The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-05-14

EDUlE1 dAAr4 Atf--r
what had happeneds What place
vas thiss Then. in q sudden fash
remembered. A train rushing city
ward through winter fields. passen
gers chatterfng OF reading under the
swaying lamps. A quick CRY from
the rear-a trainman pushing madiy
down the aisIe-a conclusion which
had flung me straight into that mys
tesiOus land from which had but jusi
emerged.
woman sat By my bed-a neat
goOdlooking girl in nurses cap.
recognized the bare walls Of a hos
pital.
drew one hand from beneath the
counterpane. intending 10 pass II
across my face Then ! noticed that
for some reason ii was covered with
a white cotton glove. was about 70
ask explanation when I saw something
nore-something that made my heart
stop and my soul grow sick Between
the glove and my wristband there
showed narrow band Of flesh.
stared at it for a moment, stupehed;
then With one swift movement ]
stripped the glove away.
The hand beneath should have been
pale from refinement Instead, 1t
was the deepest brown-the hand of
an African,
looked at it speechless- Then ]
turned TO the woman at my bed
side
Bring glass" ! commanded.
She handed it to me from little
drawer lifted the mirror and look
ed at myself squarely. Ny face, my
throat. a patch Of my breast that
showed. were like my hands.
was as black negro as walks the
earth today
Medical experts in the employ Of
the railroad declared that my change
of color had been due to some uncon-
trollable error in the preparation Of
the opiate which had been given to
me hypodermically On the other
hand. the hospital board agreed that
my condition was the result Of
5uuuEu EDuLuccADl anu AAlCHAAA EAONAi
which in some hitherto unknown
manner had brought about a chemical
change in the color fluid beneath the
skin-darkening it, like that Of ne
gro Hair had whitened after such
things. 1t was conceivable, they de
clared, that skin might darken.
fingered at St Vincent's while
useless experiments we're made for
my relief Then the railroad rendered
me sum Of money which l had the
wisdom to accept.
need not dwell upon the sensa-
tonal celebrity of my case The
newspapers were filled with it, My
picture appeared in every sheet-dis-
torted, wild of mien-"The Man of
Changed Race" Even my own pa
per where ] had filled an important
position, could not resist a Sunday
story"
was out early next morning. ]
wished to get accustomed to facing
the daylight No one on the street
paid the least attention to me, and
It4l d UItdllA VI new COul deCs
Few had arrived when reached
the Sentinel rooms No one opposed
my entrance, and went straight to
my desk. ] had been seated but
moment when one of the Office boys
came along He stopped and stared.
Leaving note for Mr.. Carter?"
he asked
Il am Mr. Carter" / said
He knew me then, and fell away
from my presence. Presently the
news had reached through the Office
Groups gathered at the doors and
whisperings came from the corners.
A little before noon Brickley. the
managing editor, arrived. Somewhat
later a boy summoned me- Brickley
extended his hand as / entered.
Carter you have my fullest sym
pathyi" he said, and had he been |
granting his fullest permission" his !
tone would have been the same.
Then he shut the door, 1t is Brick
ley's nature to go straight to the |
heart of things. That is why he is
managing editor. He faced me
squarely.
Carter" he said, "do you think
this is a good thing?'
Good? / am accursedi" I said.
mo. no; | mean your coming back
here. Do you think it good thing
to do?"
/ looked at him a moment before
replying.
What else can do?" said
THAT isn't the point I'm speaking
now for the paper Don't you see
that for you to be here would be
most conspicuous? The Sentinel has
reyer stood for color equality-wait.
one moment, Carter, there is nothing
in this-it's policy has been
always rather bitterly the other way
You. yourself, have written some OF
our strongest articles on the subject
showing how the black and the
white could never affiliate. Now"
but not because of-that is, not
ogether-because OF color" broke
n. my blood flaming. There are 9TH