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 Ciden
Days

Dan Bell, the ola udIhy VI AiN'
ton who was bought with his mother
and brothers and sisters in Harris
county many years before the war
brought an end to slavery
bv the grandfather OF b.
F. and E. L. Bell OF Amer
icus, is on his annual visit here
to the members of the Bell family.
Uncle Dan, although SO or "a years
Of age, is hale and hearty, and IS
now spending his first year of leis-
ure, having been ordered by Z. r.
Bell, to whom he looks as guardian,
to take life easy from this time for
ward without worrying about the fu-
ture. And he is doing it.
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 said
de war set de niger free, but |
haint 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 hearty laugh at recollections
of another day. One of his anec-
dotes concerns when the late Alb Bell,
father of E. F. and E. l.. Bell,
brought him up to Americas from
Preston for a visit a number of years
ago and took him to the Opera House,
still standing on Forsyth street, tc
see a show. With Mr.. Bell were
Joe Roney, postmaster, Henry Black,
Gene Hawkins and Jess Stallings, all
well remembered citizens of that day.
They took Uncle Dan to the box Of
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 gall
lery, while the others remained be-
low. 30, r.
81 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
er white men and dey took me away
FIN de policeman.
Another time de same men took
me to the Opera House and asked
for tickets. Dey was told dey
COUNT get. 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 and Tom Pick
EFT were lawyers in the case, which
was a rather serious criminal trial.
Something one of the lawyers said in
the argument amused Uncle Dan and
ne haw-hawed loudly, breaking into
the solemnity of the occasion. v
Collect five dollars FIN dat man
or put him in jail, dc judge called
out to de sheriff. said Uncle Dan,
DE sheriff took me out and march
ed me down dc street and turned me
aloose."
The members of the Bell family
possess a genuine affection for
Uncle Dan, faithful servitor in the
family for four generations or more
The people of the North do not un-
derStand the ties that bind the faith
tul colored people and their white
folks" said E. f. Bell. 1t is a homo
not made of man, and man cannot
break it."