Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-05-16
EX-SLAVEHERETO
SEE WHITE FOLKS
Uncle Dan Bell, Hale At SO, Tells
Interesting Stories Of Olden
Days

Dan Bell, Jne oIu uo- NJ VI
ton who was bought with his mother
and brothers and sisters in Harris
county many years before the war
I-ro,,ob+ an end to slavery
Inv the grandfather OF l.
r and Z. L. Bell OF Amer
:cns IS on his annual visit mere
20 the members Of the Bell family
Uncle Dan, although SO or "a years
Of ace. is hale and hearty, and IS
now spending his first year Of lels-
ure having been ordered by +. T.
Rel to whom he looks as guardian
70 take life easy from this time Tor
ward without worrying about the H.
ture. And he is doing 1t.
Uncle Dan is a highly respected
negro of the old type. He loves his
white folks and boasts that he IS
known and respected by every white
man in Webster county. "Dey sad
de war set de niger free, but l
baint never been Free" said Uncle
Dan: 81 always has had my white
folks" He claims the distinction OF
being the old negro worshiper in the
white Baptist church at Preston.
Uncle Dan possesses a keen intel
lect, despite his years, and enjoys
many a hearty laugh at recollectlons
Of another day. One of his anec-
dotes concerns when the late Alb Bell,
father of E. F. and f. L. Bell,
brought him up to Americas from
Preston for visit number of years
ago and took him to the Opera House,
still standing on Forsyth street, tc
sec show With Mr.. Bell were
Joe R1ney, postmaster, Henry Black,
Gene Hawkins and Jess Stallings, all
well remembered citizens of that day.
They took Uncle Dan to the box OIL
flee and demanded tickets. They
were Informed they couldn't have a
ticket for Uncle Dan. They replied
that if he couldn't have a ticket they
didn't want any so Uncle Dan got
his ticket. He was sent up in the gal
lery, while the others remained be-
low.
u don't know jes' how it was. "
said Uncle Dan today, "but when de
show was gwine on / saw somep'in
come out nde stage and | laughed
right out loud and everybody looked
up and de show stopped. A police
man came up and took me out. At
de door was Mr.. Alb Bell and de 9TH
CT white men and dey took me away
I'm de policeman.
Another time de same men took
me to the Opera House and asked
for tickets. Dey was told dey
COUNT get a ticket for de niger.
Dey say dey don't want none den.
De men say dat niger laugh too
much, and none of us got in to see
de show"
Uncle Dan told of another time in
his life when his laugh came near
getting him into serious trouble. 1t
was during Superior court a num-
Der Of years ago at Preston
Charley Hudson was solicitor general
and Edgar Simmons aud Tom Pick
EFT We're lawyers in the case, which
was a rather serious criminal trial.
Something one of the lawyers said in
the argument amused Uncle Dan and
he haw-hawed loudly, breaking into
the solemnity Of the occasion.
Collect five dollars I'm dat man
or put him in jail de Judge called
out to de sheriff. said Uncle Dan.
"De sheriff took me out and march
ed me down de street and turned me
aloose."
The members of the Bell family
possess a genuine affection fol
Uncle Dan, faithful servitor in the
family for four generations or more
1.-The people of the North do not IN.
derstand the ties that bind the faith
full cOlored people and their white
folks" said E. F. Bell. 1t is a bona
not made Of man, and man cannot
break it."