The Washington bee., 1912-03-16
Public Men AndThinDs
(By the Sage OF the Potomac

NNNL 1AlltllSNNtB III" anu LtlGNr DaS
to take the count. For instance. I
hear good one on a certain pro1li-
nent "cullud d,yine the other dav.
who hands out chunks of gospel to
sinners in Washington It appears
that this particular dignifed colored
divine visited his old home down in
the sunny South recently, and was
invited 10 preach at the local church
there After a sermon, as only this
minister can preach, he called on one
OF the old deacons who had known
him in childhood. to lead in prayer.
[ reckon that this old deacon must
have heard some of the rumors that
percolate through Washington COM
munities, for he closed his prayer
with this petition: 20 Lawdy, glib
dis po brudder de eye OBJ de eagle, dat
he spy out his sin afar off. Glue his
han to de gospel plow. Tie his
tongue to the plow line of trufe, and
nail his yere TO de wireless telefoam
pole OBJ salvation. Bow his head way
down in de narrer, dark valley, where
much prayer is wanted; den, . Lawd,
'noint him wild de kerosene lie of
sauctihcation and sot him on fire /
leave it to you If that brother wasn't
going a few kilometers Who was
the minister? Well, I must not give
his name, this week.
While walking on You street Mon
day afternoon [ met, at the corner
of Seventh street, three young high
school girls standing there talking
with four young fellows who appeared
to me about three or four years their
senior As | passed them, l heard
one Of the boys say, My old man
never knows where [ am, cause l
just naturally attend to my own af-
fairs And then one of the girls
said: Il Just can fool mother easy
We'll, let's all meet and go to the
show tonight one of the little Gig
arctic dudes said, for all of the boys
were putting away at cigarettes. Now
when | was going TO the high school
[ would have no more thought OF
putting 4 cigarette, and especially
around where the girls were, than
would have thought about flying. But
things have changed now All / got
to say, and | am going to say It good
and loud. and say il strong, some
OF the mothers better keep a watch
on their tender daughters, and better
know where they are and with whom
they are because some OF these lit
tie cigarette dudes around here amt
got any more manhood, or morals
about them than a Missouri hound
dog. The moving picture shows may
be all right. and they are all right
II Il Igr7,rI.
tiers go. YOU had better go with them
yourself. And if | had my way, l
would give some OF these cigarette
dudes d sentence of three months on
the farm. and follow it up with q
years sentence at the plow. You bet
watch that little girl Of mine; that
is / don't let her run the streets un-
less her mother or | are with her.
Now this Is just a bit OF advice to
you mothers who have daughters just
nearing the point where womanhoOd
and girlhood meet"
And this reminds me, come to think
of it, that Josh Billings once said:
Better keep yer eye close to the
ground, to hear what's moving
believe Tom Jones was the first teller
| heard say this, long about 1908.
shall never forget it. and | have been
keeping my ears to the ground ever
since And there Is a whole lot NOV
ing now. too. let me sigh to YOU.
For instance. this political contest Is
just causing the colored politicians
many sleepless nights They see the
Taft band wagon all decorated, com
ing down the street, and right behind
1t the Teddy wagon il coming. the
band playing They are all dom 1t, '
Well sir. these Colored politicians
don't know which one to take. / am
awfulIy glad that I amt holding 4
political office along about this time.
Now there Is Mr.. Horner: he's just
signing for Roosevelt TO win. just a.
If it would make any difference to
him CIinkscale Is figuring which
show to sign up with, and Tom Jones
Is praCticiug on q speech he can de-
liver for either one of them = they
ar nominated FrisbIe, he too has
got a bee in his bonnet. and Is just
aching TO throw his hat in the ring.
but doesn't know which hat TO throw
Its enough TO drive most OF them
10 AIlllhr Dtt tHC lCltDNS III yllNE dl <
the bordering idiots Link John
son is back from the South, and says
liz nothing but TAFT. [ am told.
Almond Scott, who was against
Roosevelt four years ago, Is burning
up Roosevelt gasoline in his buz
wagon-just completely changed. Lit
tie Charley Personal League Curtis is
doing a powerful sight of thinking,
but feels he can make the station IN
time 10 catch the real band wagon.
Rev COrrOthers, who Is out Ior
Champ Clark. says the thing looks
good to him. and he sees much prom
ise. Well all I got to say Is that
the Reverend better take up the
promisary note at sight, because you
can't tel! what will happen. Wlll
Ferguson. who went out 70 Denver
four years ago to get on the Bryan
band wagon. IS shouting hard against
Roosevelt now, but I don't think he IS
shouting very loud in favor OF any
BODY VIII IS watching out for the
main chance. and when the regular
train comes a .Hg he will be sure 20
fac II Charley Barnes amt saying
so much now. but he IS doing a pile
OF thinking, and wondering what
route 10 take I never got into this