Covington High School - Lest We Forget Yearbook (Covington, KY)

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box, when de cuhtain go up, an' I had a paper crown on my head, 'cause I wuz Julius Caesah. I done say de recitation, 'Young Lochinvar come out o' de West,' fo' de other actors appeah, an' den each one of 'em bow der knee, an' I done make a nudder big speech. Aftah dat I tell 'em dey's gwine be a wah, an' de end ob dat act wuz dat deh war all a fuss'n 'bout which one gwine carry mah shield. When Napoleon done draw de cuhtain on de last act, we wuz all a-fight'n, didn't none ob 'em want a die in de battle, an' we had a time a killln each other. Napoleon he say dat dey ought a kill de king fust. Finally I done 'swaded 'em dat de king lib to see all de soldiers dead, an' den I say a sad piece an' commits suicide, an' finally we done all rise up from de dead an' sing 'Mah County, 'Tis ob Thee'. Creati That King Caesar must have been a show worth seeing. I-Iow much time have I, eh P Yo' jes' got three minutes. I'll hab yo' tunic an' robe an' sword all ready fo' yo'. Say, Mistah Mantell, I'se done made some powerful strides since dat first production ob Julius Caesah. I 'spec' I'd bettah call on Mistah McGinnis now. See you latah, Mistah Mantellf' Like his daddy, Julius Caesar had got what he wanted, but it was his good nature that won his employers and every one with whom he came in contact. It was the smile that made it possible for him to realize his wishes. As through the grammar grades he had climbed, his talent grew, likewise his ambitions. I-Iis elocu- tionary extravagances were the attractions of both school and church socials. The wonder grew, till one Sunday morning, in September, it wasihinted around -the congregation that Mistah Julius Cxsah Jones was occupied behind the scenes of a theatah week days. Of course, this had brought forth a severe reprimand from the Reverend Tompkins, but, as Julius Caesar had continue! to be in his customary seat at divine worship, the good shepherd of the Hock had congratulated himself. But in his Sunday dis- courses he aimed fiery missiles at those who have anything at all to do with worldly amusements, and his lamentations over the misuse of God-given talents were meant particularly for Julius Caesar Jones. I-Iappy had smiled her last upon this world, and to Julius Caesar it seemed as though the light had been blown out. for he was alone now. C 57 D

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Come back yeah. Happy quit her ironing and went to the door and sat down on the bench outside to cool off. Look yeah, Julius Caesah, I don't want yo, to get yo' head too full ob dis yeah play-actin' business. I 'spec' de sistern ob Zion would say dat I'se been de instalation ob de devil into yo' mind, but, honey, I can't jes' see how it's wicked to go to de theatah, but de Rev'nd Brud- dah Beecher Tompkins, he can. An' he sets a powerful stock by you, cayse yo, got such a loud voice, an' fine memory. He done tell Mis' VVhite dat he neber in all his life heald a chile yo' age pronounce Bible names so fluently, an' dat it wuz his prediction from de evidences manifested at de present time, dat some day you'd be a great preacher ob de gospel. Julius Caesar looked rather doleful. Dat ain't neah as great as a play-actin' man. Deed it is, Julius Cxsah! But run along, honey, an' get to practic'n fo' yo' show, an' if it's wuth see'n an' I got de time, I'll gib ten pins to see it. She smiled her broadest smile as the little figure in the big pantaloons, with the paper crown on his kinky head, the red shawl under one arm, and the piece of zinc and a few lathes under the other, disappeared around the corner. Dat su'tainly am de beat'nest boy to take up ideas I eber did see, an' he's bound to succeedf' she mused, fo' he's jes' like his daddy, an' when ole Ike set his head on a thing, he got it, but I 'spec' he's got his mammy's good nature, too. Julius Caesah am a mighty fine boy! Mantell sat before the table in his dressing room at the Grand, making up, and as he worked away on the outlines of his Brutus, he could see in the mirror, perched high on a trunk, the queerest, roundest, jolliest specimen of that color-loving race, for there was Julius Ca-sar in a plaid suit, and a striped collar as high as his short neck would permit, a red necktie flamed on the outside of his coat. His dangling feet were enclosed in yellow low-cuts, topped by pea-green socks. His smile and apparel at Hrst glance might indicate that he was rather shallow, but his excuse for his native love of dress was, Mah profession calls fo, it. He was an inimitable story-teller. Yas, suh, Mistah Mantell, I done 'member jes' as well de time we gib de play Julius Caesah, we wa'nt nuthin' mo'n jes' pickaninniesg itis done been fo'teen yeahs ago. I'se hea'd mah mammy laugh an' tell 'bout how I wuz ,a-sittin' up dah on a soap C565

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I'se can't stay yeah by myself no longer: I'se gwine to work to-night, an' maybe - Here he stopped pacing up and down, and went to the bureau and got out his collar and tie. Mammy wuz all de time a smil'ng nuth'n seemed to cloud de sunshine. She done measahed her happiness by what she had, an' I'se all de time a wish'n, so I 'spec' I measah mah happiness by what I habn't got. As he locked the door on leaving, he said, Praps I'll hab somebody's promise, when I come back yeah, dat will cheer dis little place up an' keep me a smil'n.', Cally was one of the ballet mistresses' assistants. She was a yellow girl with a wealth of kinky hair, and her beauty was extolled by her many suitors. Though she had many admirers, she leaned toward certain ones, and Julius Czesar had a good reason to think that he was the favored one of these. In their work behind the scenes they had become acquainted, and he in his own way had just about won her. During the First act he had occasion to make arrangements to see her home. After the play, and their work was over, he soon had Cally in his charge. Mighty glad to see yo' back, Mistah Jones, fo' I'se been powerfully bothered by Mistah Green an' Mistah Link a see'n me home ob ebenings since you've been gone. I see yo' done toned down considerable in yo' apparel. Yo' looks mighty nice in black, though, Mistah jones. Thank yo, Miss Cain. fo' de compliment. I guess I'll take to weah'n black all de time now. Cally laughed. Hfes' cayse I said I liked to see yo' in it P g No, Mis' Cain. I'se done had a sad bereavement, done lost mother. An' den, too, I'se gwinter entah de ministry. Can yo' say yo' like to see me in it, too ?', VVhy, Mistah Jones, yo' don't suhly mean dat 'bout being a preacher P Yas, Mis' Cain, I do. I'se done been called to de ministry, an' dis yeahls mah last night at de theatahf' UI'll miss you., Mistah jones, a powerful sight, but I 'spec' de other gem'men be rather tickled. But, yeah, we're at de gate, Mistah Jones. . Listen yeah, Cally, fo' yo' goes in. I wants to tell yo' some- thing dat de Rev'nd Brudder Beecher Tompkins done say in his sermon. He say, anyding dat yo' lub wid yo' whole heart. dat C 537