From Hell to Breakfast Page: 9
viii, 214 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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ADVENTURES OF A BALLAD HUNTER
By JOHN A. LOMAX
THE REVEREND SIN-KILLER GRIFFIN, em-
ployed by the State as Chaplain to the Negro convicts
of the Texas Penitentiary System, looked his part. His
grizzly grey hair and mutton chop whiskers, his Prince Albert
coat which almost touched his shoe tops, his dignified and
courtly bearing, his deep and sonorous voice were most im-
pressive. His ministerial manner was further heightened by
a very slow walk, slow speech, and a long, long pause be-
tween questions as if' he were consulting higher powers.
"Reverend," I said, "I hope you will preach your favorite
sermon to the boys tonight. The Captain has agreed for me
to record it, and I plan to deposit the records in the Folk
Song Archive of the Library of Congress. A thousand years
from now people can listen to the words you will preach."
"I'll preach my Calvary sermon," he assented. "Today
is my Easter service."
The two long wings of the dormitory of the Darrington
Farm, near Houston, where the convicts slept, were sepa-
rated by a wide hall. My son, Alan, and I set up the record-
ing machine here, running the microphone cable through the
bars of one wing where the Reverend Sin-Killer had his
pulpit and altar. He stood where his powerful voice could
reach the three hundred convicts lounging on their beds in
their pajamas or peering curiously through the bars at the
strange doings. Some of the more devout worshippers--dea-
cons and preachers out in the free world-were seated in a
circle near the Reverend. At a sign from him the penitentiary
song-leader led them in a swinging spiritual:
Lord, I want to love my enemies in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more humble in my heart ....
When the song was finished the leader invited the "sinner
friends" to come forward to the front seats. No one moved.9
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From Hell to Breakfast (Book)
Volume of popular folklore of Texas and Mexico, including religious anecdotes, stories about Native American dances, stories about petroleum and oil fields, folk songs, legends, customs and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 205.
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Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964. From Hell to Breakfast, book, 1944; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67649/m1/17/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.