The Washington herald., 1907-09-27


ways anxious 10 learn as much as they
can about the negro at first hand David
J. Foster, a member Of Congress from
Vermont spent several days In Charlotte.
n c.. recently. he was guest of one
OF the clubs. AT the street door of this
club stands an old negro named William.
William is known as a town character,
and IS on friendly terms with everybody
in town except a few unregenerate sin
ners. who have gone fishing on Sunday
That deviation from the path Of rectitude,
as William calls it, is well-nigh an un-
pardonable sin. Congressman Foster met
William, and being desirous of discuss
ing the Regro question with a real. live
Southern negro, he engaged William in
conversation. It was not difficult, for VII
liam will talk hours if he thinks he sights
a tip I'm the offing Some one passed by,
caught a few words, and saw how the
talk was drifting When the JhcTmOme-
ter went cut on the street the paSser-by
approached William. What was that
Vermont Congressman talking 10 you
about2 Niger question: 'Nas, sab;
de done discuss ever ting but de silber
question" replied William as he turned
his two pockets inside out and no coin
dropped 20 the floor.
In the same town there is an old negro
named Marshall, who is one of the pro-
foundest thinkers on financial problems in
the country. For years he has been IN
the service Of Harrison Watts, a re-
Gently retired cotton broker Mr. Watts.
a Southern gentleman OF the old school,
was always seen in black frock coat,
light trousers, broad black hat. and wear
ing an inevitable flower in his lapel Old
Marshall has always initiated his en-
ployer as nearly as possible in every way.
and long coat. light trousers. broad hat,
and flower are features Of his every day
attire Let anybody meet Marshall on
the street with the query What was
December cotton to-day, Marshal2' 1T
done close at l24S, thank you, sab
We'll Marshall" assuming a confidential
air, what do you think cotton is going
10 do?'' Deed, sah. l KANT tell. Cot
ton am either gWine up or gWine down.
but dey ain no Jellin' what cotton gwine
do, case cotton certainly am fool"
A newspaper man in a Southern State
was assigned TO report a Republican
tions fighting for party control. and
feeling was running high. On the train
with the reporter was a big negro dele
gate. He got II into his head that the
newspaper man was a delegate also.
When the train arrived the negro in
vlted the reporter to come behind
string of box cars. He then produced
a long bottle of fiery booze. The re-
Porter declined. The negro looked at
him in blank establishment for a space
and then drawled: Boss. you don do
like no delegate I cher saw.
Monkey was the name Of a diminutive
slave. who was the pet Of Andrew jack
SON Monkey was a jockey and asjudge
of h0rschesh. and II Old Hickory had
any weakness at all. il was for horse
flesh. Because of his many victories on
the turf. Monkey was permitted many
privileges, one of which was TO indulge
his firm conviction that the two great
est men on earth in the order of their
greatness were Andrew Jackson and
Monkey. A man named Brown. who
was opposed to the jackson wing of the
party in Tennessee. had the temerity 10
offer himself for governor. He received
only q handful of votes A few days
after the contest was settled, Mr.. Brown
was in the market at Nashville. Monkey
was also there, with a big basket on his
arm. Monkey so carried the basket as
10 push Mr. Brown off the sidewalk.
The irate politician raised his cane and
shouted: Don't you know who 1 am J.?
How dare you push me?" The little
negro looked up innocently and cried,
dun made a little sperlment for guvnor,
jes a little 'speriment."
A very fine bull calf was a passenger
in an express and baggage car Of a
train away down south in Dixie His
cafship was tied with a rope and about
his neck was a cord TO which was at
tached an express card. inscribed with
the address of his owner and his own
destination The conductor had been
charged 10 look after the calf "pa-ticu-
lar" as the owner was a personal friend. /
He sent the negro porter forward 10 see
about the calf When the old darkey
returned he asked: "How's that calf?'
The negro shook his head. Boss, l don
know bout dat ar calf. I don't know
bout him" What's the matter with
ar calf done et up whar he gwine."
In the days '@befo' de wah." a handy
negro named Jack was saving money /
earned at odd times with which 20 buy
his freedom. His master encouraged him /
and kept his money for him. In time
Jack had saved $500 and needed only I
another hundred TO make him free. His /
master told him that it wouldn't be long
now until he could get that hundred. |
Jack went out with another slave to /
celebrate some local festival Returning /
along the railroad track they were
frightened by an approaching train
Both got off the track. but Jacks com
paniOn fell and striking his head against |
a rock. was killed. Jack hurried as rap /
idly as he could to his masters house.
il was late hour, but the master must
hear him. He said: Gimme nah mon
ey, Mars Henry, gimme nah money
right now The astonished master. re-
monstrated. But Jack you need only
another hundred dollars to get free" 7
knows II, Mars Henry, I knows II, but
niggers IS too onsartin. BIZ jes killed /
hisself by Dustin his head agin a rock
an / ain gwine inves' NAH money in
nOthin' as onsartin as niggers"
Virginia planter Of the ante-bellum
DAYS had invited an English nobleman 10
visit him. The Englishman arrived only
the day before the Virginian was com
PEELED to 80 10 Washington on business,
so the host made his excuses and left
his guest In charge Of his elghteen-year
old brother. William. and his old body
servant. Eph. He was at the Capital sew
eral days and when he returned, late in
the night. there was no one TO receive