civilization of a city by inspecting its book-stores; but during a long day in Louisville I could not find a single one. No doubt I failed to look in the right place; but I certainly perambulated the leading business streets. I was reminded of a couplet from I know not what poet— 30Let me hasten to add that in all the other cities I visited I found one or more fairly well-supplied book-stores. 30 For reasons I have elsewhere stated at length, an American barber’s shop is an abomination to me. |Tonsorial Sarcasm.| Among the least of its terrors is the interminable time occupied by the disgusting processes to which you are submitted. However, I had time on my hands in Louisville, and, being a vagrant with no fixed abode, had no conveniences for shaving myself. So I ventured into a “tonsorial parlour.” |Tonsorial Sarcasm.| | | I was “attended” by a white “artist”; for this is one of the trades from which the negro is being rapidly ousted all over the South.[11] “Have you special seats for coloured people in the street-cars here”? I asked my torturer. “No,” he replied, “we haven’t. They can sit wherever they please. And, what’s more, they won’t sit beside each other, but insist on plumping themselves down alongside of white folks. If I had my way, they’d ride on the roof.” I need scarcely remark that, as American street-cars 31have no outside seats, this was an ironical recommendation. 31 It was with some hesitancy that I offered a tip to this champion of the dignity of the white man. But he showed no resentment. I had been recommended to call on Mr. A. B. Shipton (I alter the name), a coloured lawyer of some prominence. |A Negro Lawyer.| Entering his office, I found a man of aquiline features and tawny rather than brown complexion, carrying on a conversation through the telephone. From its matter I gathered that he was talking to his wife; and this conjecture was confirmed when he, so to speak, rang off with two sounding kisses into the instrument. The trait was characteristic; for the domestic negro is very domestic indeed. |A Negro Lawyer.| |
Prev.
Back
Top