Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1913-12-19

but ne VINO nicnes from me my
good name
Robs me of that which not enriches
him.
And makes me poor, indeed"
Not altogether In the sense indicat-
ed by this reply VIII my story deal.
Surnames OF negroes who were slaves
were usually of their own selection. as
they. like all mankind originally. were
known by one appellation. q given
name.
When It became necessary our jew
ish people selected surnames that
meant something and are generally
euphonious, as Rosenbaum. Silverstein.
Loeb, Rothschild, and SO on. When
Anglo-Saxon surnames were added or
adopted In the eleventh and twelfth
centuries some seem to have been
taken haphazard. and are of no signifl-
canoe. Our colored people retained.
In the main. after freedom, the sur
name OF "Old Mastah." Most OF them
felt proud OF the family whom they
served and spoke Of them as my
white folks" No GROCER blood in our
family, and US cullored ones amt got
no use for po' white trash. neither"
PERHAPS 1t Is not generally known that
the term "pO' white folks" SO often
used by the negro servant, had no spe-
cial reference 20 financial conditions.
meaning, rather. social status--"Man-
nahs and CUSTOMS" as they sometimes
expressed It.
inc example OF family fealty Is the
case OF Nelson Crews. This really re-
markable negro was born on the plan
tation OF DR.. Samuel Crews OF How
ard county, Missouri. who at that time
owned over 500 negro servants. His
parents were far above the average in
intelligence and integrity. Joanna.
the fine old mother Of Nelson Crews.
lives now IN Kansas City. She was
the weaver At the Crews home. and
believe there are WOODEN counterpanes
yet in the possession OF the family
that bear evidence OF her skin.
With US yet 10 a stanch. dependable
negro woman. Industrious and self
supporting, though long past three
score years and ten. who, though
she has led to the aitar-yes, led Is the
word--three husbands. has never
changed her surname: she either made
pre-nuptial arrangements with her va
rious suitors or brought them 30 taw
afterward. for Susan Clark she vas. Is
and ever viii be. Il was bon and
bred on the plantation OF Beverly r.
Clark. the finest white folks Ia Kahn.
lucky or any whah upon the yearth,
and twel meets UP with bettah
name l don't see no casion 20 change
mine." insists Aunt Susan.
The numerous collinses. Bradleys.
Simpsons. Stones, Smarts heareabouts
bear out my assertion that negroes aft
er freedom selected for their Own the
surname Of former owners.
Howard. Scott and Wallace Smith.
negroes. good and creditable citizens
OF the vicinity OF Kansas City. Mo.
were slaves in the family of q sister
Of Cassius Clay. Though they are
proud Of the fact that they are OF the
Clay clan of colored folks, they prefer
Smith, the name OF the member OF the
family TO whom they we're assigned.
Among their proudest possessions Ii
a portrait Of handsome. distinguish
edlooking what man. inscribed on the
margin this testimony:
"For my dear old Nanny
From Green Clay Smith"
The donor was, you remember, NOM
mated presidential candidate by the
Liberal Republican party.
When Marguerite Williams. two
years old, slipped and fell into creek
near her home at Kansas City. Ed
ward Reed, negro eleven years OF
age, pulled her out Of the shallow wa
ter. The girl was unconscious. Then
the negro remembered the training he
received in the public schools aud re-
suscitated the child by applying FIRST
aid 10 the drowning. A physician said
The negro boys efforts probably had
saved her life.
George Washington Buckner. the
now American minister 70 Liberia. has
been In consultation with Ambassador
Page for one or two days this week,
reports the London Times. he is a
negro doctor, Of Evansville, and.
Apparently he Is approaching his
task In Che African republic with great
zeal aud ardor, in company with Lieu
tenant Martin, graduate OF howard
univerTity. who win help organize tho
Liberian constabulary.
There are 1000 monks on the Mount
OF Atbos, In southern Greece
Moi, Japan. Is 70 nave new rail-
way station to cost 100000
q, 9Y,e haffla which in constantly