club. II is a boarded up enclosure
10 feet by IL. 1t has no roof except that
one side Of a packing box has been dropped
over a pair Of poles resting across the top
of the structure. This leaves three quar-
tiers of the enclosure open to the rains Of
heaven.
But il protects tn" lavout-a rude table
S fee, long and feet across, partly covered
with canvas and lighted by two candles
stuck on nails driven through from the
under side. In this simple gambling he'll
the rattle Of the crap bones and the shouts
OF the players adjuring fate and grooming
welcoming songs to Little Dick, Big
Dick bears tall" and bale o cotton
ring from dark until midnight.
Then the last Of the gamblers comes
out and mounts his sorry mule and departs
into the warm moonlit night and the
proprietor-who pays a stipulated rental
to the plantation for the use OF the estab-
lishment the bank roll.
The present proprietor is very black
fat negro from Vicksburg. He came up
here with an outfit Of nashy clothing that
would make Seventh avenue blush with
envy. He found himself under an oppres-
sive burden Of suspicion, and promptly
donned blue overalls and applied for job
picking cotton at 10 bits a hundred
One Of the visitors tried TO take photo
graph of him the other day. He objected
angrily.
Deed an you-all kyann take my pic
ture to Washington 70 no Legislature to
act on. Oars enough people runnin
round now sayin' niggers is like apes an
paragraphs an monkeys. without any
picture bein' took Of me In desc yer cothes!'
Ii may be remarked that the black Oak
hurst has not worked at cotton picking more
than three days since he came here, though
he still wears the overalls as badge of his
laborer's honesty. A reporter met him
coming from the club early Sunday morning
after the game had closed.
How did the bank do tonight asked
the reporter.
.Somethin' awful, sah,' he moaned
with tears in his voice Horrible! Dey
done got 70 dollars and a half of my money
Reckon l gotter go back to cotton to-
morrer'
There was dance at Omega plantation
the other night to which all SInedes went
The Garfield OF Smedes came over TO the
train and invited the train negroes TO &c
as his guests. With his following he APP
peared at the bootleg bar al the dance ano
made announcement as follows:
You Niger with the whiskey, gimme
an desc yer No'the'n gents a drink. An
un'nerstan' well. now, it amt to he paid fer
Desc yer No'the'n gentlemen is now tC
partake OF Southen hospitality an any
man wha' ask any one er dem fer pay
insult me an my CUES. We all stan ready
to break up dis yer ball an befo' it over w
likely to do it nowhow"
The bootleg bar ran free az the Missis
sippi River until the coming of dawn.
That ball was the cause Of sore embar
ras.ment to Owen Brown, the cook Of tn
Mayfower, the Presidents car Hereto
fore Brown has been known to passenger
on the Pres dents train as a consi listen
Methodist and a fervent aborer in tn
Lords vineyard.
They have frequently been edited b,
the high moral plane on which he has adj
dressed profane or light-minded negroe
in railroad yards in which the train has bee
waiting for water and gas and ice. Blu
he succumbed to temptation and wen
to the dance.
He came back TO the train, early in tn
morning quite disconsolatc He had los
one Of his gold teeth. He is provided wit
several of the variety which can be slippe
on over a perfectly sound tooth, but adj
immensely to the spectacular effect Of
wide open coutenance.
Deed. Mr.. Johnson he said to tn
Presidential Pullman conductor. who com
bins in his many duties those Of hots
proprietor, treasurer, diplomat, secret sery
ice man and superintendent Of transporta
ton, Il don never suspect see that toot
again,
Il was conversin' with lady met at tn
ball when / frs come to miss II an "
done stuck up piece of paper on the fenc
SOS we'd know the spot in the mornin
She say she boun' to fin it.
But reckon l might as we'll lay asid
SO for a new one. If any Of these colore
people aroun' here did fin' 1t, they woudn
never bring it back to me- Them thing
in too source aroun' here"
Early in the morning a young blac
woman-and she was indeed black!-cam
up to the train.
please, sah." she asked, where will
locate the gentleman wha' los his &
tooth walkin'n home from de ball wi,
me las night?'
She was directed to the Mayfowe
Owen was overcome with Joy and gratitud
He slipped the tooth back into place, viii
the lady Dried aloud in the ecstasy OF h,
admiration for the operation. Then he mao