The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-16

Folks and "Chilluns.
For the purpose of crystalizlng the
sentiment and giving expression in
visual manner to that something
which has been in all our hearts since
early childhood, and which with the
passing OF time has but grown strong
ef some Of the most prominent and
rep. esentative citizens OF the city of
Galveston have come together with
common impulse and kindre dfeellng
to erect With the help Of you ALL ana
all others whose sympathies are in
accord with the proposition, a mom
ment to the memory of that devoted
and loyable old soul-the "Old Black
Nanny Of the South.
With this objecT in view, It is pro-
posed to organize a general associa-
tion, the membership to be composed
Of Old Black Mammys White Folks
and their decendents wherever dis
persed. The general association Will
consist OF central association and
its auxiliary subordinate branches;
posed of one hundred (100) members
located in the city OF Galveston, and
it's branches to be composed of not
less than ten 10) members and To-
Gated wherever organized.
The fee Of membership, that it may
be a. general as possible, Is fixed at
one dollar t$1.0O), though there is no
restriction on any subscriber contrl-
buting as much as he pleases.
In connection with the initiation OF
this movement, the central associa
tion by permission appends the fol-
lowing ON Judge Norman G. Kit
trell Of Houston, Texas, which was
lately published as a leader in the
Houston Chronicle:
From Galveston comes sugges-
tlon full OF noblest sentiment, and in
that city and by the very pick and
flower Of its business men there has
been set on foot a movement which
should receive the aid of people every
where, and especially Of the people
Of the South; and if there be any
difference at all in the measure OF
obligation among that people the
measure is largest on the part of those
who can remember the dear old
black nanny Of the days long ago
"1he movement has for its object
the erection OF monument to per-
petuate the memory of the black
man mics of the South. What that
homeis and familiar phrases means
countless thousands can testify, and
how hearts are stirred, and how the
fountain of tears, touched by memory
magic wand, sends forth its tribute of
grateful love, there is many a wit
ness to testify who looks back towafd
the past through the mist of unbid-
den tears. That the people of Calves
ton, who have displayed such splen-
did courage and so loftily Illustrated
the highest type of civic fidelity anu
virtue, should be first to move in a
matter so utterly disconnected from
every thought OF gain, and born sole
ly Of tender sentiments, adds another
flower to their chapter Of honor
"A monument in honor OF the black
mammies' would be unique among me-
MORALS, because the black mammies'
Wee unique.
She has no model or counterpart
In all history. No character in all the
social or domestic realm Of any land
or any age, of which there Is presert-
ed the memory in history or tradi-
tion, filled her place or would serve
as a standard whereby to measure
the re of her simple and unselfish
service or the duration OF her influ.
ence.
She was essentially sui generis. Tn
rast furnished no precedent. the pre-
sent has no parellel Wholly unlearn-
ed without even the rudiments of ed
ucation, holding with unshakable be-
Lief to all manner OF superstition filled
with terror and direful forboddings il
the "squeech" owl was head even
once at twilight; stopping to break. b.
some rude incarnation the spell if
the molly cOttontail crossed the road
ahead of her; belieYing in hants
and 'sperrits' and ghostes' even az
she believed in her own identity; with
hell fire and birthstone as essential
ingredients of her religious belief
she yet was the truest, most faith
full most trustful, most devoted cfea-
ture that ever served with simple
faith and love sincere In the sphere
in which it had pleased God to place
her.
How intense was her pride In her
white folksi How tender, how con-
stant, was her love for her white
'chilluns' How lordly. how sover-
eign her contempt for all those who,
according TO her ideals, were not
quality folks
She was the aristocrat Of arlsto-
Gratis, the patrician of patricians: no
standard so high as hers, no test OF
quality and blood so inexorably rigid
She was the self-appointed and watch
full guardian OF the dignity, pride and
honor of the fambly.' Whatever con
cerned her white folks concerned
he. If she belonged to them they in
dlfferent--but in her sight no less
real-sense belonged TO heY, and she
was ever ready 10 defend with the
zeal Of fanatic the faith to which
she held, that they were the quality
est people that ever was. and that
to compare with them any who mea-
sured not up to her standard was
81. ..tt 10.