The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-01
NOTES OF THE WEEK
 IN WORLD OF SOCIETY Miss Lucine FinCh's Story of
 the Slaves That Stayed WELL KNOWN PEOPLE
Steamers Arriving From Europe To- morrow VIII Bring a Number of Birmingham People-Soclal
 Gossip of Late Summer.
BY ANNIE kENDRIcK WALKER.


 RH Iss LUCINE FINCH. the daughter M Of Mrs. Julia Neely Finch. of Birmingham, Is achieving success as a magazine writer Already widely known as a dialect reader and interpreter of southern folk lore, or rather of the pure negro tongue unmixed with the dialect of the plantation, Miss Finch has attempted magazine work within the past few months, and many of the leading magazines are accepting her articles and poems.
 The daughter of so talented a mother, it is not surprising that Miss Finch has had little difficulty in winning larger au- diences through her magazine writings, but for such recognition as she has re- ceived from the editors of Harper, the American and other publications there Is undeniable evidence that her own talents are being appreciated by men WHO feel the trend of the reading world and rarely if ever make a mistake in their selection of manuscripts.
 Harper's recently published some verses by Miss Finch, Experience" which have been commented upon most favorably by newspapers and elsewhere. Sc has a re- markable series of articles now running in the American magazine, The Slaves That Stayed The other side of Tree dom" has been presented so long and 1t should be said misrepresented by scores of writers and authors, that Miss Finchs subject will appeal synpathetically to all who know the true devotion and ten der loyalty that existed between the old slaves and their masters.
 Such story or series that the Amer lean is now presenting in which Miss Finch tells with pathos and fidelity of the few slaves who refused to leave her grandfather and grandmother would not have been believed in the north many years ago Prejudice and determination to believe the opposite would have made the story less effectual. no matter how well 1t would have been written Miss Finch's articles are now most timely, most effectual, surer of imTressing some great truths.
 They are written charmingy. and their simplicity is expressive Of life ot the old regime which was happily free from complex existence. The story of the slaves who stayed was learned by Miss Finch when the hrelight glowed over the face of her grandmother as she told 'tl children" of the time when freedom came to the slaves. 1t is told naturally, and perhaps it is not until you read 10 the end that you realize how much of truth and real beauty has been woven into the story of Nanny
 An extract from one of the articles s as follows. as tender an incident as could ever be recalled from out that wonderful past:
 When, in the new order of things wages were suggested to her, she had thrown up her head and disclaimed any part of this new regime. The insult had only. been withdrawn when my grandmother had put her arms about her and kissed her dark cheek and said, Never minu, nanny, We will not speak of it again il it troubles you"
 Nanny had been brought from Africa when she was about fifteen We were never certain of her age. She said she was born when "the second stars fell, and by that sign she was judged to be about twenty-seyen when she came to our family.
 She had had very wretched experience up to that time. She had belonged to a certain New Orleans speculator in the slave trade. She had been hired 10 various people. and her fine high nature had suffered the torture of coarse con tact with the ordinary negro. She had always beer iisliked, because of her aloof- ness and strange reserve, and had grown so delicate that the fact of her being of proven royal blood was the only thing that made her high priced slave.
 My grandfather, visiting in New Or leans had gone with friends to sale nf some valuable slaves near the French market. He had seen the gentle, dignified young woman with the wonderful reserve in her face, and he had. on a sudden inn pulse, bought her and her husband. Nanny in after years told my grand another that when she saw the tall man with the low hat over his eyes, she prayed that he would buy her My grandfather said it was her eyes, haunting and sad, that made him do it.
 She looked like a queen,' he often