Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1877 — Colored vs. Bald-Headed. [ARTICLE]

Colored vs. Bald-Headed.

Years ago the then well-known firm of W. & Co., Boston, agents for a popular line of Australian packet ships, received a letter of inquiry from Cincinnati. Correspondence followed, and second-cabin passages were engaged for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hatfield, their son Joseph, Jr., aud Miss Blanche, who were politely urged to put in an appearance in Boston on or before May 5, as “the good ship Daniel Sharp, whereof Joseph D. Cushing is master for this present voyage,” would sail on the day following, weather permitting. On the morning designated a young darkey exquisite, sporting a tall hat and ivory-headed cane, sauntered into the elegantly-appointed office and demanded : “ Is dis yer de office of W. & Co, ? ” “Yes, it is,” growled the senior W. from behind his desk, frowning over his gold-bowed spectacles at the intruder. ‘ ‘ Well, sail, me and my folks are gwme out to Melbourne in your ship Daniel Sharp, I” “Not if 1 know it—you are not going to do any such thing.” ‘ * How so, sah ? Didn’t I correspond wid you from Cincinnati, and engage passage for my fodder and mudder and Miss Blanche ?” “What! is your name Hatfield?” roared the dismayed agent. “ Yes, sah, my name’s Hatfield, and—” “ Why in the devil didn’t yon notify me that you were colored ?” “Whyinde debbil didn’t you notify me dat you was bald-headed?” The pertinent rejoinder silenced old W., and, although two or three passengers who preferred to have the color-line drawn outside of a ship’s second cabin gave up their berths and were refunded their passage money, the Hatfields complacently sailed in the Sharp.