Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-07-17

who. when he was too infirm TO work
nj the case, went every week 20 Mr..
Harris and drew his regular pension
enough to supply his simple wants. In
similar ways this kind hearted jour
nalist managed TO get rid of a large
part OF his income"
Uncle Remus" was extremely bash
ful. He was so modest that he could
not look a strange woman in the face.
and he had for years written at his
home in order to keep away from the
lion hunters and autograph seekers
who attacked him at the Constitution
Office at Atlanta. He spent only about
an hour day at the Atlanta COnstitu-
ton office. He was there one morning
when a tall young woman from Boston
made her way up the elevator and
found his room. The door was open.
The Boston girl looked In. and there
sat a little, rotund, red headed man
reading a newspaper.
''Is this Mr.. Harris?' asked the Bos.
ton girl.
'Yes'm," replied the red headed man
without raising his eyes.
Il have called TO see you, Mr.. Har-
ris," said the Boston girl. My name
Is Bessie Blank. and you ought TO
know me, for | am a writer"
"Ies'm," said Uncle Remus," look
ing very uncomfortable and still keep
ing his eyes upon the paper.
Il would like TO have chat with
you" said the young lady. raising her
voice and casting an inquiring look at
the chair at Mr.. Harris side. which he
was too scared TO offer her
"Yes'm," said Uncle Remus" desper-
ately.
But the woman went on after a
pause, Il see. sir. that you don't want
to talk and had better GO"
"Yes'm," said Uncle Remus." and
with that the irate young woman left
And still Uncle Remus" was the soul
of kind heartedness He was so bash
full, however, that he could not do 9th
erwise than he did. He was backward
In talking to strangers, and it was
only now and then that he had a caller
who seemed to Just suit him. This was
the case with Mr.. Visscher of Chicago,
an old time newspaper man, who had
gained fame as a poet. His appear
ance, 1t is said, reminds one of the
story Of the countrywoman and the
| hippopotamus. The countrywoman
went TO the circus, and when she saw
this animal she stood before him for
some time in speechless astonishment.
At last. with gasp, she said to her
husband, "Oh, my. amt he plain
Well, Mr.. Visscher was little plain.
a quality which was also possessed to
n certain extent by Mr.. Harris. Mr..
visscher was well known in Chicago.
He was also known In other quarters,
and he thought, OF course, Mr.. Harris
would know him by name. So he step
ped iauntily into the Office and held
out his hand and said:
How are you. Mr.. Harris? Ny name
( is Visscher."
Uncle Remus" looked up, and as he
did so held out his hand and then
/ burst into hearty "Ha. ha. ha! Why,
/ how do you do, Mr.. Visscher! Ha, ha,
| ha. l am glad to meet you, Mr.. Viss-
/ cher. Ha ha, ha"' and he went on
| laughing as though he would split his
| fat sides.
Il am glad to meet you" said Mr.
Tisscher as he Strengthened himself up
little Indignantly. but | can't see
what on earth you are laughing at"
At this Uncle Remus" burst into an
/ other laugh and said, as he rather af-
/ fectionately laid his hand on Visschers
/ shoulder: We'll, to tell you the truth.
Mr.. visscher, | am laughing at you.
like your looks You see, | have
always had the reputation of being the
ugliest man in the United States, but
you beat me- | want to take you out
and introduce you TO my wife"
This was said In such tone that
rather disputed the position which I'm
Gle Remus" had thrust upon him as he
looked at him. But he shook hands,
and little later on the two went out
to Uncle Remus' home together.
yisscher was delighted with Uncle
Remus," Uncle Remus" liked Visscher
better upon acquaintance and the two
plain men became fast friends.
When the Uncle Remus' stories
first began to appear, Mr.. Harris re-
ceived scores of letters asking him by
what deep research he had acquired
his intimate knowledge of negro philoi-
ogy and folklore. To an interviewer
some years ago he gave the following
quaint account of how his inimitable
stories were derived
Il don't know much about real negro
folklore And | don't think any one
else does. But every southerner
knows that every old negro nanny is
full of just such stories as write. As
the. negroes do not get them from the
whites, | presume they are of African
origin. Uncle Remus.' however, was
merely a composite or ideal type and
far from being the result of philolog-
ical research. His dialect or peculari-
ties of speech are nothing but one OF
the many fanciful parts of his char
Rcter."