Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-03-08
"OERE'S VIVA De
OIL FOLKS STAY
REFUGE FOR OLD
TIME DARkIEs.
BY GORDON NOEL HuRTEL.

Five old negro "mammies," inmates
Of a home established in Atlanta for
their special benefit. relics Of the days
OF slavery In the south. awakening the
memory OF a loyalty and devotion
that was stronger than the chains Of
bondage, make text Of this story OF
q people who are passing away from
earth. . r.
The former slaves Of the south are
fast disappearing. Like others who
are veterans Of the ante-bellum days,
their ranks are thinning out until the
few that ere left serve only to recall
the memories OF the picturesque log
c1bin where superstition wove It's
wondrous fancies and from which
have been handed down the marvel.
GUS stories Of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er
Fox In a little whlle--a very little
whilc-the last OF the southern
slaves" will be q story told to memo
rialize an era OF the nations history
which Hes beyond the recollection OF
the living
The o,d-:ime darkey is still honor
ed and respected today everywhere
in the south, not only for the mem.
cries he invokes. but because he has
not forfeited the charm and pictur.
esqueness Of his character by the In
stitutioa of new environments. The
old "mammies'-some of the few
Of them that are left-receive the
ministry and devotion Claimed by the
sanctity Of sacred ties. In some south
ern homes they are the pampered
and spoiled autocrats of the nursery.
demanding the right to rule by the
heritage handed down to them from
the times they were In waiting upon
the great-grandancestors OF our chill
dren.
But, alas! many OF the aged veter-
ans of slavery, who were faithful and
loyal despite the proclamation of
freedom. have not been sheltered by
the descendants Of their former mas
tiers. because fate has shifted their
lots In life far away from where they
might receive protection.
II ever there was race Of people
that should be kindly cared for, 1t is
the old-time slave OF the south. In
one Of these beautiful pleas he so
often made In behalf OF the ex-slaves.
Henry w. Grady said:
Witness the miracle Of the slave
in loyalty to his master. clos Ing the
letters upon his own lim5s-main.
tanning and defending the families OF
those who fought against his freedom
and at night on the faroh battle
field searching among the carnage for
his, young master, that he might lift
the dying head to his breast and bend
to catch the last words to the old
folks at home. so wrestling the mean.
line in agony and love that he would
lay down his life In his masters
stead. History has no parallel to the
faith kept by the negro In the south
during the war. Often five hundred
negroes to a single white man. and
yet through these dusky throngs the
women and children walked in safety.
and the unprotected homes rested In
peace. Unmarshaled, the black bat.
talions moved patiently to the field In
the morning to feed the armies their
idleness would have starved, and at
night gathered anxiously at the big
house to hear the news from marster.
though conscious that his victory
made their chains enduring. Every
where humble and kindly. The body.
guard Of the helpless. The rough COM
panion Of the little ones. The observ-
ant friend. The silent sentry in his
lowly cabin. The shrewd counselor.
And when the dead came home. a
mourner at the open grave. A thou
sand torches would have disbanded
every southern army, but not one was
lighted.
when the master, going to war
in which slavery was involved, said
to his slave, I leave my home and
loved ones In your charge the ten
derness between man and master
stood disclosed. This relation has sur
vived a war and strife and political
campaigns in which the drum-beat
inspired and federal bayonets forti-
ned. It will never die until the last
STAKEHOLDER and slave has been gath
cred to rest. 1t is the glory Of our
past in the south. 1t is the answer
to abuse and SANDER. 1t 10 the hope
Of the future"
Home for Ex-Slaves.
There is In Atlanta an institution,
established by the charity of a negro
church, to care for the aged ex.slaves
who are tottering on the verge OF the
grave, and who can look for nothing
more in this life beyond protecting
shelter and daily bread. This refuge
for the old-time darkies is part of
the institutional work Of the Friend
ship Baptist church. and Is located
on West Mitchell street, near the cor.
ner Of Haynes. The pastor of the
church, Rev. e. r. Carter, is an ear
nest and sincere worker among the
people OF his own race, and for more
than twenty-five years he has had the
respect and confidence Of his white
fellow citizens. For the good Of his
people he has faithfully fought in his
pulpit and in his daily life every
form Of intemperance and vice
which tends to injure the welfare OF
the class Of citizens whom he repre-
sents. In carrying out the work Of
aiding and assisting his people. he
established THE Carter Home for
Old People," and offered an asylum to
tire aged negroes who were without
means. These old people, who once
were well-cared-for family servants
before the war, found refuge where
they could end their days In comfort.
They have been sent to the home by
public officials and by private citi-