The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-28
Character Sketches
in the SOuthlaL d.
BY f. S. HARRIS.

Much of real humOr may be extracted
from the current of human thought
and saved from the fate of mere drift
wood Some of these the author ha!
caught and preserved in his cabinet O
curios and relics. to the inspection o.
which he sometimes invites his friends
1t is not sought to elaborate OF
weave into story the following little
sketches and observations from rea
tive simplicity, Withholding only the
true names.
A continued residence in the South.
land, from the time known in loca
history as before the war" afforded
exceptional opportunities to study the
characteristics of the plain people ano
of the race so traveStied in burnt cork
on the comic stage and which cannot
be understood or appreciated except
through close observation and study
under most natural everyday condi-
tons.
We only speak that we do know and
testify that we have seen. Moreover
the author is not necessitated for the
sake of making romance, to work
up situations, but has simply made a
faithful chronicle of events, and he
appeals to every intelligent observer
similarly situated to himself, to say il
I0ey are not true TO Ire.
The truth concerning the negro race
has suffered great violence, between
his portrayal as martyr maligned
enjoying no real friendship or sym
pathy from those among whom his loy
has been most intimately cast, and his
thorough denunciation as one possess
ing no element of good but only the
grosser brute instincts and passions
But the writer does not seek to por-
tray negro character but only to insert
this parenthesis in the interest of
truth
Our old wagon driver, Josh, was
quite philosopher, albeit it might be
supposed that mules would leave very
little time for mOralizing; but, like
the tabled centaur, he was so much
a part of his team that they moved
almost at his will, without continued
expression thereof in blows.
The other day we were puzzlin2
about whether a certain course OF
conduct were right or not, when Josh
came to the relief of the situation.
"Taint no use bein' tosecuted in yer
min bout w'ether a thing is rite er
not; all yer got ter do is ter set down
an resider--now wat is my fomoty
fer dom this thing an wat i'll be the
exult atterwuds?"
On the question of everyday human
sympathy he remarked: Il jes tell yer
how tbs. A man ats bin long yer
road kin hav' sum ensympathy fer yer
in er hard place, but er man ats gCt
er plenty's got no ideer o. the suffea-
ton O. anuther man."
For period 70 years after the war
of the Sixties, the negroes fell an easy
prey to sharpers. who worked on then
credulity by appealing to their preju-
cices and by protesting extraordinary
sympathy for them in their new rela-
ton
Various schemes were employed,
Bogus organizations for mutual bene-
fit of shareholders caught good
many. A promoter of one Of these
schemes visited our section, confirming
himself mostly to a colored community
in which was located a very popular
church. He ingratiated himself with
the pastor, who, as a spiritual adviser.
seemed to WELD a powerful influence
over the community. This agent rep
resented through him that it was ne
cessary, as kind of application to
join his order, that they purchase {,
copy of his photograph at fifty cents,
to be sent on by him with the appli-
cation to headquarters at Washington
and when sufficient number was pro-
cured, he would organize and start
them up. Josh was telling US about
this, bemoaning at the same time the
gullibflity of his race. II toll EN-,
said he, "ter fife shy - this Teller.
He's no sutizen o. the New Nitod
States no way an Wen he gifts his han
GRATED on er rite smart billage he's
gwin way fun bout heah an yo' won
see nuthin mo- Nv i'm, " which proved
to be the literal fact in the case.
Marcellus G. is a close rival of old
J0Sh a nhiInS0nhpT 10 hnop
down at the house making some re-
pairs and being an old friend Of the
family, as plantation carpenter and
general all round hand he frequently
favored us with his observations as he
went about his work. One of the boys
accosted him the other day: We'll,
Marcellus, I see you haven't retired on
a fortune yet" mo sir, boss; we OIL
uns got ter keep strip. De new gin
Grafton ain no count fer wuk Dey
too biggity fer anything cep ter ten
smart jaw he vans ter set up fer er
preacher Wen he's mo- called ter no
con er drive nevis Dey sets erboui
too mulch. Too mulch setting erbout
kerrates er fever menny er time It's
de tiresome wuk I ever dun
"Marcellus. you've been about in the
world right much and no doubt YOU
QOllCe Things pretty ClOSelys now give
me your opinion on this point; is the
philosophy of ethics arbitrary or
otherwise?
II dunno boss, but / reckon It's
Another point Marcellus; what is
the difference between kind man and
mankind 2" "Lemme see, boss-eny
ketch in dat? But l doan keer eff It's
l kin tel yer de diffunce; kin man is
eny man OATS kim Mankin' is eny
kin'er man." Well, but Marcellus
don't mankind embrace womankind?
Yes" refectively, and then more
confidently, II guess dey duz, boss
Wen dey gifts er chance"
"Marcellus, you are a pretty good
Judge of preaching; what do you think
OF our new rector, Mr.. Varney?'
Wat did you say wuz his entitle p
MIR. Varney the new preacher" 20
yes, down at der piscotelian chu'ch
Well, | ain heer i'm but oncet
drapped in down dere few Sund'y:
ergo / wuz settin' dere wa tin, do
diden see no preacher'n pres'n'Iy sum.
body cum in at de back do drest mitey
komerkul, lax he Wuz gwyn ter bedr
dey all riz up'n he SEE sump'n out'ner
book EN- dey all talkt bak at i'm. Den
presently he sed let us pray an der
he praid'en he praid'en he praid'n h
hardly gin em time ter say amen; al
one time. vile dey wuz all prayin' llal