Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-01-18
EMBARRASSING MOMENTS

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
While travelling from Ogden to Protland
some years ago, the train stopped twenty
minutes for breakfast and the most of the
passengers took advantage of the opor-
tunity. [ had spent many years in the
West and my color had given me little or
no trouble in getting the same accommodate
tons in public places as were accorded to
white citizens. With the other passengers
might run up against a color prejudice
snag, | sat at an unoccupied table I had
been beautifully served and was doing my
bit like an adept. when in walked two In
dian men, though dressed in citizens at
tire, they were big buck Indians lust the
same. They had no sooner entered that
dining room than | began to swell up for
| felt morally certain that the proprietor
would seat them at my table and if he did
| intended to show my American blood and
either leave the table myself or insist that
they be seated at some other table While
| sat there debating in my mind as to
what course to persue the proprietor es-
pied the Indians and rushed for them and
gave them a welcome that would have made
a Roosevelt look to his laurels and instead
Of seating them at my table he seated them
at the best table in the room and enter
fell all over themselves in their endeavor to
show them in what high esteem they were
held in that house. AS they passed me
they gave me a second look to be thor
oughly convinced of my identity and then
a look of disgust beclouded their faces If
You think that was not most embarrassing
moment for me- then [ sasure you that
YOU are off your troly.
| was but nineteen past, when [ first
thought | would teach summer school to
help defray my expenses at the university
the coming session It was twenty five
miles from my country home to the county
seat which had to be made on horseback
and it was a long hard ride I got to town
about dark and rested that night prepara-
tory to going before the superintendent the
next day for my examination. The s1lperin-
tendent of public schools was a straight
laced Presbyterian preacher, who had never
been known to smile or pass a pleasantly to
any one being examined for certificate
to teach school and even men trembled in
their boots when he would give them
once over. But | was soon at my answers
and some time that afternoon I had turned
in my last paper and began to feel good way
down in my toes when | saw him reach for
his certificate book. He had about com
pleted the writing Of the same when he
suddenly turned on me and said ''Of
course YOU are twenty -one" My embar-
rassment at that moment was simply aw-
full, but quick as a flash I replied, ono, I
am only nineteen past" He hesitated for
second and retorted, 'EWhy did you not
say you are twenty-one and save trouble
for yourself" Because. sharply replied
II had no desire to lie about it, The
color quickly came to his checks, showing
his pique and he looked out of the window
for a second, then he quickly turned to his
paper and in a second more I had my GER
tifcate and I left the room without even
saying good day.
Church rows are always very embarras-
sing for those listening to them, but tax
ing no part in them. The reason church
rows are more embarrassing than anv other