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THE BURDEN

MARY WHITE OVINGTON'S story "The White Brute," which appeared in the Masses, has been reprinted for distribution by the N. A. A. C. P.  It is an awful story and tells how a dark bride was taken from her black husband and outraged by white men. The poor, ignorant husband strives to comfort the stricken thing:

"And what good would it have done? It wouldn't have made no diffuence. You'd have had to suffer jes' de same. Listen, honey, I couldn't help you, it'd been jes' de same, only you'd have been lef' all alone.

"But you ain't alone now, Melindy, honey-lamb, you's got me, and I'll toil for you while I lives. I'll help you to furgit. I'll love you and I'll work for you from morn till night. I'll tend you if you're sick lak's if you was my baby chil'. There ain't nothin' I kin do fur you as I'll leave undid. Oh, Melindy, I'm here alive, don't you want me? I'm alive. You wouldn't rather have a dead man than a live one, would you?"

He stopped, panting, and listened for her answer.

At length it came in whispered gasps: "I don't know, Sam, I'm afraid. Every minute I'm afraid."

"Don't be afraid," he cried impetuously, throwing his arm about her. "I'm hyar."

And then he stopped. She had not turned to him, but snuggled close to the wall as if seeking protection there.

Outside were the soft night sounds, the vines rustling against the window, the insects' drowsy chirps. Far off, by some distant cabin, came the howl of a dog.

"A dead man or a live cur," he said to himself; and turned upon his face with a sob.
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"A number of residents of Mulberry Street and Georgia Avenue, in the vicinity of New Street, were considerably aroused over an incident which took place yesterday morning, in which three men and a bull dog in an automobile and a Negro boy on a motorcycle figured, and it is probable that the matter will not only be brought before the recorder but called to the attention of the civil service commission as well.

"The automobile was going up Mulberry Street, closely followed by the motorcycle. Near New Street, it is said, the bull dog jumped from the car, directly in front of the motorcycle and was run over by the latter, the Negro rider being thrown a distance of ten feet and painfully injured.

"According to Will Starr and H. A. Wiggers, both of whom reside near where the accident took place, and to several others who witnessed it, the owner of the bull dog, said to have been a man named Howard, got out of the car, walked over to where the Negro was lying of the paving, kicked him several times and, picking him up, struck him a blow which knocked him down again. Several persons interfered and about this time a policeman appeared.

"According to witnesses, the policeman told the Negro boy that if he did not make himself scarce he would make a case against him and the boy, hardly able to drag himself along, managed to get back on his motorcycle and hurried away.

"A request was made of the policeman to make a case against Howard, but the policeman's reply was that the Negro boy was gone and he did not know where to find him. Several persons volunteered to act as prosecutors in the case, but no summons were given.

"Mr. Starr, one of the witnesses to the accident, wrote a letter of complaint to the civil service commission yester-

THE BURDEN 145
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[[Caption: The Mob at Temple, Texas]]

day, asking that the policeman be called on to explain why no case was made after several persons had so requested."-Macon, Ga., Telegraph.

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"A mob of 10,000 took Will Stanley, a Fort Worth Negro, from the officers soon after midnight this morning and marching him to the public square through the principal business streets, proceeded to cremate him in full view of the populace, which included many women, some of the latter standing on men's shoulders to witness the grewsome sight.

"All along the route the Negro fought savagely and was kicked and beaten by the mob.  Arriving on the square a pyre was constructed of dry goods boxes, barrels and other inflammable stuff secured from the rear of business houses in nearby alleys. Trace chains were used to shackle the Negro."-Fort Worth, Tex., Record, July 31, 1915.

"These pictures were selling for ten cents each on the streets of Waco." (From a letter, Aug 5, 1915.)

"Absolutely nothing has been done.  The Governor claims that he has not been 'officially' notified of the burning. The Negro was accused of murdering some white people. He implicated a white man but the mob burned him without permitting him to tell all." (From a letter Sept 7, 1915.)

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[[caption:  The Crucifixion, At Temple, Texas]]
Reproduced from a post card sold on the streets