The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-23

former slaves md their former own
ors is yet strong. though the numbo
or eachFis growing very, very small as
me days pass on. Tho fidelity of the
slaves to their owners nifty years ago
is u prideful memory 10 both races.
Thcre were times when the slaves had
II within their power to perpetrate
fearful excuses. but be 1t said to their
credit, that ths cloud OF suspicion
never rested upon them. None or few
Of tnem could have given the dictlon-
airy definition OF trust" but the black
men and women lived that trust" bet
ter than any have yet defined 1t. The
striking recorl of the black mans
ndeiity to the helpless family OF the
southern white man in the sixties is
of the very best reasons why now
n hereafter the Southern people
should with patience and with appreci-
alton stnve to adjust racial relations
TO the end that there may be u renais-
sance of the amicable rotations OF the
old days. Not the least fine part OF
that great epic period was that play cd
L LT'H.#
by the colored people.
The Gastonia dinner was a pleasant
occasion. The white-hended old White
men saw to 1t thai the whlte-headed
old negroes had a good dinner, the best
that the land AFFORDED. After It was
all over they all sat around in The
manner Of friends and nclghbors,"
n IN cpyu =, ,Na -. ~ , T. -
that were. These were laudatores
temporis acti above criticism. ..Old
Miss and Nanny sat down side by
side and talked about the children OF
the years that are fed. some dead
these many decades. some in har-
forgotten graveyards and some on tho
Held OF honor. The.l the old men,
white and black, told of the hunts and
chases and the happy times OF their
youth when they Jared forth together
on pleasure bent
The white people ct Gestonia agreed
with the son OF a Confederate soldier
from Georgia, Henry Grady. in HIS SEN
timents:
Il want no better friend than tho
olack boy who was raised by my side,
ana who is now trudging patiently with
eyes and shainbling hEuro
through his lowly way in life. l want
no s"eeter music than the grooming of
my old NANNY now dead and gone
70 rest. as /, heard it when she held
me In her loving arms, and bending
her old black face above me stole the
cares from my brain. and led ne smil-
ing into sleep. l want no truer soul
IMAM that which moved the trusty
slave, who for four years whilc my
father fought with the armies that
barred his freedom. Slept every night
at my mothers chamber door, hold
ing her and her children as safe as
IL her husband stood guard, and ready
TO lay down his humble life on her
threshold. History has no parallel TO
the faith kept by tho negro in the
south during the war. often 1--WE hun
cred negroes to 4 single white man,
and yet through these dusky throngs
the women and children walked in
safety. aid the unprotected homes
rested In peace. Unmarshaled, the
black battalions moved patiently to
the fields in the morning TO Feed the
armies their idleness would have
starved. and at night gathered anx-
lously ut the olg house to hear the
news from marster.' though conscious
that his victory made their chains en-
during. Everywhere humble and kind
"; the b~odyguard of the helpless. the
rough companion of the little one; the
ooservant friend; the silent sentry In
his lowly cabin; the shrewd counselor.
And when the dea came home, a
mourner at the open grave. A thou
sand torches would have ~disbanded
every Southern army. but not one Was
lighted"
OF such were those whom my white
folks no -ored at Gastonie.