Rose Brown

Twentieth century is moving too fast for the good of the people, according to Texarkana's foremost exponent of "slavery days", Rosella Brown , known to hundreds of Texarkana as "Old Black Rose ". Claiming to be more than a hundred years old, Rose has seen much of life, and has drawn a few conclusions from her own experiences. A philanthopist by nature, many hungry children have been fed and clothed through her generosity.Mrs. John Lane of Texarkana tells the following story, which exemplifies the integrity and honesty of this old soul, who, until the last year or two, drove her "garbage wagon" through the business district of this city collecting trash, singing in most audible tones as she went "there comes Old Black Rose , with a wort on her nose   Several years ago a cyclone descended upon the neighborhood in which Rose lived, doing a great deal of damage, demolishing Rose's home. The Red Cross and people of Texarkana came to the rescue of the sufferers restoring their houses and providing food and clothing enough as far as possible. After receiving her quota of aid Rose found that she still lacked $40.00 of having enough money to complete her home. In her possession was a jersey cow that she prized very highly. To obtain the required amount of money necessary for the restoration of her home, she mortaged her cow. Religiously she paid on this mortage until the amount was reduced to $15.00. The man to whom whe owed the $15.00 died suddenly. A few days after his death, Rose , true to her reputation for honesty, came forward and gave the widow the money explaining to her that, "I'm payin' you dis money mistis, 'cause I wants my soul to be as clean for payin' as Mars John was for helpin' dis pore ole nigger." No one could have more correct conception of religion that this old character, her definition being "'Ligion is jus a great big bundle of love."When questioned as to whether this world was "going to the dogs", the aged Negro replies with her homely philosophy of living, "No sir, de worl ain't goin' to de dogs, dey ain't nuthin' wrong wid de worl', it's jus' de folks what is wrong. Dey goes too fas' in dey cars, and de wimmen gits de lung trouble from too much powder whut dey breathe while dey tryin' to look pretty. I likes to ride in de cars, 'cause dey goes fas', but ain't nuthing like slavery days. We didn't go so fas', but wasn't none of us killed from turnin' over on a mule."Rose condemns the present day woman's make-up. "If de good lawd had a wanted 'em painted he would have done it hisself." "Cause it makes 'em look purty, an' dey is sum of dem whut sholy needs it, but when dey powder dey nose, de powder go up dey nose an' settle on dey lungs, dat is why do many of dem looks lak dey got de "Three B's" De Lawd he color de flowers, he color de sky and effin he wanted de women all colored up he'd done it hisself.""I sholy would like to go back to slavery days", said "Aunt Rose ". "Foks didn't starve to death den. De Marsters tuk care of em, and in good years every'body had money and new clothes from de comisary, and dey had fun too barn dances and hay rides. Now dey folks is starvin' and dey ain't nobody whut cares. De folks don't walk 'umble lak dey did when I was young.""Goin to hebbin is lak goin' from here to Dallas. Deys more an one train an you don't ride enny of em effen you don't get your ticket. Iffin you stay on de right train you'll sholy git to Dallas, but if you switches or takes de wrong train you may not git dar at all, or if you do it will be a long time. A long time ago mah Marster tole me a story 'bout de Hoppergrass and de Inch-worm, 'cause dey was both tryin' to git to hebin." De Hoppergrass got dere so soon de Lawd was 'sprised and he say "How did you git here so quick Hoppergrass?" The Hoppergrass he arched hisself an said "I didn't want ter cook my legs so I jumped over de hot places." Some time later de Inch-worm cum crawlin' up an de Lawd say "Why is you so late Inch-worm?" De Inch-worm say, "Lawd mah tracks is all behind me, when I got to de hot places I jus' walked through 'em." And dat's de way I is "I'se a Inch-worm crawling in dis ole worl an' I'se crawled through a lot er hot places, but I'll git up yonder some day."Several months ago the report was circulated that Old Black Rose was dead, so authentic seemed the report that the Texarkana Gazette published the sad, but later proved false, news on the front page of the paper, and the many tributes of respect paid to this poor old colored woman showed that time well spent in any and all environments merits honor and respect.The report, however, was a false one and the next day Rose very much alive was highly amused over the erroneously reported demise, also most highly gratified and pleased over her "bituary".And though dim her eyesight, feeble her step this relic of by gone days carries on keeping up as far as her slender means will permit her philanthopies, and dispensing her homely philosophies of life and quaint observances of these and by gone days.