The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-10
WHAT / THINK OF "oLD JOE"

by United States Senator Tillman.)
Special to The Sunday North American.
Washington, April 2.
IT don't know that there is anything
to add to what / have already said,' he
began, a trifle unwillingly. "Joe has
been with us so long now that he feels
as il ne is one of us-and we feel pretty
much the same He is about my age,
and though he can neither read nor
write, is intelligent and self-respecting
He Is devoted to our interests, and ]
trust him so implicitly that when we are
In Washington he keeps the keys of the
barn and to everything on the farm"
Just as Kitty carries the keys of the
house" interrupted Mrs. Tillman."
kitty is Joe's Wife explained the
Senator, who, now that he was fairly
started, began to talk with care-free
lightness that somehow made one feel
that II was his usual way at home. They
got married about ten years ago. and
she's good. virtuous wcman-besides
being the best cook know
ABOUT three weeks ago | went home
on business fer q day. and in the after
noon | looked In on her and called out,
Kitty, are you going to let me go back
waffles?' She makes waffles for me 365
days in the year when I'm home. could
see that she was amazed, for / never eat
lunch-get along better without it-but
told her that / couldn't get waffles like
hers in Washington. And do you know
that in less than fifteen minutes she had
the eggs whipped, the flour sifted, the
irons hot and those waffles on the table
in fifteen minutes. mind you
The Senator's voice had taken on the
tone of one who talks of miracles, but
it seemed to the reporter that Kitty
couldn't well help figuring as record
breaker with a practice of 365 days in
the year.
Social equality calculated the Sena-
tor in answer to q question. why, IL a
white person was to come down to Tren-
ton and undertake to put himself on a
social level with Joe, Joe would scorn
him as Poor white trash
Zone of the funny things about him is
his sense of humor, and he .often says
oomical things that show the outcrop-
pings of his pride and delight when he
thinks any honor is conferred on the
family Like most negroes, he always
celebrates Christmas with spree.
when my boys were younger they
used to enjoy the ridiculous things the
old fellow would do and say when in
HILARIOUS condition. / recollect a year or
two ago my eldest son had been having
fun With Joe, and, as a matter OF prank,
pI etended to be indignant with him for
drinking Old Joe just took him in his
arms and said, You mustn't do that,
boy. Don't you remember the night that
you was born?' and, of course, the rest OF
1t went Joe's way"
Joe has a large photograph of father
over his mantel,' said young Mr.. Till
mantle one who was called upon to
strain his imagination "IIe thinks there
is no one like my father"
When asked If he had n photograph OF
Joe, the Senator said to his son, Run
upstairs and get me those pictures.
This" he explained. winnowing over
the leaves of an album of snapshot
views, lis Joe holding two horses, Joe
Blackburn and Joe Bailey We call
them the Three Joes' Here is view
OF our home-here Is another. This ii
the veranda--another picture of the YER
anda While we are in Washington KittJ
takes care of the flowers you see in tbs
pictures. This group represents the
whole family. This is the garden; th'
garden again. Right here" placing {
finger on a stretch of path divided seen
cry" Is where dig and forget the WORLD
and its cares in my flowers.
WHAT l THINK OF BEN TILLMAN.
(By "Old Joe" Gibscn-the Negro Whom
Tillman Loves.l
Dictated Especially for the Sounday Mort
American.
Trenton. N c., April 3.
/ have been with the Tillman famil!