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PORGY
73

hind Porgy came the sound of Archdale's voice:

"All right, Frasier. Out with it. The gentleman who has come down to improve moral conditions among the negroes thinks you are a menace. He is going to have you indicted for granting divorces illegally."

In a voice very different from the one in which he had arraigned Porgy, Frasier began:

"I fin' so much nigger onsattify wid dere marriage, an' I hyuh tell ob a t'ing dey calls divorce."

"Yes?" encouraged his questioner.

"So fuh a long time now I been separate dem wid a divorce wut I mek up fuh de pu'pose. An' he go fine, Boss. I done mek too much nigger happy."

"Have you one of the papers with you?"

Silence; and then Archdale's voice again.

"'I, Simon Frasier, hereby divorce Rachel Smalls and Columbus Devo for the charge of one dollar; signed, Simon Frasier.' Well, that is simple enough. Where did you get this seal?"

"I done buy um from de junk-shop Jew, Boss."

"Don't you know there is no such thing as divorce in this State?"