The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-25

III HE old time negro of the south Is
w disappearing even more rapidly
than the confederate veterans
with whom he once lived and labored. In
the new towns 1t is hard to find true
wartime darkey, but in the older towns
he may be seen creeping slowly along the
street with a basket on his arm or driv-
ing sorely dilapidated vehicle to which
Is attached an equally delapidated mule
These old negroes warm the heart of all
southern people for they represent a time
when our emotions were stirred deeply.
Every few days the papers chronicle the
death of "Uncle Ike" or Uncle Jlm," and
with him departs one more relic of a
splendid past. For although the south
has prospered and grown great the hal
cyon days before the war will never again
be duplicated. One of the chief character
istcs of the slavery time darby is his
politeness. He invariably tips his old
SLOUGH hat and disdains the society of
ordinary "niggers." 1t is pleasant to
know that these aged negroes are helped
along by~white people and none are al
lowed to suffer. But even kindness can
not prolong their lives and before many
more years both the old black "mammy"
and her feeble husband will sleep with the
hosts that have gone before them The
south likes to show reverence for these
faithful survivors of a time when the
negro was perhaps better off than he is
now, and an appeal from decrepid body
servant or former house maid is sure to
be needed.
President Roosevelt's thoughts are now
centered too closely on the Presidential
race to bother much about race suicide.
An exceedingly sad exhibition of the de-
parted greatness of the noble red man is
given by the Pamunkey tribe of Indians
in Virginia. certain wealthy pale face
with a soul devoid of all historic rever-
ence recently designated the Pamunkeys
as "half niggers.' The remark reached
the ears of the braves and there was gem
erai indignation. Trammeled by the die
tates of a superficial civilization, no bus
tie for war was heard in the camp. Even
the whoops of insulted warriors were
hushed and the cowed Pamunkeys dared
iol even QOn Il new coat Oh paint. III
stead Chief Cook wendell his way through
the murmuring forest to Richmond and
there consulted pale face lawyer, J.
Samuel Parrish, as to the expedency of
instituting a suit for Islander. Evidently
a fee was seen to be a possible contin-
gency and now the wealthy traveller who
besmirched the fair name of the Pamun-
keys may have to part with some of his
money to assuage the feelings of the
braves. Such conduct was objectionable,
unnecessary and altogether mai apropos,
ard it is to be hoped that the noble Pa
munkeys will at least obtain enough sat
isfaction to insure abundant firewater.
1t is bad enough for philanthropic white
men to dispossess and annihilate the In
dams without calling into question the
purity of their blood.
1t is safe to say that almost as many
balloons will be punctured at st. Louis
during the democratic convention as there
will be In the airship convention. In either
case the fall will be a hard one.
Golf clothes have been on the bargain
counters so long that people are won
dering how long automobile clothes will
escape a similar fate. The great disad-
vantage of buying garments especially for
doing one thing is realized when that one