The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-27
ectOrship of Charleston.

Mr.. Nathan Beeswax arrived in
Washington, D. c., yesterday with a
grip full Of burnt cork and a bulky
bundle of credentials. He registered
at a hotel near the White House II
hurried to the room which was aSsi:sn-
ed to him. Twenty minutes later re
appeared in the open as black as the
original tar baby and wearing a long
linen buster. Having worked this re-
markable transformation in mis- ap-
pearance by the artistic manipulation
of the aforementioned burnt cork, he
slipped a slug of ardent spirits into his
corporal being and walked hriSkiy
toward the White House. He was
halted in the VeStibule of the building
by a Quartette of detectives. bur e IN
formed them, with a SupercllliOuS
stare, thai he vas an old playmate Of
Booker Washington and that his huSl-
ness was with the president and not
with those dressed in q little brief au-
thority. Kow-towing respectfully, the
detectives stood aside and alloWed Mr..
BeeswaX to pass up the grand stair
way toward President RoOSevelt's pri-
vate reception room. There ne Was
confronted by the presidents private
secretary.
who are Wou?" said Mr.. BeeSWaX,
a scoWl creaSing his black face.
Il am Cortelyou, the presidents pri-
Vate secretary"
"All right; now listen to what I tell
III, Cortelyou. Say to President
Roosevelt that Mr.. Nathan eervaZ,
colored, a candidate for collector of the
port of Charleston, has called q pay
his respects and submit his creGen-
tails"
Very we'll, Mr.. Beeswax," replied
the secretary, bowling respectfully;
the president has just returned from
a thirty-mile walk n l am sure he
will be glad to greet you"
In a few minutes the swinging doors
were hurled apart and the president
leaped into the room, radiating health,
vigor II hospitality.
NH. Nathan BeeSwax, eh?" he said,
cheerily, his famous teeth cleaning.
Delighted to meet you. Have you
lunched yet? No? Come with me-
Taking the arm the president Offer
ed him Mr.. Nathan Beeswax, his black
face solemn n impressive, accom-
panied the chief executive into "A pri-
vate lunch room, the Marine band
! playing meanwhile this familiar re-
j frain:
cit away frum dat window,
My darlin' and my dear;
| Git away frum dat window
| Don't you hear!
You mus come some other night,
| For dar's gWyne to be a fight,
!! And der razzerS will fly ia de ART
| When tn coffee and cigars aad beer
, served Mr.. Beeswax said:
Mr.. President, l am a candidate fol-
| the office of collector Of the oort o.
| Charleston. J am running on my color
| and | challenge you to produce any.
where 2 bIacker Afro-American thar
I am"
You are one of the most charming
negroes 1 EVER met, Mr.. Beeswax, alrt
l am strongly tempted to open to you
the door Of opportunity. Have yol
any credentials or letters OF endorse.
ment?"
Sure" replied Mr.. Beeswa1. Fire,
I will show you a doctors certificate
which explains itself. I will read it
I This is to certify that 1 have examin-
| ed Mr.. Nathan Beeswax and made
| several incisions in his body. I FIND
that he is 2 most remarkable negro
| being black. not only externally, but
| internally. Therefore he has a double
| claim on the office which he seeks. ]
tested the various organs in his body
and was ~astonished to find that they
would play nothing but coon songs
| This satisfied me thai he was wholly
colored so / blew out his lights and
sewed him up
Now, Mr.. President" continued Mr.
! Beeswax, laying aside the doctors Ger.
| tifcate, Il will read to you a letter
| signed by Mr.. George Washington Mil
lard Fillmore Johnson, a colored ton
| serial artist, who lives at No. % Rod
gers alley, Charleston. He says: Tine
| bearer of this missive, Mr.. Nathan
Beeswax, is a colored gentleman and
the champion 'possum eater of South
Carolina. He is the leader Of the col
ored smart set in this city and hal
! many rare graces ofmind and person
As collector of the port of Charleston