"
We found out that most of the ramshackle "nigger" dives were owned by a
former judge ... from which he derived exorbitant rents.
We located all the places where booze was sold, and ascertained exactly
how much whiskey was disposed of in the town's drug stores for "snake
bite" and "stomach trouble." We discovered many interesting
things--that, for instance, "Old Aunt Jennie," who would allow her
patrons any vice, but demurred when they took the name of "De Lawd" in
vain--"Old Aunt Jennie" ran a "house" where the wilder and more
debauched among the students came (in justice to Laurel University, let
me add, very few) girls and boys together,--and stayed for the
night--when they were supposed to be on trips to Kansas City....
Travers and "The Colonel" and I were half-lit for two weeks....
That was the only way to collect the evidence.
I drank but sparingly, as I loafed about the joints and "houses."
Jerome Miller did not drink at all ... and was the spirit and soul of
our activities.
* * * * *
"Senator" Blair came out with a humorous editorial the night before we
were to take the day's charge of his paper.
He headed his editorial "A Youthful Interim ... Youth Must Be Served!"
He was laying down his pen, he wrote, for a week-end holiday ... he had
dug a can of bait and would go fishing, turning all the care and trouble
of a newspaper over to youth and eagerness .
Pages:
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501