The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-18

July d. 1912. Sunday, Headquarters.
Well, We did some mighty satisfac-
tory foraging yesterday afternoon.
First we went around to the Missouri
homesteaders for the bread. The lady
OF the house was not at home, but her
mother and father were and we went
up to the house for a little visit. They
brought in a couple of fine water mel
ons, took our order for a baking of
bread and spared" us a couple of
loaves that by the scales weighed 4 IL
pounds! Then they visited us for a
while on the Peep o. Day. They only
came South last winter after their SON
tn-law had proved up the homestead.
They left Missouri in the worst kind
Of q blizzard and hit the Land OF
Flowers in all its glory. Occasionally
Though rarely 1t is the reverse.
Pap" the old man. had been helpless
for four years with rheuma tism, ca
tarrh and asthma, and a few other
complaints as well as corpulency. In
two weeks he was rid of all his
troubles and at work clearing more
land for his son-in- law. He works
every day, has reduced his girth eight
inches and is the picture of health.
Naturally they are delighted with this
section and are happy, but they are
the sort of whole souled, good hearted
people that are happy even in adver-
sity.
The children have been mimicking
first the old lady and then the old
gentleman ever since: MY, my!
Don't you think Mary has got pretty
place." Amt that watermelon sweet
'rn sugar!" laws a-mercy. amt that
a fine breeze!"
They looked over our children and
said we were richi Three girls and
three boysi They went into raptures.
too over the Peep o Day. I just wish
that Pensacola timer had heard them!
MY, my amt you get a fine boat!
She's bigger'n finer than Mr.. So-and-
SOS" That Dick, a little boy, knew
how to steer the boat or could make
the boat stop. or back, or go ahead was
almost too wonderful for belief.
The children could have learned a
lot from those little visits, but I am
afraid they only saw the funny side OF
things.
From there we went to "Gus's"
where some good old friends of ours
are camping for q few days. but Gus
is entitled to a paragraph all by him
self.
He's an old negro. eighty or more.
and still much Of a man. He is a
famous hunter and fisherman, and for
IIly WEEKS ne mas the. nest
people of Pensacola here at his place,
living with them on terms of practical
equality. His respectful, quaint sim
plicity makes him as delightful as
Uncle Remus" and you soon forget
the color of his skin. / was about
twenty when I first saw him. had been
in the South a couple of years and had
pretty definite ideas on the negro
problem and the relations of the two
races, but when I saw some Of the
best and most respected men of PEN
sacola sitting down to the table with
Gus / realized that the problem was a
bigger one than had suspected. Now
with twenty years added observation, I
am as much at sea as ever on a solu-
ton. OF course Gus Is an exception
to his race but there are many others.
and 1t is these exceptions, good and
bad that make the problem what 1t is.
A few months ago Gus visited Pensa-
cola and the word spread quickly.
Gus Is in town." He was entertained
royalty. Among other stunts one OF
our leading physicians took him riding
in his racing car. and out on the navy |
yard road Doc. opened her up to about |
sixty miles. How fast do you reckon
we are going, Gus?" asked the doctor. |
Gus looked to windward, spit over
the side and quietly said, Were doin'
something better'n eight mile"
Gus himself was not at home. 1