The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-06

now as 1t always ways. Been keepin the hotel twenty-six years. Only ho- tel in town. Run 1t like l want to run it and them as don't like what they git can pour it back in the jug. No use to wear yourself out skyrootin' aroun tryin' to please folks. You can't do It."
 The negro porter came in with an armful of kindling wood for the morn ing fire.
 Marse John." he said. dat drummer in hummer nine say he gotter have another lamp. De He dun burnt out In dat un he got"
 Blame fool ain't got no business set tin up so late,' was the reply. Go up thar and tell him If he wants any more light to throw open the blinds and let in the moonlight.
 "Yas," continued the hotel man. med itatively. "a man keeping a hotel gifts a whole lot of experience. Keepin' hotel throws you slap up agin human nature. Mans got a yellow streak in him 1t shows up in hotel and shows up strong. If he's got dog nature in him you'll hear him growl and whine in hotel"
 The porter cracked the door open and stuck his head, in the office. 'Marse John. de cook done got 'ligion ergin. he said. She des CT rampagin' up and down de alley. She say she's CT child CT Gawd and ain't ergwine in no white folks kitchen no mo.
 The hotel man took the knife blade from his teeth and said deliberately: You tell her I say if she aint in my kitchin by o'clock in the morning I'll have Abe Shattucks round to her house before with a warrant for vagrancy. I'll send one child CT Gawd' so far in the coal mines it'll take three dollars to send a postal card back home"
 By the way, beakfast was ready and on time the next morning.
 The hotel man unlimbered himself. kicked the burning logs with deliber- ation. He threw on two fresh cuts and spit collectively in the ashes.
 Used to be a feller named Gaskins come through here. Sold soap and flour for a Nashville house and he made Caleebe every sixty days. Used to hire Jim Hammond's best team and sashay round the country to the cross road stores.
 Now, did everything I could be to be nice to that man and he certainly was the biggest eater I ever seen and I've seen some whoppers in my time. I was just as nice to that feller as knew how. Never did charge him ex- tra for the grub he slowed away and the Lord knows the law would have al- lowed it. Teller didn't have a bit of 'preciation. After I had done all could fer him he comes back here and dies on my hands. Yessir, dies on my hand and him a owin' me $3.75 board bill.
 "Gaskins was one these here red faced, curley haired. thick-necked fel- lers, a sort of tune hummin' guitar strummin feller. Used to, when there was any wimmen round the house. sidle up to tn piano, stick one hand back on his hip, Tar his head back and to sing somethin like this:
 Menny bur-rave hearts are asleep ep
 In the dee-ep-ep.'
 Biggest fool bout wimmen ever I seen. Whenever he come round where wimmen was he'd lope and sidle bout like hen on a hot stove lid. Just didn't have grain of sense when he heard caIiker rattlin'
 Well, one day he druv through the country from Smoky Neck and when he got here his appetite was orful- just simply orful. Had collard greens for supper that night and the way that feller shovelled in coIlard greens was terrifyin.
 Bout midnight he taken conges- tion. Doctor worked on him four hours but 1t warn't no use. He was hell bent on givin' me trouble. Next mornfn' he was cold as a wedge and his bill footed up to 75.
 Somebody told ole man Sim Jones bout 1t. Uncle simmie had been cor