Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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4 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL present to the world the character of Uncle Remus.” Says a contemporary writer: “ It is certain that the creation (Uncle Remus) of Joel Chandler Harris has attained a permanent place among the immortal ‘ real folks ’ in literature.” And Mr. Andrev Carnegie tells us: “Joel Chandler Harris has given a helping hand to all the world. He has won the hearts of all the children, and that’s glory enough for one man 1” As perhaps our best delineator of the plantation darky, as the kindly, humorous author, the friend, not only of children, but of all who can appreciate true wit and humor, Joel Chand- ler Harris will long find a resting place in the hearts of the American people. John H. T. Briscoe, ’10.

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THE LOYOLA ANNUAL 3 his fame chiefly rests, are his humorous stories and sketches; though even when the author attempts more serious themes, as he has done in sketching the history of his native State, the reader is delighted by the charm of style of which he was the master. But “ Uncle Remus’s ” life work, the work for which he will be remembered when all his other works are for- gotten, was the creation of the character of the aged negro, full of strange superstitions and fancies, by v hose name the author is now most familiarly known. Opportune was the time when the appearance of the Uncle Remus tales delighted the country. In “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” the public had had pre- sented to them the dark side of plantation life, which, no one will deny, was, at times, the true picture of the life of the slave. At the very time when it could do the most good, at that period when the literary presentation of the other side of slave life was most timely, “ Uncle Remus ” appeared upon the scene. The people saw for the first time the true plantation negro, peculiarities and all. The blood-hound and the lash were for the first time not a part of the stage property. In their place were substituted all the implements of peace. The result was that all parts of the country could enjoy alike “ Uncle Remus’s delightful tales and droll sayings. There v as nothing in the new work to stir up sectional animosity. It was a message of peace. In the plantation negro, the author had to deal with a character of great subtlety. He accomplished his difficult task most successfully in creating and presenting to us the inimi- table character of the aged darky Remus, whose tales of “ Br’er Rabbit ” and “ Br’er Tarrypin ” have delighted two generations of Americans, and will continue to give delight until the sense of appreciation of good nature and humor has died out. The negro is a factor in American life not to be laughed at, whether a factor for good or evil. And certainly he was a factor for good when he gave Mr. Harris the inspiration to

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THE LOYOLA ANNUAL 5 C e Romance of a Carts Ca e. F atty, be it known, was a college student. College had just opened for the first term, and Fatty was about to enter into all the glory of his sophomore year. Last year he had not been able to assimilate much of the city life, as the mighty sophomores kept him under their watchful guardianship. Now all was different. Fatty was no longer the poor, down-trodden freshman; his year of sack- cloth and ashes, and humble submission, was over. Now Fatty, as you may have guessed from his cognomen, was inclined to breadth, rather than height; despite this fact, determined to celebrate his em ancipation, he went to his tailor and ordered a suit of the loudest check pattern that could be found. At last after many v eary days of waiting and telephoning, the suit arrived. It was a most beautiful day and Fatty determined to make the most of it. Some people thought that it was a brass band approaching, but no, it was only Fatty arrayed in his nev7 suit. With a straw hat, encircled by a bright red band, tilted most rakishly over one eye, there could be no doubt as to the upper part of his attire; then came his green shirt.