Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-01-20
The Negro In His Lair, No. 2

ures on earth where moths and rust
would corrode them, or where thieves
might break in and steal, but when
be has money or other valuable
things he Immediately puts it in
circulation; and the things in which
he usually invests are never of a
permanent or lasting nature. He
spends much money each year for
legal advice and medical service,
presumably for finding out what he
oughtto do, SO that he may do the op-
posi,e, for it is we'll known fact
that negro was never known to
shut gate or follow anybody's ad-
vice about anything. He is also an
ardent admirer of the work turned
out by the dental surgeon, and deep
down in every negro'a heart there is
a secret longing to some day have a
gold tooth in front and one on a
plate, 80 that he can take it out and
look at it and put it back at will.
He is likewise a great admirer of
art, and in nearly every negro's
home, however humble, there hangs
a life-size crayon portrait of him
self on the wall, right opposite the
door, where you will be sure to see
it as you come in the door. The
rest of his surplus money he usually
spends for entertainment, prefera-
bly, an excursion, but anything else
will do. / have frequently stood
on the street corner on cold,
gloomy winter day and watched ;as
many as fifty negroes, who wodld
not average fifty cents each in cash,
and none of whom had on clothes
enough to flag train, clinging to a
merry-go-round, grinding out The
well.known and much-belove mel-
ody, "Oh, Bill Bailey, Why Don't
You Come Horne!" and their front
teeth shining like the keys on a
baby grand" piano, while grea,
crowds of others, who did not have
the price of ride, were standing in
halee-frozen mud, half shoe deep,
cheering them as they came round.
All things are pleasing to him. A
circus or funeral are equally enjoy
able, but protracted meeting, fol-
lowed by big oaptizing, or term
of the circuit court, followed by a
public hanging. is his chiefest de
light.
The negro was once the white
mans slave, but that was only for a
short time, and that was a part Of
the great scheme which God had in
mind to better prepare him for the
enjoyment of things which He
meant to bestow upon him.in the
future. By long and close associa-
tion with the white man he learned
his ways land hisinner-most thoughts)
and can now size him up. and classify
him just as accurately as cotton
buyer does the different grades Of
cotton, and can do it quicker. Blu,
he is no longer a slave tc man or
mammon, and verify, that scripture
which says, The last shall be first
and the first shall be last" has al
ready come to pass, and the negro
now has reserved seats on the front
row. If any good things are to be
had he is sure to get his share.
One day a negro asked me if I
thought negro had soul. told
him l most assuredly did; and if be
did not have one it was the only
thing ever heard of white man
having that negro did not get il
he stayed with him long enough.
The negro has no great problems to
solve. There is no race question.
so far as he is concerned. He en-
| joys the society of all races, ages
and nationalities, and will mingle
freely with any of them. He en-
joys with equal pleasure the COM
panionship of fve.year old white
boy OF an aged Chinaman, who is
unable to speak or understand sin-
gle work of English, for in either
case be gets to do most of the talk
ing. o
The tariff question or the cur
rency question does not interest him
in the least. Silver is his standard,
and he does not want any other
kind of money. Neither does the
Mexican situation worry him. All
these things are the white mans
troubles. But if the white folks
want to whip Mexico or anybody
else, for any cause, or without ally
cause for that matter, and will
furnish him with the arms and am