%images; ]> lcrbmrp-t1713 Idle moments containing Emancipation and other poems by D. Webster Davis, with an introduction by Hon. John H. Smythe, L.L.B., ex-U.S. Minister to Liberia.: a machine-readable transcription. African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection, 1820-1920; American Memory, Library of Congress. Selected and converted. American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, DC, 1994.

Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.

For more information about this text and this American Memory collection, refer to accompanying matter.

 91-898185 Daniel Murray Pamphlet Collection, 1860-1920, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. Copyright status not determined; refer to accompanying matter.

The National Digital Library Program at the Library of Congress makes digitized historical materials available for education and scholarship.

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 1994/06/10 2004/03/29
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IDLE MOMENTS CONTAINING EMANCIPATION AND OTHER POEMS BY D. WEBSTER DAVIS, With an Introduction by HON. JOHN H. SMYTHE, L.L.B., Ex-U.S. Minister to Liberia. 1895. BALTIMORE, MD. THE EDUCATOR OF MORGAN COLLEGE, BOOK AND JOB PRINTING, EDMONDSON AND FULTON AVENUES.

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Press Clippings:

“In 'Idle Moments' Daniel Webster Davis of Richmond has gathered many of the fugitive pieces, he has contributed to the newspapers of his race or read on public occasions. Mr. Davis is very nearly of the pure African type, with a pleasing countenance, a twinkling eye and an intellectual head. His verse runs to the humorous. 'de Linin' ub de hymns' will show his faculty in this department.

Here is another, 'that Canine.'

But Mr. Davis strikes a higher note. 'Hope' will illustrate this.” T. Thomas Fortune in NEW YORK SUN.

“There has recently been published a book of poems by Professor D. Webster Davis, of this city, which bids fair to be one of the most widely-read books published by a Negro.

“Prof Davis is a Negro of culture, possessing rare ability as a poet, and his equals in his race are very few. “Idle Moments” depict the Negro in his transition stage from slavery to his present station, and is so written as not to offend the most cultured. The humorous pieces are peculiarly delightful, while the ones that are not dialectic display an imagination of such an orders as will place Professor Davis among the list of men who are really poets.” —THE RICHMOND TIMES.

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WEBSTER DAVIS.

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PREFACE.

A serious injustice is done an author when his friends and enemies fail to read his preface. I trust that my friends may at least do me the justice to read why I venture to send these poems forth to the public.

To attempt to write poetry is very generally considered an indisputable evidence of a mild form of insanity, and yet I presume to trust that such is not my case.

No man should trust himself before the public unless he has written something that the public ought to hear, or something that the public wants to hear, and he himself should not constitute the public.

As to the first, I dare not say; as to the second, many have so expressed themselves.

But even with the fear of public criticism, and possibly public censure. I commit myself to its tender mercies.

So many have asked for copies of “Emancipation” and other of my poems; the public press has spoken so kindly of them, that I indulge the hope that they may meet some favor.

Perhaps some line may cheer and help a struggling brother, or bring some light and gladness into a stricken heart but anyway, no line can bring ought but pleasure, as I believe a deep sense of the good, the beautiful and the true can be found on every page. Should the rhyme, the meter or the lines offend they at least are written from the heart.

Your humble and obedient friend, THE AUTHOR.

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Copyright, 1895, By ROSE & DAVIS.

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DESIGNED AND COPYRIGHTED BY R.W. ROSE. “THE NEGRO AS HE IS.”

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Prof. D. WEBSTER DAVIS.

D. WEBSTER DAVIS was born in Caroline Co., Va., March 25, 1862. His parents came to Richmond and he attended the public schools, until he graduated from the Richmond Normal and High School. He served an apprenticeship in a shoe-maker shop, was elected in 1880 to a position in the public schools of this city and has held that position ever since. He has held many positions of honor and trust and but recently has been licensed to preach by the First Baptist Church of this city.

He has shown decided poetic ability, and it is along this line that we propose to dwell. Many of his selections will take high rank. What is more humorous and yet more charmingly pathetic than his “Ole Virginity Reel,” portraying as it does the thoughts of the faithful ones of the past, who exist in the present but long for days, which will never come again.

Ez I set to-night I'm thinkin'ub de days now pas' an' gone, Way down in ale Virginny 'mid de corn; Whar de sweet pertater's bloomin' an' de water-million smiles, Fur down de souf in Dixie I was born: Dat lan' to me is dearer den all on urf besiz, An' I feel the tear drops down my ole cheek steal, Ez I think up by-gone plezures in dat dear ole sunny lan' A dancin' ub de ole Virginny reel.

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Ole 'Lijah wuz de bes' man,—he could cut de piggin wing, An' crack his heels togedder keepin' time; While his teef would look like tom' stones an' his face like 'possum fat, An' ebry knot be stickin' out bebin'; De gals would dress in homespun, wid big ole brogan shoes. An' ef dar feet would teeh you, you would feel, While de boys wore bed-tick breeches, but all dis was forgot. Ez we 'joyed ourselves wid ole Virginny reel.

We quote here from the last part of the last two verses of this pathetic plea:

An' now my banjo's silent ez it hangs upon de wall, My fiddle bow no longer gibs its peal; Fur my playin's too ole fashun fur de dancin' ub to-day, An' I long again fur ole Virginny reel. An' again I sometimes wonder ez I see ya'll hoppin' 'roun' Wid waltzes, lances, schottische, toe an' heel; Ef you really hab de plezure an' as leetle ub de sin, Ez we in dancin' ole Virginny reel.

Those who knew of the earlier life of this talented young man will see a life like portrayal of a condition that no doubt actually existed when in his selection “My Childhood's Happy Days,” he says:

On a cold and snowy morning, when lying snug in bed, “You Webster” was the sound I heard, and wished that I was dead; For I knew I had to make the fires, bring water, and cut wood, And then, perhaps, I might have chance to get a bit of food. When off to school I trotted: these were the pleasant ways In which I spent that festive time, my childhood's happy days.

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DESIGNED AND COPYRIGHTED BY R. W. ROSE. “GINGER SNAPS AND CIDER.”

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SYMPOSIUM.

He grows ecstatic in thinking of his favorite dish, bacon and greens. What is more musical than the following?

Twill take de ole mammies to fix em up greasy, Wid a lot ub good licker an' dumplins between, Take all your fin' eatins, I won't be uneasy, Ef you'll lebe me dat bakin an' plenty ub greens.

You may put me in rags, fill my cup up wid sorrow, Let joy be a stanger an' trouble my dreams; But I still will be smilin, no pain kin I borrow, Ef I still kin git bakin wid plenty ub greens.

His poem on emancipation contained many fine selections. Here is one of the verses:

But God has freed us and to Him we bow in praise to-day, He'll never leave us nor forsake but will protect alway, And, conscious of a heart that's true with purpose brave and strong, We leave our case in those just Hands that cannot do a wrong.

And his “I Can Trust” is fine. Here is a verse from it:

I cannot see why trials come, And sorrows follow thick and fast; I cannot fathom His designs, Nor why my pleasures cannot last, Nor why my hopes so soon are dust, But, I can trust.

His poem on Hoop-skirts is as musical as many of his other selections:

O cruel fate! again to bring, Those awful things in season; To make our girls, the lovely things, Look big beyond all reason: 0011 8So slender now they seem and sweet, Just fit for fond caresses, Why should dame fashion now decree so to inflate their dresses.

His poem on disappointment is excellent. It goes thus:

If love doth give a promise sweet So full of hope and yearning, 'tis turned from blissful waters sweet While we its joys are learning: If wealth or fame or great estate Doth fill our hearts with gladness, Ere we enjoy the hope it brings, Our joy is turned to sadness.

His sentimental nature asserts itself at times and from the deep recesses of the heart he made a confession. He wrote “My Love.” Here is the first verse:

I loved, and earth far brighter seemed, Than, painter's art or poet's dream, To me her smile was lovelier far Than summer noon or evening star: And yet she loved me not, though I Loved her so well I'd hope and sigh.

He returns to his humorous selections when in Pomp's Case Argued, he says:

Pomp stole dem breeches, an' 'lowed 'twont sin, Cause he stole dem breeches to be baptized in: But I douts dat brudders, less argify de cas' Fur we can't hab de young lam's a-fallin' frum grace. May be prid' wuz de kazhun, dar de debil tempts to sin, An' his bedtick breeches won't good nuf fur him; But I moves fur to sclude him fur he nebber had to ought, Ef he stole dem breeches, go an' git hiself caught. JOHN MITCHELL., JR., Editor RICHMOND PLANET.

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JOHN MITCHELL, JR., EDITOR RICHMOND PLANET.

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NOTE. This little booklet containing a symposium and cuts from “Idle Moments” is sent you that we may obtain your subscription and that of your friends. “Idle Moments” is a 12mo. book of 81 pages with leatherette cover and gilt lettering on back. It is printed in three colors, dark blue, light blue and red, A beautiful gift. We shall confidently look for your subscription, and shall be exceedingly thankful for your influence in securing the subscriptions of others.

PRICE, - 50 CENTS. By mail 3 Cents extra. Agents wanted in every locality. Write for terms. Liberal commission. ADDRESS D. WEBSTER DAVIS, AUTHOR. 910 N. 7TH STREET, RICHMOND, VA. OR THE EDUCATOR of Morgan College, Baltimore, MD.