Eugene O'Neill

“ De fuss an' de glory part of it, dat's only to turn de heads o' de low-flung, bush niggers dat's here. Dey wants be big circus show for deir money. I gives it to 'em an' I gits de money. [With a grin.] De long green, dat's me every time! [Then rebukingly.] But you ain't got no kick agin me, Smithers. I'se paid you back all you done for me many times. Ain't I pertected you, an' winked at all de crooked tradin' you been doin' out in de broad day. Sho' I has—and me makin' laws to stop it at de same time! ”

“ Patent leather laced boots with brass spurs, and a belt with a long-barrelled, pearl-handled revolver in a holster complete his make up. Yet there is something not altogether ridiculous about his grandeur. He has a way of carrying it off.]
JONES— [not seeing anyone— greatly irritated and blinking sleepily— shouts.] Who dare whistle dat way in my palace? Who dare wake up de Emperor? I'll git de hide frayled off some o' you niggers sho'! ”

“ I has de silver bullet moulded and I tells 'em when de time comes I kills myself wid it. I tells 'em dat's 'cause I'm de on'y man big enuff to git me. No use'n deir tryin. And dey falls down and bumps deir heads. [He laughs.] I does dat so's I kin take a walk in peace widout no jealous nigger gunnin' at me from behind de trees.
SMITHERS— [Astonished.] Then you 'ad it made—'onest?
JONES—Sho' did. Heah she be. [He takes out his revolver, breaks it, and takes the silver bullet out of one chamber.] Five lead an' dis silver baby at de last. Don't she shine pretty? ”

“ He is a tall, powerfully-built, full-blooded negro of middle age. His features are typically negroid, yet there is something decidedly distinctive about his face —an underlying strength of will, a hardy, self-reliant confidence in himself that inspires respect. ”

“ I'se still heah, ain't I?
SMITHERS— [Smiling at his secret thought.] They're dry right now, you'll find out. [Changing the subject abruptly.] And as for me breakin' laws, you've broke 'em all yourself just as fast as yer made 'em.
JONES—Ain't I de Emperor? De laws don't go for him. [Judicially.] You heah what I tells you, Smithers. Dere's little stealin' like you does an' dere's big stealin' like I does. For de little stealin' dey gits you in jail soon or late. For de big stealin' dey makes you Emperor and puts you in de Hall o' Fame when you croaks. ”

“ And dere all dem fool, bush niggers was kneelin' down an' bumpin' deir heads on de ground like I was a miracle out o' de Bible. Oh Lawd, from dat time on I has dem all eatin' out of my hands. I cracks de whip and dey jumps through.
SMITHERS— [With a sniff.] Yankee bluff done it.
JONES—Ain't a man's talkin' big what makes him big—long as he makes folks believe it? Sho', I talks large when I ain't got nothin' to back it up, but I knows I kin fool 'em—I knows it—and dat's backin' enough fo' my game. And ain't I got to learn deir lingo and teach some of dem English befo' I kin talk to 'em? ”