Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / May 2, 1909, edition 1 / Page 9
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1 t "j V- CHARLOTTE, DAILY OBSERVES, SUNDAY; MAY 2, 1909. 2 . i r,he tranaiw" . rath of young ;..! the tnde t his erstwhile . ast curs that ;,,tiom," "Rag Happy HU1." of the in monotonous , hiis or other .... r tail. There ... with them e for he shar ed loved them , far mischief .. . d him to play -m hut . ,he Jokes ahprl . olony of cure of a low- .. hk. N'r longer h.-,-shine box on ., 1 the streets in n.i im longer are ... , immunity laid shed Into the which he r tin one had ,,f hope and :i;ime of the that ho had 1th r. m kindly and . tr . udly hand , p.. .. i.'.:n in the ,.,,! s'r-ld him from . , i ii . i r heard the , k " I lowly Jesus, ,,; , . I icion was visible he had slip he, .. , ,i.mnally, but r, s-'n-elliglble to him ,.- i.nr'i snatches of re ; ..hi. r men but what -s t'.ri.it. he could not ft., i never entered ln- . ?i r .I I proud ambi--,'s youthful veins and .iif,i!im of universally a , merit. "Bport" Hv- p-4ent and neither .H"t nor fars for n-e.i him. Conscience ir kVmle.lge of right VmA rf nd enjov ed the r h ', ::', fun planned w .is h.ltlsned w j an absolute and ti ,;t and that is why, ... afl! in the world. r,' 1 h is pathet Ir littla .ii.ins cruel world and against destiny run .cr in histnry that is . istf I ,r'il aa it is ohllv- i ll:s daily struKKlea .". o h it thry w ere not i happy nature a! .(i:r!t carried him ' 'i l: ii and t hnii,;h l d lie ever thrived ii .'iv'.'.pe influences, . 'Sport" was a ! an J had learned -, ii no through bitter J i in had also taught ' . . i ii:nn He had !' f a . hool h0U6e "thvr- a they went frva ti in nail Il.;v.;i ..I-.. I r- f I... V... J ..uld Ko. rs.il to the romantic 1 nui, ll- llsu V-en' characteristic, .!: ..) As h rule, i !ss of negroes is ' ,,:nM contented part ' i oient nature has wit n s Hue peculiar ' p ! t their loss of - ' i i -en fur work. ' ' ' :t.:p'ilator of the v pert hand at - . and still an- ': I'll I ricn- :'' v i I strangely " ' ' negroes are ! '' ' " ' ' f men on "-" men, and they " ' '"mplalningly " - ' ' 'unate if they - " "f them. To r.ge.l. and he due a rniisi- 1 ' ' l hied to this, os a mulatto '' ieins. The ' ie eyes of be- ' '" e in creation ' !"i-st and part . i ,.i i or mu P above ht ' ' ii t he io a er ! upon aa 1 this and n.ajesty. ' ' ' time that vtiaiuv was '' '' ''f - mlracu- 'hat there ' pursued ' night of ' sphere ' heaven ' in -he ' reator as ' . :de spate : -'" or all as 'nter hissed ' -' ' p and the ! 1'e'iiousnese magnitude " " unfortun hered Into ' ' heavenward nepieeted ': and com Vl' no cared -a :n now aet ' -ai -ties ? Xo " ' He of t s- ' -.I for l ' meant fu . '. " h- possibly . . ' "'lister, he "ved: but .. '; 1 "' ! a child ., ''ani'p . 1118 ... ' man. She . " "v and had . " kindness . ir. Hst ... ' ' 3 'ie of the r misht not - " one '- i, " ? features :r'i"im-8iied. : . v ,;h golden . , ".i a peeul- . s- "'d like mid -'ta..niy pease; A RATTtEWITn at By CLARENCE ed and her step .was as lithe and graceful aa that of a fawn. Her eyes were bright and sparkling and her Klance would not reveat the aordld heart and degraded ambitions that lurked within. But abe occupied a high position in the community among the members of her own race and their upholding of her conduct . m I n K t hir V. o A nmj.thtnff t n Ar with h haJ ni, "-- ... a ond howl her me. A airange woman wu nis mirifivr, wuciv v I, m v i vi ii as sociated itself with so much of inno cence in seeming harmony. But her disposition, unlike her physical coun tenance, was like her heart and moulded by the Immoral environment in which she dad her being, and this accounted for her cruel treatment of I k... mtxn A a V 1 V I V. Iff Ttllt Tftf 1 O A they uii- ... . 'i'es untouch- natural outcome of earthly existence. '-er here to "Sport's" first recollections of hi .' ,"es sitting troubles dated back to his early child- nght listen I hood for it had been a stormy one t his little and the first Imprint on his infantile . .. ,v, mdii.lv mind had been made ineradicable. . more The Many were the times that he could "" it. diiverv i remember when his mother haa tied him In a little chair before he could barely walk with difficulty while the was out at night and when she would come home in an intoxicated condi tion and vent her wickedness on her son and many were the tiroes that he made the air ring with hia cries a& the ropes ate into his tender flesh or hia mother became more than ordi narily crueL And then, when he got older, she would sepd him out to pick up bottles to exchange for whiskey and she would then take him up the fstreet and he would see her put a bottle In iher pocket and he would go home with her circling ever and anon around her and trying, child that he was to keep away from her. Hia childish mind did not know what the bottle contained, but he learned to know that it meant suffering to him. When she would call him, he would come slinking up fearfully and then retreat in fear of the expected blew. But in aplte of the neglect and abuse heaped upon him, the little fel low waxed strong and aa he began to grow into lusty childhood and hia countenance began to assume the looks of hia mother so much, she be gan to love her son and dreams of referm entered her mind. When "Sport" passed his sixth birthday, he had developed into an almost perfect specimen of chili hood. He resembled his mother in his features; his complexion was of a golJen color, and his hair auburn and curly. His eyes were light blue and his forehead was broad and intellec tual. His mother's grace and ani mal beauty was seen again In the sin gular physical beauty of the son and in the unconscious grace of hie car riage. Thus even in the ascendant lustrum of hia childhood. "Sport" had become a picture of .health and grace. And then the shame of the morher's life dawned upon her and the dreams of reform became more and more In sistent until she could not put them by. At last, the mother's Instinct be-1 came uppermost and aa in all cases mother love triumphed, as It will whether the persons be high or low, j rl-'h or poor, or wise or foolish. She would leave the old life and sacrifice I herself for her son and teach him to grow up a useful and moral citizen. But she must get away from the im ' '. , . ' i moral environment that she had In- iL'h he had not InA . herlted from her parents and which she had almost given her son. She remembered her own hard life in her infancy and vainly hoped that it might be different. That was Impos sible, but ahe could at least save her eon. And thus she moved away to a city fifty miles away and began work ing in a factory to sustain herself and her son. The work was Irksome to one accustomed to live In idleness but she was amply repaid in know in that she was doing It for her son. There was a young mulatto minis ter In the city, and she went often to him for advice. He was one of the yoxingef generation of negroes and had had college training and was conscientiously striving to uplift the members of his race. He was pecul iarly attracted by the woman who came to him and thought that she must have a past but he could never fathom the mystery and she never ,'n timated anything of her past history. Often, he went to her home and was Impressed with her love for her son, but "Sport" did not understand the, sudden change In his mother's treat ment of him, but he was grateful for H nevertheless. The friendship grew into love, and the minister declared his love for her, for the woman was comely and intelligent, but she ans wered him nay, although her love shone In her eyes and he read it aright. He Insisted and she told him all, but he remembered Magdelene and Insisted still and she accepted and they parted happily. But the morning following the con summation of her hopes was followed by a tragedy that blasted her life and threw her son upon the tender mer cies of a world that is not over-fond of outcasts. One of her erstwhile com panions in crime drifted Into the city in one of his periods of debauchery and found her home and called and would call her back to the old "Ife of crime, but she resisted him and when he took her and tried to force her to do his bidding, she drew a re volver and shot Mm down. "Sport" had gone away that morn ing to spend the day in .the country, and when he returned, no one ran to meet him when he reached the door and all waa dark within. He did not know that his mother was In pri son, awaiting trial for murder. He laid down on the floor in front of the -door end wept bitterly and ever and anon a flash of lighting or the rustl ings of the trees would frighten htm and he would cower on the floor. And just aa day began to dawiv he wan dered away and found an empty box car Into which tit crept -and his tired little body found refuge in the peace ful arms of Morpheas. - And whan be awoke, he was In a new city, and here begins the opening of his fight with destiny.. Here, "Sport" lived for six years, and at the beginning of our narra tive. h had reached the age of twelve years. " TKe six 'years spent Tn "Bis new home was years filled with inter esting experiences that took him through all the events in the lives of the negroes, social, amusement, and criminal. He reached the summit of their Joys and sank to the depth of their debaucheries. He did as the. peo ple about him Jid only he waa lit tle happier and more wicked than the REESE SCROGGS others. But hia acts were not thought of by him. His hours were all happy and he found fun, in doing evil as well as m doing good lor the One dkstinct- Ltions between morality and immoral ity were unknown to him. The unin spiring and sometimes degaraded en vironment In which he lived had an effect on him tut eo merry and intel ligent was he .-that be was lov ed and admired by the better class of negroes aa well as by the lowliest. and he was aa Welcome at the dances given by the clobs as at the loweat function "Sport" was known and loved by ail of his people who thought not of his actions, but loved him for his sincere heart. He did not know that he was drifting away for con science he had not. He was a child of the world and was willing to bo one always. Hi little intellect could not grasp the idea of the abul's leap ing from planet to planet and learn ing new lessons In each of them. Ho did not know of a souL He belonged to mother earth. One summer morning, just as the first rays of light began to tinge the eastern horizon, when day's mighty resources were at work marshalling its forces against the gloom and after a stubborn resistance, the darkness was dispersed by the dawn, we see the figure of a little lad about twelve years of age, arising from a box car near the smoke-stack of a large fac tory and slowly rubbing his eyes. Hu chose this as his lodging place for two reasons; firstly, because the smoke btack furnished him heat in the win ter, and secondly, becauae there was a huge whistle on the engine and it awoke him before any of the officers could come to him and run him away. The fireman knew that he occupied the "smoke-stack suite" as he jokingly called It. but he did not care as the lad would frequently alt up with him at night and keep him company, and "Sport" managed to pass his nights comrortaely here. The youth stood arranging his clothes for a few min utes, glancing languidly about city. tn "the world awakes and mankind stands in the arena of activity to bat tle valiantly for existence. Activity is no, only a virtue but a necessity. No thing of excellence is obtainable with out an expenditure or energy. W are placed into a world full of oppor tunities for work and we must labor whether we will or not. Our material bodies crave the chemical elements necessary to their life and without which the body becomes as starved and useless as an aire of wornout soil, and man must obey this law and j Hf. aw. th, wnlrjinK Rafting over labor to obtain fo6d. The floods , and , nml)f.(, tu u un,, PKan ,., come and man must have shelter, andjpijp ine coin waves cause mm to seek heat, and the torrid heat forces him to seek methods for cooling himself. Activity is the struggle of man to:h!, h-rn anr, ,,, nu f,iv adapt himself to nature and by theTh(.n onfk of nls companions passed struggle for that adaptation, he lives. And thus It was with iair rrero, al though he did not understand the laws that made him wish for his breakfast. He stood and drew his belt tighter, smoothed his hair, and then took from his pocket his littla French harp given him by his mother w hom he had almost forgotten by I his time save for a hasy memory of her, and began to sofjly play. "Home, Sweet Home." as he walked down the street in majesty. "Sport" was going to get his breakfast, but he did not know where he was going to get It. At this time, he was a well-developed lad of twelve years, and was as lithe and supple as a deer, and wore the same happy smile that never de serted him. He was dressed In a suit of blue, with a blue flannel shirt with the collar attached and a tie slightly disarranged by his sleep n his box. His step was muscular and rhy thmic and his head was thrown back as he wooed the melody from his In strument, making many useless and extravagant motions with the hands at the same time. Frequently, he took the Instrument from his mouth to answer the friendly greetings call ed to him by his friends ss they went hurrying on to their work in the ear ly morning. But "Sport" was not go ing to work, he was only looking for his breakfast. Finally, he reached the business district of the city and at once went back to the rear of saloons and pick ed up such bottles as he could find. Into every trash can he would Inves tigate and would find many apples and bananas and other kinds of, fruits that had slightly decayed, but these he con sidered great delicacies, and would put them In his pockets to give to hia feminine acquaintances. And when he had picked up all the bottles he could find, he would sell these to the saloon keeper and would then go out and pick up bones and old Iron to sell to the Junk dealer, playing his harp all the time, for he was a lover of music. And when these labors were completed, he would go to a store and buy five cents worth of sar dines and crackers or, perhaps, would get a little cheese to relieve the mo notony and when particularly hungry he would purchase a real ham sand wich at the restaurant conducted by "Sugar Foot" Smith on the .outer edge of "Monkey Bottom." "Sfcort" finished his crackers and his box of sardines while sitting oh the Curb' stone end his duty to the Inner man had been satisfied now and his sole object now was amusement. He wandered down the street until he came to the ancestral cabin of "Aunt Nancy." an old colored woman J about sixty years of age, who waa not ed In the community for her pro nounced garrulous propensities and who had the tongue of men and of angels, plus her share as a woman. "Sport" entered the house and spoke to her and liatened to her "chtn mu sic" as he railed it, for an unbearable period, but his eyes were fastened upon a double-barrelled shotgun on the wall and this waa what he de sired more than anything else In the world, ss he could then go out hunt ing when he pleased and he was waiting for an opportunity to secure possession of it. Presently the old wo man went out of the house for a minute and "Sport" took advantage of the opportunity and slipped the gun from itgarttngf en.JM iJLlanjlJB-gllu waJJLany'herehuthamnationlTe5rt mornTng he had Tost h and In his own language, he ''highball ed" down the atreet. He spent his last few cents for saveral shells and went out hunting, but did not suc ceed In bagging any game and obtain ed nothing but a few terrible Invita tions to stay off of the farmers' lanJa. and our hero became disgusted with the sport and went to a pawn shop to get rid of tha Incumbrance, far he DESTINY & & S knew the value of these shops, child though he was. But the lad had not reckoned on "Aunt Nancy." Any one who had uch a remarkable talent for talking could not be anything but active and ahe was looking for the lad and her own ex perience told her that the pawn shop was the place to go in search of him and just as he walked Into the place, aha came and met him. He started to run, but she caught him and marched him down the street, holding him by the ear. She waa about six feet high and two feet wide and was attired in a three gore calico wrapper- taken in at the waist by a etrip of sheeting. As she walked, her skirts rustled ominously, her mouth opened widely, her eyes glared angrily, and her handa held lovingly the double-barreled shotgun she had come so near losing, as vhe conducted the lad through the street in spite of Jits remonstrances at be ing publicly disgraced. But the stately general made him run the gauntlet formed by the pedestrians on the street at the same time lashing him with her sharp tongue. "Sport" marcn ed slightly In front of her and ever and anon would glance back to re monstrate, but one glance at the de termined face of his captor blotted out all hope and he would continue his march with a resignation full of curses. But when she got him to her home, she did not punish him aa he expected, but took him on her lap and told him he was doing wrong and that he must stop. The old woman loved ihlm ahe said but the lesson waa lost on "Sport" for he did not know any thing of ethics or morality, but he cried as he was grateful to the old woman for not punishing him and she thought that the lesson had been a good one. 'Sport" walked up the street and In ten minutes he had. entirely for gotten the episode He passed a knit ting factory on the way and the fore- man called to him and asked him if I he wanted a lot). The lad thought ! long and seriously on this question. for work had always been one of hia keenest aversions, but he thought of the little yellow girl he loved so well and had dreams of wealth for a min ute and he accepted the place. He was given a job tailing the knapper, which consisted of taking the long rolls of knit cloth from the knapper and pulling it on a long pipe and turning It so that the fleeced side would come on the inside of the gar ments as it should be. The work was arduous to one unaccustomed to toil and ".Sport" soon tired of it. oer it hand over hand. His sans restlessness Increased and he snatches of songs that he had learned frorl. oth-rl, an,i n ten he pulled out on thestreen and "Sport" rained tlio window and hailed htm and tulkcd tot several minutes. There was a large apple tree across the street and "Sport" let down u siring and his companion tied several apples to It and exactly but 'tis a conglomeration of the lad drew them up for he wusieverv dnnee known tn man.- There terRjbly hungry. The belt on Mieiare element of the square (lancp, the knapper came off and the operator dared the youth to put It on and he tried to put it on with his bare hands and was thrown asalnst the building with such force that he said he knock ed three brick out. Then he tired of the Job and fell asleep and the fore- man called him and told him to top strops to put as much activity In their work and get out and the lad was 'rk s they do In their dancing, they only too glad to do this for he ron- would become klnrs In the financial slderej work a failure, and he drew arena. And they wouh? &:a walti an apple from his pocket and left thelan'1 ,n''v peculiar Cunce they factorv .nd almost ran to keen tho thought of his experience there front his mind. Presently he ran past the house of a woman familiarly known as Miss "Pork ("hops," her real name was unknown to apyone save herself, and as he passed, she called him and ex tended him an Invitation to a "dope i sniffing" party at her home which was about to begin. This Is the term applied by the negroes In the South to the habit of snuffing cocaine up the nostrils and in some sections tha practise has come into wide usage among the more Ignorant colorej peo ple. "Sport" promptly accepted the Invi tation and went Into the house. The room where the so-called party was held was a prMotype of hundreds of other negro cabins. It was the only rom in the house and contained a bed. a table and all of the other rude furniture absolutely necessary to exis tence and In one corner there was a washtub and Ironing board that told of the tenant'a vocation. When the lad entered the rom, the dining table had been moved to the center of the room and around this a large number of chairs, stools, and boxes had been placed. The table was bare and there was nothing on It ex cept a saucer rilled with cocaine in the centre of the table. The negroes, both men and women, although the women predominated as they were neighbors of the hostess and had has tily gathered at her home by Invitation when they heard that she had se cured some cocaine, sat down at .he table and the party began The guests reached over and tooklana was about to repair to his apart pinches of the aenesthetic with 'he tips of their fingers and sniffed it up their nostrils. There was nothing visible for a few minutes as the pow erful brain stimulant did not begin to work for some time. But finally the negroes' eyes began to assume a glassy appearance, the drug began to work, and their brains became active. The women put the drug on their ton- goes and presently all the demons inland he took off his coat and went hell could not have equalled their dis courses. They became fools, fanatics, fiends. Never before nor since have women talked so incessantly and un intelligibly. The effect became stronger and stronger snd from a set of peaceable men and women, the crowd passed into the lowest depths of debauchery. No one will ever fully realize the i . I :nfl...nn.l k.. .onuU.mi . llplace he feared tbla drug. The men and women hnulc. , long ago become accustomed to the habit but "Sport" had only recently acquired It and he wanted to get out' walk. He passed out of the cabin and away and walked and walked. He had no particular destination, but hia mlnj told htm to walk and he blindly obey ed. And when fhe effects of the drug finally began to wear away, he found himself la the outskirts ef the town about three o'clock In the afternoon and he hastily retraced his stepa to the business section of the city aa tha tubtjrbs wera not promising for a man ef iiia profession. He reached the business section of the city la about an hour, and just as he passed over the ventilator in front of a store, he saw a ftve-cent piece ahtnlng down on the ground un der the Iron bars. The lad looked at it for a long time, for he needed It. He was Just thinking of where his supper waa coming from and the coin meant physical comfort to him. But how waa he to get It? The coin lay down fully five feet from the aldewalk and he couldn't possibly reacn it. But ne nad lived on the atreet and had learned the secret of life. He darted around to the rear of the store and got a long attck and took some tar off of the axle of a wagon and put the tar on the end of the stick and went back and put the stick down through the ventilator, the coin adhered to the tar. and he drew it up with a light of triumph In his blue eyes. But he was doomed to disappoint ment for an examination ahowed that there was a hole in the coin and It was worthless. He could not hide his discomfiture and walked slowly down the street and finally came to a chew ing gum slot. "Sport" looked at thla for a long time for It contained a statue of an Important personage. Then an Idea struck him. He tied a string through the hole In the coin and poked It In the machine. A block of chewing gum rolled out and with the string, he pulled the coin out again and repeated the operation, and so on until the machine was exhaust ed. Then he filled the hole In the coin with chewing gum and passed It off on a Dago for a bottle of ale. "Sport" was satisfied with his sun- per of chewing gum and ale. espectal aylng" as they vail It! Were the ne whlle drinking the ale, and he wan dered down the street In the dusk looking for other worlds of amuse ment. The lights of the dance hall over a saloon attracted him and he longed to go within but he did not have a single penny, but he hid near the door and presently slipped In when he thought no one was looking. Tfce manager saw him. but dtd not say anything aa "Sport" was qute a per sonage tn the dance hall and was about the best dancer of every de scription the town possessed and he picked up many stray dimes and quar ters for his prowess in th's line and tn the hall he never fHlled to find partners. The hall was situated over a saloon, as stated before, and was devorated with red. white and blue ribbons sus pended from the celling and got Its name from these, for a nero will name everything, generally rrnm Its most noticeable feature, and they call ed this the "Red. White and Blue Dance Hall." One corner was fenced off tn front where one could secure sandwl'hes and counterfeit beer tor a nominal sum and In the middle of the room. the personage who called the figures sat In dignity on an upturned keg eating an enormous sandwich and drinking n bottle of "mighty-near beer as the counterfeit Is sometimes called He called the figures In an Impressive lone and was a man of prominence among the dancers. For tunate. Indeed, was that colored dam sel whom he honored with a dance for his profession occupied most of his time. At the rear of the hall, there was a piano played by a dreamy-ryed negro who played a little by ear and a rent deal by faith, and was aided unci abet ted by a trap-drummer, yut the mti slr was a secondary consideration. It did not necessarily have to ie tn time as'the negroes did not think of that. And the dances! They would tnalte the "Merry Widow" pale Into Insig nificance. There Is no name . for it wpltz, the two-step, the buck and wing dinces. and In fax-t It contains ele ments of every dance Imaginable. And of all the motions they go through. Never before has such activity been seen. Huch side-stepping and "sash saying" as they call It! Were the in ' """" 1 nr.-e-mrp. i ne nin- fashloned Cakewalk was not seen, however, as It has about passed out of style and we no longer see the fnt old colored woman waddling about In the cake-walk she has been super seded by a glngercake cojored belle who prances about In the grddy whirl of the "three-step" and yells lustily for beer and pretsela. The danre was In full swing when our hero entered the hall and the belle of the ball deserted her partner, pos sibly because she wished to arouse Jenlousy in him and also because she loved the lad. and at onre rn to htm. Without a moment's delay they were off over the floor In perfect unison. She questioned him about his experi ences and fascinated him by her la terest in him, for he loved the girl and loved her little sister even more for even the pauper has the right to love and when he does, he Is no longer a pauper, and love Is the un qualified privilege of ell men. And then he danced with others and his time was occupied for he was popular with hts people and was a character well known and well loved. The dance was open to the public and anyone who would might come and partake of Its fascinations and pleasures and the Immoral were as welcome as the pure In .heart and there were as many shady Individuals present as there were' law-abiding cit izens, and It was a standing joke that there were enough concealed weapons In the hall every night to quell a re bellion In Venezuela. But all Joys, no matter how Intense, must have their ending and finally the closing hour arrived and the guests departed. The lad left Immediately ments when down near the steps he spied a bottle of whiskey that had been more than half consumed. He had never begun this habit, but his In controllable curiosity would not let him refuse to drink the liquid. It was strong and had been thrown away by the owner and it did not take long for It to act. His head became dizxy. land his legs reeled from side to side. marching up the road In the business section of the city cursing at the top of his voice at every step. The curb ing soon became lined with people who had remained out late at night, and the lad continued his march un checked, cursing at the top of his voice with the crowd laughing on each side of the curbing. But finally he csme to grief, for a policeman took him In charge, taking him to the one he calaboose. But hts cursing was not diminished throagh thentght and neither plead ing nor punishment could make him stop and when he was brought before voire temporarily from his long talk. and the authorities released him be cause of his age, and people stlTT talk about the experience with laughter In the little city to this day. "Sport" walked out of the court room a free man. It was the first time he had ever been before the court but it was because he had never been caught before and net because he did not deserve to be -' He did not under stand any of the proceedings, biit he was free to go'where he pleased and that was all he wished. The lad repaired to hia sleeping apartments and secured his "shoe shine" box and went In quest of busi ness. He had the box slung over his shoulder and there was a happy smile on his face once more, tor freedom was as necessary to his i:fe as to a bird's for he had grown up on the atreeta. But on the way, he pasaed a number of other boys on a side street indulg ing In the one-card game that Is a pas sion with the negroea and Is the Ethi opian equivalent of poker. It Is known aa "skin" and consists of turn ing over the cards and betting which card will be turned up. "Sport" was Invited to take part in the game and he was too muuh of a sportsman to refuse even if he didn't have but four pennies tn his pocket as a work ing capital, but the bets were only a penny at a time. The boys played for about thirty minutes under the eaves of an old house, afraid of being In- terrupted by the officers, but their fears being more than overbalanced by their passion' for the game, and when the game ' was ended "Sport" had broken the crowd, end had twenty-one cents in his pocket where be fore he had only four, and he crowd ed over his crestfallen brethren In glee and departed from the place with the regal air of a victor. Once more he slung his box on his shoulder and departed tn search of employment. Just as he passed one of the to bacco warehouses in the ctty, he met a farmer from the back country who was slightly under the Influence of li quor and the farmer asked him where he could get a good meal. The lad thought for a few minutes and a twinkle came Into his eyes as he told the farmer he ceuld take him to a place where he could get the best meal In town for twenty-five cents, and the farmer, made weak by drink, con sented to follow htm. The lad led him down the street by the hand until he came to a aide atreet and then he took him Into a negro restaurant under the ground. The far mer sat down and was served and the lad waited on htm. "Sport" looked at the farmer for a long time and saw that he had a brilliant red mustache and black hair, and he told the far mer that he ought to have his mus tache blacked up In style to match his hair. He assured him that It was the correct thing to do In the city and of fered to perform the service for the small sum of twenty-live cents. The farmer was ft poor man and finally told him he didn't care if he did have his mustache blackod and the l td led hlin Into u back room of the restaurant and gave him a chair and pulled his shoe-polish from Its place In the box. He poured some of the liquid on a tooth brush ntnT rubbed It on the brilliant whiskers of the far mer, who looked pleased and content ed, while "Sport" was nearly dying with suppressed laughter. 'hen he rubbed some of the paste on the nius- ta.he and took his rag and shl'ied the mustache In excellent style, anil when the Job whs completed, his face, as well as his mustache, was blacken- ed. Then "Sport" cautiously slipped his hand In the farmer s pocket and drew out a larne roll of money that he had received for his tobacco crop, and darted away; nor did he stop until he reached the suburbs of the city. The farmer was a pnorman and the money received for the tobacco represented his earnmam for the past, season and he thought of bis family at home and of the things he had promised to carry back and h wept bitterly. He searched for te lad and the proprietor1 knew "Sport" and his Pi- unconstrained, forgiving and lov haunts, and finally located him and , fellowship with each other and a on threats from the farmer, the lad I widespread fraternal spirit la the re dug Ihe monev from a Tiole In the suit. It is t his mutual sympathy that ground and returned It to the owner, draws them for sympathy rules the Our hero came back to town verv world, and the negroes actually lose much discomfited over hts failure to 'their personal Identity In the pleas- pcure the monev for It would have ures of the evening. lasted him several months, spend- And while the glorious full moon thrift though he was. It was. seldom rains Its silvery shafts upon the that he got caught In his tricks and colony, the negroes laugh, talk, sing, he hegan to fear that he was not a dance and whistle, and the strange competent man at the business and ! sounds may be heard for blocks a way. the thought wounded his pride. The sounds are curious when heard Tint on the street, he saw a blind ir0 distance and the place might man. poorlv clad and holding a tm, be taken for a colony on the sun-bak-cup in front of him begging for small P'ln" of darkest Africa, after the gifts of monev. and "Sport" passed '"habitants had returned from a sue by and dropped a penny In the cup. vessful depredation and were making for he was not always hard-hearted. I merry. The man took the lad a iand and ' This was the place to which our found thst he was small and of his j hero had determined to bring his own race and he offered him a position girl. There was a home-made merry leading him around the street. Asthere go-round to one side of the real one, was nothing else in sight, and for the , built by taking the wheel off the axle noveltv of the thing, he accepted the of a wagon and driving the end In the position although he was to receive ground, leaving the other wheel at the only twenty cents a day and his board top and here "Sport" generally took and lodging. Hut the other hoys his rides, but to-night he was to en would envy his position, he thought. !joy the real sport, although he had as he went down the street leading a ioften Jumped on the merry-go-round blind man, and he was glad to accept and rode short distances while the the place. And thus for the first owner was not looking, time in six years, he was to leave his Presently, he appeared In sight bed by the smokestack im tie In one decked In all of his new finery, and in a real house. i smoking his cigar as he proudly ",'Sport" continued his duties untlr- i marched his girl through the crowd, lngly for an hour or more but finally 1 He was conscious of. and pressed by, tXe man sat down and felt asleep and the attention he was attracting and he ran around behind the stores In j frequently he would hear people say, sesrch of anything of value he could i "Irdy, look ut dat nigger," as he find. He looked in the trash barrels . passed, and his pride wouli? swell and snd then, when he resrheT the rear 1 he would try to look Important. He of one of the larger tailoring estab- was alao carrying a paper sack filled Ushments. he saw a coat, vest and hat ; with bananas which he had bought lying on the ground, and a wonderful : for his girl and they ha atso Stop coat and vest it was, too. fhe coat pd up street and had some Ice cream had long tails to It that pteased his at the drug store. fancy and the vest was cut by a curl- j He helped his girl on the car and ous pattern. He had seen c-ithes like jwhen the conductor came around, he these at the opera house and had vailed for $12 worth of tickets, for he longed for them, but never berore had .intended to give her the time of her they been thrust In his possession. He jifp. And not onc e during the night wrapped them up in a paper and our- tlSiA they get off the merry-go-round, rled back to the old man who had now ana n, talked to her and told her awoke from his sleep, and the twoltnat some day they would be mar then w ent to the blind man's home. j Txeii anu would answer In her And now we come to the temptation cniidi8h way. Kvery one looked at and fall of our hero, for he did finally 'them and knew them, but no one knew take money from a member of his tn,r namea and no one eared. They own race and one who was as poor as wert! merely two little children that he. and this accounts for hrs death. inad be(,n Ief, t0 ke care of them- When he went home, he saw the old gelv )n ,he WOrld and they managed man take a bag of money from his to do hls ln 80me miraculous way. pocaet ana put u unaer n s pn.ow oe- fore he laid down to take a nap. "Sport" watched him carefully but the old man did not know this, of course, as he could not see. Our hero Intended to take the money, for he was thinking of his new clothes and of the little yellow girl he loved so tl If - W. V-a I . . wen. no wuuiu m lioi oui anu aic i her a good time aven a. white people , n ru.v eh. n.rc of . .i i. i if i. -i.h.a Qlt.4 In h rnr.. patiently until the old man was asfeep and then he carefully took the money from under the pillow. He ran from the house and when, far away, he counted the money and found that he had a small fortune cons!stlng of eighteen sliver dollars and some smaller change, and this would be sufficient to give his girl the best time she ever experienced. "Sport" first went to one of the nu merous "halr-stralghtenlng" houses in the city, where the occupants by a patented pf bcesi, laSethe kinks outT of the hair ef the negroes and make it as straight aa a white person's. There sre many of these houses In the South and their patronage la large, as there is a greet demand among certain classes of negroes for "straight" hair. And when his hair "had been straightened st a cost of one dollar. 1 the l&d carried his dress suit to a stable and donned It there, and when he emerged from the building deck ed tn his new finery, few of his friends would have recogntred -him. The tails of his .coat .dangled to his heels and his Teat was much too large but he cared nothing: for that, for was he not dressed Jo .style? He RUrV 11 IB MIUO UJUU UVUIVI 1VI IUC were all he had, and his blue flannel shirt with the collar attached show ed through the vest HU high hat towered above his head and gave him an air of distinction and he longed for a glimpse of himself in s mtrror. His shoes were old and ragged, now ever, and had many holes In them, , but lye did not Jet that worry him. He -. walked in majesty to a cigar store and purchased a real cigar,' no stubs' for ' him on this occasion, and his toilet . was completed, and he .marched away to a negro section known as "Cramp, Alley" to escort hts girl to rNew Af- T rlca," and his experiences there con stituted the grsnd symphony of his ., life. The people watched Mm with - Inureat as he marched down the atreet and there were repeated peals of laugh- ter when he passed but "Bport".., marched placidly on wlthkthe utmost - composure, cognisant of the Interest ' he waa creating and confident that he was making a profound Impression, i "New Africa" waa the latest negro ' colony rounded in the city ana : u might be said that it grew in a single - night. The colony waa buflt around an itinerant merry-go-round and the . place soon became the cynosure of tha negroes am onions ana pleasures, ana It occupied the same place among the . negroes that the saloons Aid among the French aristocracy. It waa loving ly termed "New Africa" by Its devotees who attended the place In legions. t In the evening, smoke begins to-, boll from the engine and the fiery steeds are set In motion, Oeralny , Christmaa! Wnat a happy time In ' Ethiopia! A procession begins to boil -;, tn from "Happy Hill," "Dog Trot," "Rag Shake," and all the other negro ouiioii mna iiirr sv naru way wfi the negroes drown the sorrows of Ufa In one exhillaratlng, intoxicating revo-, iutlon on the "circle whlsser," aa they ; call it. How they enjoy the garnet . The boys ride forward and backward with difficulty pretending their steeds are war horses; the girls sit sideways and try to look dignified but the light In their ayes show that they enjoy , the game even more than the boys;. and the old men ride their horses in a. loose, listless manner, pretending ' that their steeds are thirty years old and blind In both eyes. The old peo ple and those who have no money stand around and watch the young folks enjoy themselves, and the youngsters run around through ths ;crowd playing tag to the detriment Ol , sundry corns and Dunions belonging to the atuiembled multitude. Who can fathom the depths of mystery and account for the fantastiQ fasclnutlons of this place? They are appealing and powerful. Negroea who haye escaped from the county road force and who have been living the lives of hunted men, secreting them selves from the eyes of people, and ondurlng hunger rather than come to the ,.ly and be caught, surrender to tne fascinations that this place holds ma to tnem and after on, breath of l tnl( BO(.aI atmosphere and one "but nn ln .vh,i.r " thev cheerfullv aur. ;rnrt. , hm,,i ..... , th(. officer who see them and finish their term on the roads with a song on their lips. The reason, though, after all. Is plain. The object of the gathering If pleasure after labor. All have come together for a similar purpose and In a happy mood. The hearts of the ne groes are In sympathetic vibration iw,,h Ml" other, and they are tn nap- . gDort-. dld not even know hia own name. He had known It In time, but had long since forgotten it. The lad was so engrossed tn his plessures that he forgot about the old blind man and hts duty to mm. But I In the meantime, the old man had awakened aa usual and felf under hia . , ... . , V4 g h theimo7nt wM not'larg. It represented his savings for years. lna wnn unur " pmvw m. . a a. J aw. .11.- a was gone. He hobbled up the street with difficulty snd found a policeman, and told htm of his trouble; the of- -fleer muttered something about its being some of "Sport's" work. And while the lad waa still riding on the merry-go-round oblivious to everything except the pleasure ln the t revolving sensation and talking to his v girl and showing his new clothes, the . officer appeared and took htm In charge, and pulled a, great stack of llrkeU from hit pocket that had not been usedT ahd ieo7 Dim to we station where he was accused vy mr oiu n and then locked up to await trial the next morning. He did not fully real- .. ire what they were doing te him t . talked to his girl, who accompanied . him to jail, holding htm by the hand, , He spent the night ln Jail and waa awake most of the night, and tha next j morning, he was arraigned before tha J court. He was asked whether he was
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 2, 1909, edition 1
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