THE SOUTH.

NOTES IN THE SADDLE.

BY FIELD-SUPERINTENDENT C. J. RYDER

A colored preacher of the old style stumblingly read for his text, the following:—“Wine is a moccasin and strong drink is a rattlesnake.” The sermon which followed was in keeping with the text which he read. This is sound temperance sentiment even if it is a little faulty as a rendering of Scripture. The question is often asked:—What is the A. M. A. doing toward the grand temperance upheaval of the South? This question has been put to me recently:—“Is the A. M. A. keeping step to the march of present reform, as it did in the great anti-slavery agitation?” An unhesitating yes can be given to this question. In the “Notes in the Saddle,” for June, a few hints were given concerning the part the representatives of the A. M. A. were taking in the temperance movement in Texas. This was only a hint. It was intended as such. Much more could have been said, and truthfully said; for instance:—one pastor of an A. M. A. church is devoting a large part of the summer to stumping the State in favor of the proposed Temperance Amendment to the State Constitution. He goes out under the commission of a committee of temperance workers appointed for the special purpose of stirring up correct sentiments among the people. The colored people are a large factor in the settlement of this question in Texas. This pastor will do his utmost to lead them to vote right. Other pastors and teachers are giving portions of their time this summer to the same good work. In the South at large every A. M. A. school is the center of pronounced temperance agitation. “Bands of Hope” among the younger pupils and temperance societies of various names among the older pupils are the universal rule. The “Three Pledge” cards, including abstinence from tobacco, intoxicants, and profane language, are signed by almost every pupil in the A. M. A. schools. These pupils, when they go out as teachers in the public schools, take these pledges with them, and secure signatures from their pupils, and in this way carry the work far beyond the limits of the enrollment of our own schools, in this aggressive temperance agitation. Not a single pastor of an A. M. A. church uses intoxicants or tobacco so far as my knowledge goes. The example of these pastors, as well as their preaching, is right and safe. In one community, the rigid rules adopted by the Congregational Church concerning these indulgences, brought the other colored churches into line first, and, finally, the white church of the same community found it necessary to take this radical position in order to maintain its hold upon the people. Their wise method of reaching the people and securing a correct public sentiment concerning this question, is made use of both by pastors and by schools. Instruction in Coleman’s and Richardson’s Manuals is provided for in the course of study. Honest, earnest, and persistent Christian effort is put forth by the representatives of the A. M. A. all along the line.

While walking down the streets of Florence, Ala., a few weeks ago, a little white boy came trotting along at my side. We easily fell into conversation. “How old are you?” I said. “Nine years old,” he replied. “What Reader do you read in?” “I never read in no Reader.” “Do you go to school?” “No, sir.” “Can’t you read?” “I can pick out some words right smart.” This is the exact testimony of a Southern white boy of the middle class of society to-day! A few rods farther down the street of the same village, a little colored boy overtook me. I invited conversation with him, with the following result: “How old are you?” “Nine years old, Boss.” “Go to school?” “Oh, yes, sir; been going to school for a long time.” “What Reader are you in?” “The Second, sir.” “Can you read right along in the Bible without any trouble?” “Yes, sir; I don’t have any trouble in reading ’most anything.” This incident is true to the letter. It is not very exceptional. The colored children are improving faster than the white children in the South. If this state of things continues very long, the Southern people will be obliged to hire colored young men and women to teach their white schools. Think of it! “In New York State 55 white men in a thousand, and in Massachusetts 62 in each thousand, make their mark when they sign a document,” says the New York Post, “while in Kansas only 31 in a thousand, and in Nebraska only 30 in a thousand are so illiterate. But in Kentucky 173 white men in a thousand cannot write their own names!” The A. M. A. schools in the South are seeking to correct this appalling state of things. They not only educate, but they inspire also a desire for education in those reached by their influences. It is unfortunate that these influences are mostly confined to the colored people, but that is not because the whites are excluded from our school privileges. “None are so blind as those who will not see.” None are so hopelessly ignorant as those who do not desire to learn.

ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.

The eighteenth anniversary of this institution has just passed. No year in the history of the school, perhaps, has witnessed a broader and better work than that of the year now closed.

The exercises incident to Commencement week were inaugurated with the baccalaureate sermon, preached by Sec. Woodworth, of Boston, Sabbath morning, May 22d, in the chapel of the University, packed to the full with the students and their friends.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were occupied with the usual examinations of the Normal and College departments, in the presence of the State Board of Examiners appointed by the Governor for that purpose. Every opportunity was given and taken to test the students in their thorough knowledge and mastery of the subjects reviewed; and it is but simple justice to them and to their teachers to say that they bore the test superbly. In addition to the ordinary school work, there were exhibitions in handicraft of various kinds. First came an exhibit in the principles and practice of wood-working, including carpentry and turning, which would have gratified the advocates of manual labor connected with our public schools.

Next came an object lesson, by the Senior and Normal classes, in nursing. They brought in, upon a stretcher, one of their own number, and illustrated how different kinds of bandages should be made and applied; how plasters and poultices should be mixed and spread, and also how deftly and easily the clothing of the sick bed could be changed and renewed without removing or disturbing the patient.

Then came an exhibit in artistic and scientific cooking, by the Senior Normal class. If the quality of the cooking were to be judged by the rapidity with which the different articles disappeared after reaching the hands of the committee, it must be pronounced a great success.

And last, but not least, came a look at the farm, and an inspection of the barn, the crops, and the stock. The conclusion was that the whole establishment was a credit to the State, and worthy of the study of all the farmers thereof.

At the close of the examination on Wednesday, P. M., the school assembled in the chapel to listen to the report of the examiners on what they had seen and heard. They had nothing but praise to bestow on the literary work of the University; the evidences of hard and accurate study; of clear, inspiring teaching, and of the scholarly bearing and quiet, orderly spirit in all departments of the school. They were specially gratified with the manual training given in so many directions, and its promise of future value to the State. One of them, who seemed to voice the feelings of the others, said: “I believe that, take it all in all, Atlanta University is the best-equipped school in the State of Georgia.”

Wednesday evening, Rev. A. D. Mayo, of Boston, delivered a very able and quickening address, taking for his theme: “American brains in American hands.”

Thursday was the great day of the feast, when five young men and six young women delivered their orations or read their essays from the Commencement stage. The services were held in the Second Baptist Church, before an audience of twenty-five hundred people. One of the examiners remarked at the close that he never before witnessed, on such an occasion, such perfect order and decorum. And of the orations and essays it is praise enough to say that not one of them contained a weak or foolish thing.

It will interest the friends of Atlanta to learn that the presidency, made vacant by the death of the lamented Ware, two years since, was filled by the election of the Rev. Erastus Blakeslee, of New Haven, Conn. Mr. Blakeslee was a classmate at Yale College of Mr. Ware and of Prof. Bumstead, who has been acting president during the past year; and it is believed he will enter heartily into the spirit of the institution, and will bring to it new enterprise and enthusiasm and power.

C. L. W.

CLOSING EXERCISES AT STRAIGHT.

A Young Men’s Christian Association has been organized during the year, and the first of our closing exercises was a public meeting of this association, conducted by its officers at Central Church.

Addresses were made by Prof. Olds and Rev. Dr. Berger, and a fair audience was present. This was on the morning of Sunday, May 25, and on the evening of the same day the Baccalaureate sermon was preached by Dr. Berger. It was a grand sermon, and was listened to with profound attention by a large audience.

On Monday evening the societies, the old “Sumner Literary Association,” which is almost as old as the school itself; the “Philomathian,” of later birth, but great usefulness; the “Band of Mercy” and “Band of Hope,” united in a public anniversary meeting. A programme, consisting of recitations, orations, reading of essays, and debate, was presented, and a large audience testified to its entire success.

The annual concert and exhibition came on Wednesday evening. The young people were greeted by a full house, and money enough was realized to nearly pay off the indebtedness on the printing outfit. The music was conceded to be excellent, and all the exercises were applauded.

Friday was Commencement. The exercises are held in the evening, as most of those interested in the school being working people, many who would desire to attend could not do so in the daytime. In New Orleans, especially in summer time, audiences are not noted for assembling early, but people have come to know that when Straight University says 7 o’clock, that is the hour when exercises will commence; and as soon as the doors were open, the crowd was ready to go in. No such an audience ever before occupied that church. At the opening of the doors nearly enough were there to fill the main audience room, and soon galleries, aisles and doorways were packed. It is estimated that a thousand people were present, and a great number were unable to get in.

Formerly, on all gatherings of this kind, it was found necessary to have a force of policemen present; but when getting my permit from the Mayor, I was asked what policemen would be required, I ventured to say “none,” and I am rejoiced to be able to say that during the entire series of meetings no disturbance of any kind occurred. It must be remembered, in order to give force to this, that Central Church is situated in the very heart of the most densely populated portion of the city.

It was a long programme, but so quiet and attentive was that dense audience, that every word could be heard in any part of the room. The exercises from the platform were such as we were proud of, and the audience was not less a subject of pride.

Ten students were graduated, the largest number ever completing the course in any year, and all their exercises were marked by a simplicity and force quite in contrast to the floridity and fluffiness often attributed, and sometimes with justice, to the colored people. Some fine music by the choral and glee clubs, and by individuals, gave variety to the exercises.

The diplomas were presented by Hon. Thomas J. Woodward, vice-president of the board of trustees. A few remarks were made by President Hitchcock and Secretary Chas. Shute, followed by a neat and forcible impromptu address by Rev. A. E. P. Albert, D.D., an alumnus of Straight; closing by singing “The Heavens are Telling,” by the choral club, and benediction by Dr. Berger. Of the graduating class, all but one will for the present engage in teaching; several hope to return and take post-graduate courses. All are working Christians.

R.C.H.

TWO EXAMPLES OF PERSEVERANCE.

The current talk concerning the Negro makes the entire race to consist of improvident ne’er-do-wells, with no care for the future and with no power of denying present gratification for future good. Whatever of truth or falsehood this assertion may contain, and probably it has much of both, very many instances of perseverance come under our observation among our students in the schools of the A. M. A.

A. H. is an orphan girl of about eighteen years, whose desire for education brought her into our school a few months last year. By hard work and careful saving through the summer, she earned enough money to keep herself in school a year. At the close, however, of the first month she brought her books to my desk, saying she must leave school at once; and the poor girl broke down, and began to cry. Little by little I learned the story: Her aunt had been sick, and A. had given to her the earnings hoarded for the year’s tuition. It was now impossible to get the money back, or even enough to meet one month’s demands, and A. had resolved to go out into the country, where she could earn a little by picking up potatoes. By hard work she hoped to save enough to return again at Christmas time. The next day it was my pleasure to send her word that for the present she might remain in the school with free tuition. On Monday she was again in her place, grateful and studious, and kindly offering to give up her desk when the room became full, and herself take a stool or a chair.

In one of our advanced classes there is a young man of nearly thirty years, whose story is equally interesting. In the spring he thought he should not be able to return to school this fall, for lack of money. He went out, however, resolved never to spend an idle day; he would work, even if wages were low. Whenever he failed to secure better work, he went to the woods, splitting rails. Days and days he worked there, through the heat, and found that, by arduous labor, he could clear exactly thirty-five cents a day! “I should have kept on,” said he, “had it been but twenty-five!” The result of his summer’s work was that he found himself, at school time, with more money saved than at any previous fall; and now he is again at his place, studious and faithful, volunteering even to work extra hours each day and Saturday, in the Industrial department, for the sake of the practice with tools.

Instances might be multiplied, but these two are sufficient to show the industry and the sacrifice of many of the scholars, and the need in our schools for a fund to help such to secure the education they desire.

A TEACHER.