The Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, January 21, 1938 Page: 3 of 4
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(J.
FRIDAY, JANUARY . 1938
Weekly Short Story-
Henry Dunlap
(Editor's note: Thin short story Is the flest of a series—this publication hopes
to print one each week during the remainder of the school year. Henry Dun-
lap, author ofl this first story, will be placed In charge of selecting and editing
the stories to be used, Students who desire to contribute to this department
may submit their manuscripts to him or to any other member of the staff, or
may leave them in the publications mail box in Room 104 Administration
Building. All stories submitted will bo carefully considered, and the advice
of several individuals, including members of the English department, will be
sought on each selection. The stories should be about 1000-words long, and
if it is convenient to the writer, should be typewritten and double spaced. If
in any issue lack of space prevents the use of a short story, an attempt will bo
made to substitute a poem or some other shorter literary effort. Such contribu-
tions are as acceptable as stories, but are not as likely to be published.)
riE crows thought it was a scare-
crow out there by the rosd. They
laughed raucously. Scarecrows were
not for them; they were far too wise.
When old man Belton's mules came by,
later in the morning, they knew it was
a nigger, Niggers and mules have
sweated together under too many hot
Texas suns not to know each other's
smell, Old man Belton knew it was
a nigger too, but for a different rea-
son. He knew it was a nigger not be-
cause of black skin, for none of that
remained on the bare back, and not
because of short, kinky hair, for that
was still ludicrously covered by a
shapeless, dusty, felt hat, but simply
because they didn't whip men to death
in the Brazos bottom.
«ANE of them damn sharecropper
\| unionists, I'll bet a shirt." He
spat. "Well, I guess this'U teach those
niggers they can't get away with any-
thing like that around here. A new
house for every nigger on the bottom!
Split the crop after the sharecropper
takes out enough to live on! And
schools on top of that! Jesus Christ,
what in hell they think this is, Russia?
They'd have asked for plush lined bath
tubs next. Guess I'll have to take this
guy in to the sheriff, though. Wonder
who did it. Whoever it was sure made
a good job!"
Brushing half - heartedly at the
swarming flies, he laborously dragged
the nigger over the barb-wire fence
where he had been tied, and carried
him down the ditch and up again into
the back of his wagon.
"Phew! He's beginning to stink!
Well, I never saw one of 'em yet that
didn't, no matter if they was dead or
alive." He clambered up on the empty
ammunition case that served as a
driver's seat. "Get up, there!" He
slapped the reins down hard on the
mule's backs. The wagon creaked
through the hot summer morning.
They didn't get to .the. country store
until nearly ten o'clock.
<<1ITELL, well, if it ain't old Jake
W Belton! Hi there, Jake, we ain't
seen you up here in a coon's age.
How's your cotton gettin' along?"
"Hello Luke, hello Sam. Hi there.
Red, whatcha know?"
"Say, Jake, what's that you got in
your wagon back there, under that
bloody sack? Ain't butcherin' your
hogs this time of year, are you?"
"Naw, this is one piece of butcherin'
I didn't do, though it's a right good
job at that. I found him this mornin'
tied'to a fence post on the levee road,
right where Colonel Andrew's land
runs down into the bayou." He reached
back and flicked the sack off the dead
man. "Any of you know him?"
"A nigger!"
"They lynched him!"
"Who done it?"
<ttI7ELL. I'll be God damned! That's
Yl the same nigger that came on
my place about two weeks ago. Causjht
him puttin' up notices about a big
farmer's meetin' next Saturday night
at Navasota. Said they was gonna or-
ganize, or incorporate, or somethin'. I
gave him a kiuk and told him to ,<;et
the hell out o\ there. He left towards
town in a old model T. and I don't
think he camc back. Must've been
workin' out o' Bryan this week, and
got a little too busy stirrin' up trouble
in Colonel Andrew's niggers. I would-
n't put it past the colonel to ha' done
this just to give those bucks on his
farm a good lesson."
"Who ever done it, it was good rid-
dance. My niggers" are lazy enouah as
it is, without bringing' in all this talk
about a sharecropper's union."
"Yeah, mine too."
"That's right."
"Well, boys, what we gonna do with
him? Where's the sheriff"
"He went up to Navasota this week- I
end for the big barbecue they're givin' ;
Why worry when you break your
fountain Pen or Pencil? Just take it
to the Fountain Pen Hospital, they re-
pair all makes. 601 Kress Bldg., j
F. 7918.
over at Hank Jackson's place; His
daughter's gettin' married this week,
you know."
ttVEAH, I know, but what're we
I gonna do with him? I'll be
damned if he's gonna lay in my wagon
till Monday."
"I reckon we better make it out all
legal — with a death certificate and
everything, and then bury him. Ain't
no sense waitin' for the sheriff to come
back. He couldn't even find my red
Jersey heifer that was stole last month,
And you know, I ain't got that animal
back yet?"
"But—ain't we gonna try to find out
who done it? Seems sort of cold-
blooded, seein' the man's been beat
to death."
"What's the use? He was up to no
good—a troublemaker. If Colonel An-
drews is back of this, which is more
an likely, the less done about it the
better for all of us. And anyway,
what difference does it make? He was
just a nigger."
"You're talkin' sense now.'"
"I say he's right, men. Let's bury
him and get it over with. He stinks
worse'n a skunk,"
•THERE was a general murmur of
1 assent, and several of the men,
grasping the corpse by the legs, began
to drag it around to the back of the
store, where the dripping of the cistern
made a place that was always moist
and easily spaded.
"Hold on there! Not so fast. This !
has got to be done legal. We got to
make out the death certificate first.
Johnny, you run in the store and get
me those papers out of my desk in
the second left-hand drawer. No, not
that one, the next one. Yeah, that's
right. Bring 'em here."
"Let's see, birth certificate, marriage
license—um, death certificate—here we
are."
HE looked at the dead man lying in
the road, his black chest and kinky
hair all gray with sunshine and dust
and death. A few flies dotted his face,
mostly around his staring, still-open
eyes.
"Hmm—height—I'd say about six
feet one or two. Weight—what do you
think, Jake? You put him in the
wagon."
"He weighs a hell of a lot—that's all
I know. I like to never got him in."
"Well. I think two hundred wouldn't
miss it far. Don't you think that's
ri^ht, boys? Age—about twenty-five.
I'd say. but you never can tell about
a nigger. And oh, boy, here's a hot
one, fellows — profession. Who ever
heard of a nigger having a profession?
1
THE RICE THRESHER
FACE THREE
Hopeful little lasses perched on
tables and sink in Autry House kitchen
the other night and knotted their
handkerchiefs in anxiety. The occasion
was try-outs at which a cast for
"Spring Dance." the Dramatic Club's
forthcoming venture, was selected.
The gorgeously gowned and careful-
ly coiffed gals showed no signs of in-
dignation when Gable - Puss Piatt,
president of the club, dead-pannishly
beckoned them one by one through
the swinging door. Instead, they daint-
ily plowed their way through the uten-
sils and coyly plopped themselves on
the drainboard to receive the once-
over from Genial Jimmy Terflinger.
director of the mob. One of the plump-
er girls, Fanny, was gently swatted by
the door as she went through, and
took the once-over standing up.
Judging from the acid glances from
frail to frail, and the fierce intensity
with which each girl waded through
the lines of the leading ladies' parts,
(yes, there are five feminine leads)
one would think the part of Scarlett
O'Hara was being awarded.
One of the high points of the even-
ing game when Rita Gay, who had
Ha, ha, that's rich! What'll wo put to
that?"
M|>AMNED bolshevik, ,if you ask me.
1/ Hmm. Idea of him tryin' to or-
ganize the niggers down here. Why,
it was just such as that that started
the clan."
"Bolshevik is as good as any, and
probably a lot nearer the truth than
most. We'll put it down, anyway. And,
oh yes, his name. Boys, run through
his pants pockets and see if you can
find any letters or anything. If you
find any money we'll all split it fair
and square."
The men did so, rolling the stiff
body over on its stomach to get at the
hip pockets. The dirt had caked in the :
butchered back, and one of the farm- j
ers remarked! "Boy, he sure got what |
was oomin' to him, all right."
"Well, what'd you find, fellows? Did j
you get any money?"
"Naw, you might know he wouldn't
have no money. But here's a envelope
that's probably addressed to him.
Sounds like a nigger name."
"Okay, let's have it. What's his
name?"
"His name was Abraham Lincoln
Jones."
been quietly reading over the script,
suddenly jumped up and bawled Mae
Westily, "My Gawd, feel my heart!"
Irl Mowery cheerfully complied, only
to learn that her request was a line
from the play. Louise Roser. dis-
gruntled on account of because she
didn't get the lead, went around hum-
ming "That old feeling" significantly
all evening.
Gable-Puss (Mr. P,) and Genial
Jimmy kept beckoning More-Than-A-
Seeretary Pitkenton into the pantry,
presumably to discuss the possibilities
of the candidates. In these intervals
the applicants unlaxed, primping with
Mrs. Blakes shiny pots and pahs for
mirrors, (pd. ad.) Angela Powers was
seen to leave feet first after sampling
a tasty Super-Suds omelet which
Johnny B-Berger dished up on the
stove.^^vjj'r.'y-;!^'!
At length all the parts were filled,
and "Spring Dance" is well under way.
The east is being kept a deep, dark
secret until after the exams (guess
why), but Phillip Barry's comedy in
which five co-eds swing into action,
each in her own not-so-quiet way,
promises to offer a rare aggregation of
campus faces and figures as well as a
snappy plot. ("The Women" is not
the only play with a bed-room scene.)
THEATRES—
(Continued from Page 2)
spectator a hurricane memorable in
every way.
The production shows just what
Hollywood can do with scenery, and
puts the final touch, if it were needed,
to the superiority «f the screen to thy
stage in grandiose settings.
if the movies ever decide to produce
King Lear. their version, if presented
with wpII-chosen actors, wll be the
greatest that has even been offered.
Lear, as he shouts "spout, you hurri-
ifiitoea. spout," needs a background
such as only the camera can produce
The rest of the picture is generally
considered insignificant, the credit be-
ing piled on the big scone, but Jon
Hall, Dorothy Lamour, Mary Astor, C.
Aubrey Smith, and Raymond Massey
all give excellent performances.
As an athlete, particularly in the
wtter, Jon Hall can qualify in any - i
body's picture.. From one perform-
ance it is hard to say much about his !
acting ability. No criticism can be'
given of his portrayal of the half-
civiliased, honest, sincere native, who
loves freedom and the open air so well
that he cannot serve a six months jail
sentence unjustly imposed upon him,
but attempts at every opportunity to
escape and return to his wife, Dorothy
Ltmour.
Perhaps he was picked to fit the
part, and in that case nothing can be
said about his ability. But if his per-
formance was the result of acting, then
lie is at least a good actor who can
ably handle many roles. '
Convincing also is the performance
of Dorothy Lamour, now almost typed
as a jungle lady, who is a comer al-
ready far along the way and with no
particular limits in sight.
Raymond Massey, as the French
governor of the island, gives a defin-
itely noticeable interpretation of his
part,! that of a man who overrides his
warmer emotions with his insistence
on the supreme importance of the law.
Mary Astor gives a capable per-
formance as his wife, while C. Aubrey
Smith, the priest, turns in his usual
bit of faultless characterization.
Met: Hollywood Hotel
Another musical comedy Is pre-
sented this week at the Met begin-
ning today It's Hollywood Hotel ot
(lie radio fame. The story is woven
chiefly aroiind the radio angle with a
lot of S'-reen stars thrown in for good
measure. Music by Raymond Paigi
and Benny Goodson. In one scene as
many as eight well-know stars are
presented including Marion Davie,•,>,
Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davir,
Olivia De Haviland and a host of
others.
The nicture is a story of inside Hol-
lywood and the leading role is played
by Dick Poweli who is supported by
Ted Healy, Glenda Farrell and Hugh
Hubert. Songs featured are Raymond
Paige's arrangement of "Dark Eyes"
and the old standby of the air show, I
"Blue Moon" and "You Ought to Be j
in Pictures." I
Anyone who gets a kick out of lots j
of song', lots of big name stars, and
little pi it should enjoy this
Kirhy: Fight For Your Lady
"Fight for Your Lady." a rather
amusing picture, comes to ihe screen
:0? the Kirby Theatre Tuesday and
Wednesday.
John1, Boiesi and Jack Oakie, are . co-
Jarred. and Margot Graharne and Ida1
Lupino, featured. Erik Rhodes por- ,
trays the sentimental though blood- J
thiisty duelist whose softer feelings j,
overcome hi* eagerness to dispatch his
adversary with a sabre, when appealed
to by a phoney "Old Mother" of the
latter, who is really a male pal of the
intended victim, in disguise.
The picture starts at the ringside of
a wrestling match in London, when a
wrestler who has agreed to "lie down,"
changes his mind at the crucial mo-
ment and wins, instead of ioslng.l1 '■ ,,
This leads, not to the usual com-
plications of vengeance by a racketeer
mob; but to bankruptcy for his broke
manager. So the manager switches hb
managerial abilities to the handling of
ar American concert singer, while the
wrestler finds solace in the companion-
ship of the singers fiancee, an actress
of gold-digging proclivities.
The action then shifts to Budapest,
where a famous duelist and a; pretty
feminine night club entertainer enter
the scene, with the result that the
vocal star finds himself matched'- for a
sword combat with the formidable
duelist, from which he has scant
chance of emerging alive.
The picture was directed by Ben
Stoloff, and produced for RKO Radio
by Albert Lewis.
Majestic: Thrill of A Lifetime
Shades of Sally Rand! This week at
the Majestic is being shown a real
bubble dance! The fact that it's a
burlesque, in the original sense of the
word, serves only to add to the mad-
cap humor of this uproarous musical
comedy, which features such favorites
as the Yacht Club Boys, Judy Canovn,
arid Ben Blue, Chief love interest in
this production is carried by Eleanore
Whitney and Johnny Downs, who play
the roles of a couple of down and out
vaudevillians looking for their break
Fountain Pen Hospital repairs all
makes of Pens and Pencils. 601 Kress
Bids. F. 7918,
on the Great White Way. How they
get it constitutes the story.
An added point of interest in the
production is the fact that Thrill of a
Lifetime was directed by Fanchon,
Holly woods onl^1 woman producer. Jf
you want to see how female director-
ship works, it might not be a bad idea
i to take in this show.
I, v'
Watches repaired and regulated in
48 hours. No more waiting 1 to 2
weeks. It will B. O. K. if from B. O.
Kreiter, Kress Bldg. Lobby.
Up
TRY PRINCES FAMOUS
HAMBURGERS AND
BARBECUE
4509 Main
3021 San Jacinto
Main at Gray
6215 Harrisburg Blvd.
School Supplies
Stationery
Books - - Gifts
Lending Library
1014 Texas Ave.
ill
/|i
II,
SIP
■
,.V?
Phone P-M22 I,. I). 94
FREDERICK PRODUCE CO.
Buyers and Shippers ot poultry
and eggs
Vernon C. Frederick, President
806 Commerce Avenue
Houston. Texas
GOOD FOOD
yet costs no more
The ORIGINAL
KELLEY'S
Showplarc of the South
MAIN AT BERRY
i iff
till
We trade Pens and Pencils. Match
your pen or pencil, old style or new
style. Fountain Pen Hospital, 601 Kress
Bldg, F. 7918.
WHERE SOME OF THE
GANG IS ALWAYS AROUND
0LDE HEIDELBERG CASTLE
.'5:107 MAIN ST.
A Party Every Night
Fountain Pen Hospital repairs all
makes of Pens and Pencils. 601 Kress
Bldg. F. 7918.
Pig'n Whistle Scores Again
With That New Sandwich
Sensation
Reg. U. S. Pnt. Office
SOLD ONLY AT
tt
1701 j 3018
Main Main
6500 Harrisburg
HEBERT S BARBER
and
BEAUTY SHOP
2 Blocks North of M.L., on Bissonct, 2 Blocks to the Left.
The Dormitory's Shop Phone Jackson 2-1868
Don't Worry About That Haircut Next Week—Get It Now!
_
HAVE YOU HIARD THI CHANT OF
THI TOBACCO AUCTIONEER t
Uiten to "Your Hollywood Parad*
WED., NBC. 9 p.m.
"Your Hit Parade
SAT.,CBS, 9 p.m.
"Your New Parade
MON.thru Ml.. CBS, IMS a. m.
Melody Putilei
MON., NBC, 7i00*7t30 p. m.
(Ml Ctntral Tim*)
M
But Branch Bobbitt, like
so many other independent
experts, prefers Luckies...
"AT AUCTIONS in my warehouse
jT\_ in Farmvillc,North Carolina,;"
says Mr. Branch Bobbitt, "the
higher the tobacco sells for, the
better my profits. So I'm always
glad to see Lucky Strike buyers in
there bidding. They know what
they want and they'll keep bidding
right up until they get it.
"Well —in a cigarette —it's the
tobacco that counts. 1 know to-
bacco and 1 know what tobacco is
in what cigarettes. So that's one
reason I've smoked Luckies toc 5
or Ci years."
Mr. Bobbitt represents the "aris-
tocracy" ot tobacco experts, lie
judges the tobacco that the growers
g ro w. He's im pa rtiai.-n of con netted
with any cigarette manufacturer.
Many Other experts agree with
Mr. Bobbitt. Sworn records show
that, among independent tobacco
experts, Luckies have twice as many
exclusive smokers as have all the
other cigarettes combined.
WHO KNOW TOBACCO
IT'S LUCKIES 2 TO 1
lyiilft!
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The Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, January 21, 1938, newspaper, January 21, 1938; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth230409/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.