The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-23

''That's the old dirt idea. People used to
think that the sick had to eat dirt, drink
| dirt. breathe foul air and be dirty to get
well. We've got over all that. The
cleaner they can be kept the sooner they'll
| get up"
But fever patients" protested Otter
! bein Kramer, who had been shocked at
seeing the windows flung up, and the fresh
air admitted.
Il quite agree with you, Mrs. Klegg."
| said the Surgeon, as he passed. These
men peculiarly need a bath. On the
march through South Carolina they hoy
cred over .pine-wOod fires, which covered
| their bodies with n varnish from the tur
pentine. But l have been unable to find
tub of any kind in GoldsborO, and there
| have been so many other things pressing
me that / have not had time to extempor-
ize any facilities"
Don't know what you mean by extern
| porize. Doctor, but l think l can see a
way to do it. Here, Charles Sumner"
| she called to a negro man whom she had
heard the Deacon address by that name,
go and get saw, and cut that whisky
i barrel in two"
cit n saw" queried the man. blankly,
only compromising that much of the
order.
Yes. yes: get a saw. Don't talk back
to me and repeat my words" she said i'm
| patiently. for the dull wits of the negro
worried her far worse than it would
southerner. Bring a saw here at once.
| and cut that barrel in two" Make haste,
now"
The negro shambled off, and presently
returned with handsaw, and stood look
| ing at Mrs. Klegg with wide-open mouth,
and eyes staring in dumb non-comprehen-
sion.
Dear me, what're you standing there
gawking for?' demanded Mrs. Klegs
sharply. DO as tell you. Cut that bar
| rel in two"
The negro looked blankly at her. at the
saw in his hand and at the barrel, but did
not move.
what is the matter with the fozzle-
head?' exclaimed Mrs. Klegg. Il declare,
l never saw such dumb lot as these
black people down here. The white steers
in Injianny seem to have more sense.
Here" she continued. walking over to the
barrel, and laying it on its side: NOW
saw it in two right there, and mind, you
saw straight"
The negro terrified ut her imperiously
energetic ways, fumb,ed at the barrel
with his saw. He made a cut at it, which
sent the barrel rolling away from him
down the slope, and raced after it, fran
tically striking with the saw.
1t was one of the times when Mrs.
Klegg felt the need of depressing what
she thought. She was woman of great
self-control. She turned and went into
the house, leaving Maria to superintend
the job.
The negro finally captured the barrel.
and returned with it, sweating and fear
full
Marie, with all her sharpness, had much
more comprehension and sympathy with
4.
or mother. She encouraged the negro,
directed him to bring the barrel back, and
put checks on either side to hold it firm
while he sawed. Then she pointed out
where he should make the cut. Charles
Sumner. whose idea of work was force,
and who had never before handed saw,
put his whole strength into it. as he would
an AK, and again sent it rolling down the
slope. Maria patiently directed him to
bring it back. chock if more firmly, and
how to use his saw, bnt presently came
in to where her mother, with towel
pinned around her head, was laboring to
give direction and skill TO the hopping
and scrubbing negresses. and feeling her
self tried by their stupidity more than
she had ever been before in her whole
life.
MA. that man simply can't saw that
BARREL" Maria reported. Il think he has |
already cut off a thumb and two of his |
fingers, and has hardly scratched the
slaves. The whole darby will be gone
before he cuts the barrel half in two"
Il used to think that a hen was the
stupidest thing that the Lord ever made"
answered her mother resignedly ''That
reconciled me to wringing their necks. 1t
seems to me that when the Lord made
these colored people He had shorter
supply of brains to pass around than when
the chickens were made. It's awful for
me to say it. but l feel as if l could
wiring some of those women's necks, with
as little pity as a hens. Lord, forgive
me. They simply won't understand the
Iight way, any mOre'n hen'll see the open
gate you're trying to drive her to-
where is your barrel, Miss kleggT
inquired Otterbein Kramer. III saw it
off for wou."
''Oh. if you only would Maria replied
with sigh, leading the way to the yard.