Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-01-21

develop and soon come stalking back TO the South
after brief period of longing for the "heshpOts OF
Egypt" it would seem that they themselves can
usually be trusted to decide who are their real
friends.
But be that as IL may, striking illustration was
recently witnessed in New York which goes to show
that in that cold and cOngested crush of humanity
very little sympathy is shown for the Afro Ameri.
can when be undertakes to cling to the last remnant
OF sentiment which will keep fresh In bis memory
visions Of Dixie. When party OF Georgia negroes
arrived in Gotham the other day en- route to
Liberia, the African land Of promise, where the
negro can ill all kinds Of political offices to hia
hearts content without running afOul Of new cons-
tutiOns, lily white movements and the like, they
had with them their entire household effects, as
we'll as fine assortment Of 'pOssum dogs Upon
reaching the White Star pier q brusque guardian Of
the rules and regulations informed them that they
could not take their CANNES aboard. There we're
petitions, pleadings and tears all to no purpose,
and the dogs were tied in the waiting room Waile
the grief stricken emigrants sailed for the Dark
Continent leaving their faithful companions in
many joyous 'pOssum hunt.
Is it possible that any white man living south Of
che Mason aud DixOns line who realizes the tender
affection Georgia negro cherishes for his pOssum
dog would have administered so cruel a blOwf We
are not advised as to the extent of the possum
family in Liberia at this time; nor have we studied
up on the persimmOn crop over there. But we feel
safe in the assertion that the Southern man. the real
friend OF the negro, who ever iOOwered Uncle
Remus through the forest of Georgia with a torch
at midnight, and once heard the deep, sOnOrOns
voices Of Rastns, Bruno and Ring, 'ihark to him.
ct the foot OF persimmon tree in the conner OF a
zig-zag rail fence on still cold night in December
and who watched the delight Of the typical Georgia
darkey as he cut down the tree to get the fat and
greasy quadruped cringing in crotch above would
have found some way to smuggle aboard those
CANNES, and would have been glad to know that the
whn For
is we'll nigh as pathetic as their taste for the
Georgia melon on hot midsummer evening" would
in short time make things lively for the Liberia
'pOssums.
The heart Of the Southern white man naturally
goes out to these Georgia negroes deprived OF all
the comforts and pleasures of their f0ur-iOOted
friends and allies, for he realizes how they will feel
when they get TO far OF Africa and seriously ask
themselves: 'What is home without 8 'pOssum
dOgf" And pity the Lonesome Georgia CANNES in
country where their talents are not appreciated.
AS contemporary asks:
"What shall be done with themf The Afro
American Of Gotham is toe highly civilized to 60
'pOssum hunting after the manner Of bis less
accomplished brothers in Georgia. Moreover,
game is not go abundant in the neighbOrhOOd Of
New York as Il is in the sWamps and forests Of
Dixie. Never again will they bear the earspliting
yells Of the hunter urging them on to the chase.
Nobody will give them q friendly pat on the head
and boast Of their skill in shaking the life ont Of
Brer 'POssum. Pity the sOFrows Of poor ipOssum
dog lost in an unsympathetic community"
Yea, verify, It does seem that those Afro Ameri-
cans who 60 wandering OF to fields they know not
Of viii some day realize that their true friends are
in the South, where the negro appreciates the
unallOyed Joy be derives from the '0possum up the
'simmOn tree" over and above any pleasure or
benefit he get out Of the simple process Of cast
ing bis ballot now and then.
=@-
A Kansas police Judge has fined preacher who
ff-,astodB ebo oor-f Ann -of;o, It'd.