SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY by Joe Whatever Prudence Goody sipped her lemonade as she sat on the porch of the stately southern mansion. "It's good of you to see me, Corporal Justice. Your Reconstruction 'Justice Tribunals' have generated a great deal of interest up North." "I'm surprised that word has reached Massachusetts", the black former Union corporal replied. "But I'm flattered that your 'Abolitionist Newsletter' would think my mission important enough to investigate the facts." He savored his lemonade and smiled. "And, of course, I'm doubly gratified that they picked a young lady as lovely as yourself." The blushing Prudence quickly began her questioning: * Is subjecting former slave holders to corporal punishment in the presence of their former slaves justice...or revenge? * Your tribunal exempts men and punishes only lovely young white women. Why? * Is it necessary to strip the women naked for punishment? * Is it true that the male and female ex-slaves laugh, jeer, and play music while their mistresses are punished? * Is it true that, after the punishment, the freed male slaves and your fellow black soldiers use the bound women indecently? As the questioning proceeded, Prudence could tell that her host was growing irritated. Southern men had suffered enough during the War, he explained, and, as an escaped slave, he knew that Southern women had kept the plantation system running during the War. Of course the slaves were allowed to watch; humiliation was part of the punishment. And if the slaves took some liberties with their female owners, it was but a small taste of what white masters had enjoyed for generations. Berween the columns of the porch, Prudence could see ex-slaves gathering in front of the huge oak tree in front of the house. One of them was oiling a worn razor strap, while two others were carefully positioning a rope over a tree branch. It was a hot day, but she felt a ghastly chill run down her spine. She had heard that the vengeful corporal hung proud white women upside down by their dainty feet...naked for all to see. She swallowed, and nervously resumed her questions. * Your tribunal punished white women in Mississippi who had nothing to do with slavery. In one infamous case you punished the daughter of an abolitionist congressman who was traveling south to visit her cousin. "I punish the guilty," Corporal Justice thundered. "And goody-goody Yankee abolitionists who preach of the horrors of the whip from the safety of the North are worse than the Southerners." Prudence looked across the lawn and saw to her dismay that the crowd of assembled ex-slaves and black soldiers was staring directly at her. A muscular, shirtless black stood by the oak tree, grinning evilly at her as he impatiently tapped the razor strap against his beefy palm. "If you will join me at the tree of justice, young lady," the corporal said smoothly, "we'll continue your lesson in Southern hospitality...." Edited by C. Lakewood © 29 August 2003