Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-01-18

q many Of the Old family servants who
took no part in politics. and were az
staunch in their allegiance TO theig
families az ever in the old days
i 4 barbecue. however was an irresis-
table attraction and to this was added
i the natural social instincts of the race
which will always draw them TO a
crowd
i How littlet the political significance
OF the meeting, or even the meaning OF
the day. was understood by many who
| attended Il. will &c readily understood
by the answers Or old Aunt Cinthia
i Rivers, and her husband. Uncle Samp-
son, to some questions ! put TO them,
as overlook them on their way 10
the barbecue.
Hello. Aunt Cinthia. called
Where are yoa and Uncle Sampson
going
IVES gvine Ter de barbecue, Ut
eose honey Wizard ser tink we'f
/ gwine ?"
Il don't know. But what is tn.
barbecue for
.Lor chile. you don no nu;hin
Hits ter selinbrate de fort er July. Nv
j eose Z
Mia. are you celebrating the
tourh of July for Auut Cinthia
long. slarse Frank! Don you nc
hits &c BERT day az do l4or Jesus =
i What's Christmas then. Aunt Gin
tina y
| They were both puzzled Al this
question, and cagita.ed some time
Finally Uncle samps il seemed &
scratch bright idea out Of tho heao
/ be had been diligently seratehine
since my question. and answered tri-
nmilhautly
"s.Sell den. Marse Fr;nk, q taiat at.
berf day lly de Tor, hi am de- das
Marse George WasHintm skiyereu
Meriky..
laughed ana rode on and dare
say fully half the negroes who III
tended the barbecue had just about as
clear an idea of wis the procession
and meeting W held IS old Sampson
and Clnthia.
To the other half however, il had y
/ very clear and distinct meaning and
! tho eject 81 the speeches made that
4 day ny Mr.. Smithers and his friends
was soon Derceptihie in the increased
insoleaGe aud lawlessness Of the loaf
ing negroes about the town. There
were. as yet. no serious crimes COM
mitted but small outrages, thefts and
petty burglaries became more fro
I quent and open; and ladies ceased tc
go unaccompanied on the streets. even
in full day. AS for lady walking or
riding alone in tho country, il would
moi have been dreamed Of.
The entire community suffered more
or less from the lawlessness and in
science noted above; but with the old
master class ii was rather suffering
from d dread of what might come,
than as victims OF any overt acts on
the part OF the negroes. The actual
outrages and thefts were borne prin-
/ cipally by tho lower classes and small
store keepers The loss of chicken
or occasional pig would sum up the
extent of depredations committed
against the old leading families of the
town and county: for the Unborn re-
spect--and fear too-of the newly en-
francllised race for their old masters.
was TOO deeply rooted TO be torn out
at once by any number Of constitu-
ticnal ams ..0molts and re-conatTuc-
ton acts. or the teachings OF an army
of smithers
/ None OF the offenders in these petty
crimes were punished. though they
mas have been caught in the act fol
any number OF our new fellow citi-
7ens would be ready as witnesses be-
fore corrupt judges TO swear 10 alibis
or anything else that might 10 needed
70 clear the accused II bade fair to
be the beginning Of reign of endless
/ laMlessness and crime, and the death
. knell 81 civilization 70 the once proud
aad stately community.
4 Bat. however excited the younger
/ n.eA CT cur race might become end
4 however deeply the old might feel be
meath their apparent apathy the limit
Of endurance had not yet been reach.
ed, and the time was not vet come e
check the 1arkening course of events
4 ana Reconstruction proceeded with
remarkable quietness when All tbs
/ circumstances o. the case are con
sidered
i And during al these years an1
Il events that meant 50 much 10 my pee
pie and country when We were
i threatened with black cloud OF ig
norance, stupidity and vice. led by nh
knayery and corruption of carpet.
baggers. ard everyone in The com
nuaity Of intelligence. enlightenIne.
and experience OF government and az
fairs we're suppressed and disfran-
chised. and civilization Itself seemed
ON the verge of dissolution. rods
quietly back and forth 10 school das
after day, seeing only disnly and with
I ss