From the floor above, down the iron stairwell, came floating the voice of Abe:
“Mr. Grady, oh, Mr. Grady!—you tell ’at fool nigger ’oman down thar to git a lawyer—an’ git a damn good one, too.”
§ 38 The Pride of Creative Genius
A colored person of a formidable aspect was arraigned on a charge of mayhem. As Exhibit A, for the case of the prosecution, the mutilated victim of his wrath was presented before the jurors’ eyes. The face of the victim was but little more than a recent site—a place where a face had been, but was no longer.
When the jury very promptly had returned a verdict of guilty, His Honor, pointing to the chief complaining witness and addressing the defendant, said:
“This is the most lamentable example of brutality I have ever seen in a long experience on the criminal bench. Surely no human being, unless he were inspired by infernal influences and suggestions, could deliberately work such wreckage as you have worked upon the countenance of a defenseless and helpless fellow creature. Demons from below surely must have prompted you in what you did. It must have been the devil himself who urged you on.”
“Well, Jedge,” said the prisoner, “come to think it over, I ain’t shore but whut you’re right. As I look back on it now it do seem lak to me ’at w’en I wuz cuttin’ his nose loose frum his face wid a razor, the devil wuz right behind me sayin’ ‘Tha’s right, separate him frum his nose.’ An’ I ’spects it must a been them demons you mention w’ich suggested to me stompin’ out his front teeth.
“But, Jedge, bitin’ off his ear wuz stric’ly my own idea!”
§ 39 The Prompt Response
Of all the stories relating to our colored troopers in their services overseas, I think the one I like best has to do with a brawny black infantryman, who, on his way up to the front for his first taste of actual combat, fortified himself on a full quart of French wine.