The broad ax., 1907-06-15
Eatered Vt ths Post O1Ice a chiraea,
d, a. Seeua6das Matter.
FOLLOWING THE COLOR LINE.
Concluded from page -

part, but often fallins into petty
crime. Poverty here, however, lack:
the tragic note that it strikes in the
crowded sections of Northern cities
The temperament of the Negro is IRE
pressibly cheerful, he overfiows from
his small home and sings and laughs
In his streets; no matter how ragged
or foriorn he may be good humor sits
upon his countenance, and his squaloI
is not unpicturesque. A banjo, a mul
let supper from time to time, an ex
citing revival, give him real joys
Most Of the families OF this middle
class, some On whom are deserted
wives with children, have their whit.
folks" for whom they do washing,
cooking, gardening, or other service
and all have church connections, so
that they have a real place in the
social fabric and a certain code IF
selfrespect.
I tried to see all l could of this
phase of life. l visited many of the
poorer Negro homes and 1 was often
received in squalid rooms with a dig
nifty of politeness which would have
done credit to a society woman. For
the Negro, naturally, is a sort of
Frenchman. And If can sum up the
vnonr rfCifs 7 r,ada IN q uip1la ooy, -
clusion, / should say, 1 think. that 1
was chiefly impressed by the tragic
punishment melted out to ignorance
and weakness by our complex society.
1 would find a home of one or two
rooms neatly furnished, but having ia
one corner a glittering cottage organ,
or on the mantel shelf a glorified gilt
clock; crayon portraits, inexpressibly
crude and ugly, but framed gorgeous
ly, are not uncommon-the first uncer-
tain, primitive mot unpitifuD reach
ings out after some Of the graces Ol
e broader life. Many Of these things
are bought from agents and the prices
paid are extortionate. Often Negro
family will pay monthly for a year or
so on some snowy clock or chrome or
music-box or decorated mirror-pay
ing the value Of it a dozen times over.
only to have it seized when through
sickness or lack of foresight, they
fail to meet a single note. Instalment
houses prey upon them, pawnbrokers
suck their blood, and they are infin-
tely the victims Of patent medicines.
It is rare, indeed, that 1 entered a
Negro cabin, even the poorest, with
,ut seeing one or more bottles Of |
some abominable cure-all. The |
mount yearly expended by Negroes
or patent medicines, which are glar-
ngly advertised in all Southern news
,apers, must be enormous million
# dollars. had an interesting side
light on conditions one day while
Walking in one Of the most fashion
BILE resident districts of Atlanta. ]
aw a magnificent gray stone resi-
ence standing somewhat back from
be street. / said to my companion,
tho was a resident of the city:
That's a fine home"
yes; stop a minute be said, y
rant to tell you ABOUT that. The anti
ink man lives there"
"Anti-kink?" i asked in surprise.
Eyes; the man who occupies that
ouse is one or the wealthiest men
ere. He made his money by sell
lg to Negroes preparation to
nooth the kinks out Of their wool.
hey're simply crazy on the subject"
Does it work."
'You haven't seen any straight
aired Negroes, have your" he asked
Ignorance carries a big burden and
limbs rocky road
Old MammIes and Nurses.
The mass of Colored people still
aintain, as / have said. a more or I
IS intimate connection with white !
milies-frequently a very beautiful 7
ID sympathetic relationship like that 1
the old mammies on nurses. 70 1
le who has heard so much Of racial 1
tired as l have since have been &
,wn here, a little incident that l G
served the other day comes with
charm hardly describable. saw g .
rriage stop in front Of home. The T
pected daughter had srriEed-a t
~ pretty girl indeed She stepped q
t eagerly. Her father was halfway
'wn to the gate; but ahead Of him s
y very old Negro woman In the1 Z
eanest Of clean SEARCHED dresses. ig