the crisis, vol. 10, no. 6. (october, 1915)

The CRISIS Vol. 10—No. 6 OCTOBER, 1915 Whole No. 60

O N E D O L L A R A Y E A R T E N C E N T S A COPY

$b ife PUBLISHER'S CHAT Q gjj The N O V E M B E R number of the CRISIS is our F I F T H A N N I V E R S A R Y

N U M B E R with a history of our work and an important announcement which our friends will welcome:

Pictures of our staff and offices and good fiction.

The N E W O R L E A N S number originally announced for November will come a little later so as to allow a better selection of material.

Get ready for the beautiful C H R I S T M A S CRISIS, the H I S T O R I C A L A N D S T A T I S T I C A L C A L E N D A R and the C H R I S T M A S C A R D !

A Selected List of Books These prices do not include postage. Postage extra.

HAZEL. ( M a r y W h i t e O v i n g t o n ) $ 1 . 0 0

T H E AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EX-COLORED M A N . ( A n o n y m o u s ) 1 .20

NORRIS W R I G H T CUNEY. ( M a u d Cuney H a r e ) 1 .50

A NARRATIVE OF T H E NEGRO. ( L e i l a A m o s P e n d l e t o n ) 1 .50

SOULS OF B L A C K FOLK. ( W . E . B . D U B o i s ) 1.25

T H E W H I T E M A N ' S BURDEN. ( T . Sh i rby H o d g e ) 1 .00

R A C E A D J U S T M E N T . ( K e l l y M i l l e r ) 2 . 0 0

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H A L F A M A N . ( M a r y W h i t e O v i n g t o n ) 1.00

A F T E R M A T H OF SLAVERY. ( W i l l i a m S inc l a i r ) 1 .50

JOHN BROWN. ( W . E . B . D u B o i s ) 1.25

NEGRO IN A M E R I C A N HISTORY. ( J . W . C r o m w e l l ) 1.25

PRINCE H A L L AND H I S FOLLOWERS. ( G e o r g e W . C r a w f o r d ) 1 .00

LIBERIA. ( F r e d e r i c k S t a r r ) 1 .00

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Address THE CRISIS, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York

Mention T H E CRISIS

T H E C R I S I S A R E C O R D O F T H E D A R K E R R A C E S

P U B L I S H E D M O N T H L Y B Y T H E N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N F O R T H E A D V A N C E M E N T O F C O L O R E D P E O P L E , A T 7 0 F I F T H A V E N U E . N E W Y O R K C I T Y

Conducted by W . E. B U R G H A R D T DU BOIS

AUGUSTUS GRANVILLE DILL, Business Manager

Contents Copyrighted, 1915, by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

Contents for October, 1915 PICTURES

C O V E R . Portrait of Louis C. Scales, Jr. Page Selected Pictures of Seventy-Nine of Our Baby Friends Pictures From Hayti 272 " T H E DROP SINISTER" After the painting by Harry W . Watrous 286 GROUPS OF CHILDREN 269 & 300 " T H E V E R D I C T . " A Cartoon By Lorenzo Harris 295

ARTICLES FOLK L I T E R A T U R E OF T H E N E G R O By A . O. Stafford 296 H O W T H E SPIDER W O N A N D L O S T NZAMBI'S D A U G H T E R . A

Negro Folk Tale By M. N. Work 301 T H E B L A C K M A N ' S SOUL. A Poem By James D. Corrothers 304

DEPARTMENTS A L O N G T H E C O L O R LINE 267 M E N OF T H E M O N T H 274 O P I N I O N S 276 E D I T O R I A L

Parents and Children By the Hon. A . H. Grimke 288 N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N FOR T H E A D V A N C E M E N T OF COL

O R E D PEOPLE 293 W H A T T O R E A D 302

TEN CENTS A COPY; ONE DOLLAR A YEAR FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTIONS TWENTY-FIVE CENTS EXTRA

RENEWALS: When a subscription blank is attached to this page a renewal of your subscription is desired. The date of the expiration of your subscription will be found on the wrapper.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: The address of a subscriber can be changed as often as desired. In ordering a change of address, both the old and the new address must be given. Two weeks' notice is required.

MANUSCRIPTS and drawings relating to colored people are desired. They must be accom-panied by return postage. If found unavailable they will be returned.

Entered as Second-class Matter in the Post Office at New York, N. Y.

264 T H E C R I S I S

Knoxville College Beaut i fu l Si tuat ion. Hea l th fu l L o c a t i o n . T h e Bes t M o r a l and Spiri tual E n v i r o n ment . A Sp lend id Intellectual A t m o s phere . N o t e d f o r H o n e s t and T h o r o u g h W o r k .

OFFERS FULL COURSES IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS: COLLEGE, NORMAL, HIGH SCHOOL, GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND INDUSTRIAL.

GOOD WATER, STEAM HEAT, ELECTRIC LIGHTS, GOOD DRAINAGE. EXPENSES VERY REASONABLE.

OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-HELP.

Fall T e r m B e g a n Sep tember , 1915 FOR INFORMATION ADDRESS

President R. W . M c G R A N A H A N K N O X V I L L E , T E N N .

A D V E R T I S E R

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL An Episcopal boarding and day school for

girls, under the direction of the Sisters of St. Mary. Address:

T H E S I S T E R - I N - C H A R G E 611 N. 43d St. W . Philadelphia, Pa.

AVOID BAD SCHOOLS EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME UNDER OUR EXPERT teachers

Courses for Adults PUPILS RECEIVED AT ANY TIME. WRITE to

Educational Extension School, Box 3194 Station F, Washington, D. C Highly Endorsed- Financially Responsible.

AGENTS WANTED

WILEY UNIVERSITY MARSHALL, TEXAS

R e c o g n i z e d as a co l l ege o f the Firs t Class

b y T e x a s and L o u i s i a n a State B o a r d s o f

E d u c a t i o n . H a r v a r d , Y a l e and Co lumbia

represented o n its facul ty ; s tudents gath

ered f r o m ten dif ferent states.

Strongest Music Department in the West M. W. DOGAN, Pre»idenl

FISK UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, T E N N .

Founded 1866 Thorough Literary, Scientific, Educational,

Musical and Social Science Courses. Pioneer in Negro music. Special study in Negro life.

Ideal and sanitary buildings and grounds. Well-equipped Science building.

Christian home life. High standard of independent manhood and

womanhood. For literature, etc., write F A Y E T T E A V E R Y M c K E N Z I E , President

THE AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL* COLLEGE

of

North Carolina (Formerly the A. & M . College)

T h e 22d annual session began

Sep tember 1, 1915. B o a r d , l o d g i n g

and tuition $8 .00 per mon th . F o u r

year courses leading to trade certificates. F o u r year co l l ege cou r se s

leading to degrees o f B a c h e l o r o f

S c i e n c e in A g r i c u l t u r e and B a c h e l o r

o f Sc i ence in M e c h a n i c s . For catalog or further information

Address President Dudley, A. & T. College

GREENSBORO, N. C. MENTION T H E CRISIS

Atlanta University Is beautifully located in the City of Atlanta, Ga. The courses of study include High School, Normal School and College, with manual training and domestic science. Among the teachers are graduates of Yale. Harvard, Dartmouth and Wellesley. Forty-six years of successful work have been completed. Students come from all parts of the South. Graduates are almost universally successful.

For further information address President E D W A R D T. W A R E

A T L A N T A , GA.

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE (Formerly Atlanta Baptist College)

A T L A N T A , G A College, Academy, Divinity School

An institution famous within recent years for its emphasis on all sides of manly development—the only institution in the far South devoted solely to the education of Negro young men.

Graduates given high ranking by greatest northern universities. Debating, Y. M. C. A., athletics, all live features.

For information address J O H N H O P E , President.

T H E CRISIS A D V E R T I S E R 265

School of Medicine of Howard University Including

Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutic Colleges 1867-1915

Stephen M . N e w m a n , D . D . , Pres ident E d w a r d A . Ba l loch , M . D . , D e a n

T h e F O R T Y - E I G H T H A N N U A L S E S S I O N wil l begin O c t o b e r 1, 1915, and con t inue eight mon ths .

R e q u i r e s f o r admiss ion to M e d i c a l Co l l ege t w o years o f co l l ege w o r k inc lud ing c o u r s e s in ino rgan ic and o rgan ic chemis t ry , quali tat ive analysis, phys ic s , b i o l o g y and either F r e n c h o r G e r m a n . Ful l c o r p s o f instructors , wel l equ ipped labora tor ies , unexce l l ed hospital facil i t ies.

For catalog or information concerning Medical, Dental, Pharmaceutic or Post-Graduate courses write

w. c M C N E I L L , M.D., Sec Fifth and "W" Street., N. W. Washington, D. C.

The Cheyney Training School for Teachers C H E Y N E Y , P E N N S Y L V A N I A

U n d e r the m a n a g e m e n t o f the Soc i e ty o f F r iends . Beaut i fu l ly located, healthful , wel l appoin ted , and wi thin easy reach o f a great variety o f educa tional insti tutions, pub l i c and pr ivate , ex t end ing f r o m W e s t Chester to Ph i l ade lph i a ; represent ing a w ide range o f educat ional p rob lems and pract ice .

T h i s s c h o o l offers to y o u n g c o l o r e d men and w o m e n w h o have a reasonable s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l prepara t ion , and w h o earnestly desire to b e c o m e teachers, carefu l ly g r a d e d cou r se s in a cademic w o r k , domes t i c science, domes t i c art, manual craf ts and agr icul ture . F o r teachers o f expe r i ence and intending teachers it offers a lso a s ix w e e k s ' s u m m e r - s c h o o l cour se dur ing the months o f July and A u g u s t . Tu i t i on is free. B o a r d , l odg ing , heat, l ight and laundry pr iv i leges are of fered f o r nine mon ths f o r $100. T h e cha rge fo r the same dur ing the s u m m e r - s c h o o l cou r se is $15 . W r i t e f o r part iculars to

L E S L I E P I N C K N E Y H I L L , Principal


266 T H E CRISIS A D V E R T I S E R

The National Rel igious Training Schoo l

"I cordially commend the school's interest and needs to all who believe in the Negro race and in our obligation to help promote its intellectual, moral and religious uplift."

REV. DR. CHARLES H. PARKHURST, New York City.

IT IS M O R E T H A N A M E R E S C H O O L IT IS A C O M M U N I T Y OF S E R V I C E A N D U P L I F T

Its influence is destined to be felt in all sections of the country in improved Negro community life wherever our trained workers locate.

Settlement workers, missionaries for home and foreign mission fields, Y. M. C. A. and Y. W . C. A. secretaries and district nurses receive a comprehensive grasp of their studies under a Wellesley graduate and experienced co-workers and actual every-day practice through the school's S O C I A L S E R V I C E D E P A R T M E N T .

W e aim also to create a better qualified ministry. Industrial training, advanced literary branches, business school. Thirty-two acres; ten modern buildings; healthful location. W e can accommodate a few more earnest, ambitious students. Communities requiring social workers should write us.

For catalog and detailed information address: P R E S I D E N T J A M E S E. S H E P A R D

National Religious Training School Durham, N. C. The school has no endowment fund and must raise a yearly maintenance fund

of $15,000 for running expenses. Won't you help us this year?

"The White Man's Burden" An Unusual Novel

W o u l d y o u like to read an interest ing s to ry o f the day w h e n the N e g r o race wil l lead c ivi l izat ion ? T h e n read

T h e W h i t e M a n ' s B u r d e n By T. SHIRBY HODGE

Published by the Gorham Press, Boston

PRICE $1.00. Postage 6 cents Can be had at the office of

THE CRISIS, 70 Fifth Avenue

" I have read this b o o k wi th interest and r e c o m m e n d it t o m y f r iends . It has a fine lesson in its breast w h i c h is v o i c e d in the c o n c l u d i n g l i n e s : ' T h e whi te man ' s bu rden is h imself . ' " W E B D u B o i s


N E W YORK

ALONG THE COLOR LINE M U S I C A N D A R T

ON A u g u s t 6th at the A u d i t o r i u m -A r m o r y , At lan ta , Ga. , the 6th an

nual M u s i c Fes t iva l w a s held unde r the auspices o f the G e o r g i a M u s i c Fest ival . T h e solois ts w e r e M i s s R a c h e l W a l k e r , s o p r a n o , o f Cleve land , O h i o , and M r . R o l a n d W . H a y e s , tenor , o f B o s t o n , M a s s . T h e d i r ec to r w a s M r . K e m p e r H a r r e l d o f C h i c a g o .

O f the fest ival , the At lan ta Constitution s a y s : " T h e r e w e r e those present w h o had heard Ca ruso , A n n a Case and o the r g r a n d o p e r a stars, w h o haza rded the s tatement that the H a y e s - W a l k e r c o m b i n a t i o n w a s equal ly pleasing. H a y e s s h o w e d unusual con t ro l o f his v o i c e and in e v e r y song , s o m e o f them difficult, he s h o w e d remarkab le skill.

" R a c h e l W a l k e r , w h o has sung b e f o r e rulers o f E u r o p e and attracted m u c h attention, easi ly sustained her reputat ion last n ight . L e d b y A l i c e L a C o u r , a jub i lee s inger o f m a n y years ' expe r i ence , a c h o r u s o f m o r e than 100 sang a n u m ber o f the N e g r o me lod ie s and one o r t w o o f the heav ie r n u m b e r s . "

( [ M r . R o l a n d W . H a y e s , the jus t ly adm i r e d tenor , filled a n u m b e r o f engage men t s du r ing the s u m m e r that inc luded T u s k e g e e Institute, F l o r e n c e , S. C , and W a s h i n g t o n , D . C. H e w a s assisted by his regular accompanis t , M r . Charles J. Har r i s , o f B o s t o n . M a s s .

M m e . An i t a P a t t i - B r o w n , o f C h i c a g o , Ill, and M i s s Rache l W a l k e r , o f C l eve land, O h i o , t w o s o p r a n o solois ts o f note , we re heard at a conce r t g iven du r ing the supreme session o f the K n i g h t s o f Phyth ias wh ich w a s held at C o l u m b u s , O h i o , A u g u s t 15-20. M r . L o i s B . D e p p o f Springfie ld , O h i o , and M r . L e r o y H . G o d m a n , C o l u m b u s , O h i o , w e r e the assisting artists.

O n A u g u s t 6th a party o f N e g r o and Indian students f r o m H a m p t o n Institute, V a . , g a v e a conce r t at Ba r H a r b o r , M a i n e , in the villa o f M r s . John S. K e n n e d y . Ernes t Schel l ing , the no ted pianist, w a s a m o n g the pat rons . {^Musical America ment ions a Cradle S o n g f o r v io l in wri t ten by Clarence C . W h i t e as be ing a w e l c o m e addi t ion to the viol in teachers ' list o f teaching p ieces and as a display o f m e l o d i c taste and g o o d k n o w l e d g e o f the viol in on the part o f the c o m p o s e r .

( [ A t the annual recital by pupils o f M r s . F . H . S n y d e r at St . Paul , Minn . , " T h e Tungle F l o w e r , " " A l m o n a " and " N i g h t o f D r e a m s " by H . T . Bur le igh w e r e a m o n g the songs presented.

M i s s Sarah M a y Ta lber t o f Buffa lo , N . Y . , a recent graduate o f the N e w E n g l a n d C o n s e r v a t o r y o f M u s i c , B o s t o n , Mass . , w a s heard in an interest ing p i ano recital o n July 16th at St . Pau l A . M . E . Church , St. L o u i s , M o . A feature o f the even ing w a s an address b y M r s .

268 T H E CRISIS

M a r y B . Ta lber t , o n " T h e Call o f the H o u r . " ( [ T h e c o l o r e d peop le o f N e w Or l eans have jus t o rgan ized the S y m p h o n y O r chest ra wi th 25 m e m b e r s . M r . Pau l Beaul ieu is Pres ident , ft Isaac H a t h a w a y , the scu lp tor , has several p ieces o n exhib i t ion at the Panama E x p o s i t i o n . ftA c o m p a n y in Pensaco la , Fla. , a ims to p r o d u c e plays o f N e g r o l i fe wri t ten by c o l o r e d peop le . T h e first p r o d u c t i o n wil l be " T h e Dea th H o u r . "

m S O C I A L UPLIFT

M R S . A L I C E D U N B A R wil l devo t e m u c h o f her t ime to W o m a n

Suff rage . ft Severa l N e g r o c o m m u n i t i e s w e r e d e scr ibed at the recent Business L e a g u e c o n v e n t i o n ; a m o n g them, Ti tusvi l le , V a . , G o u l d t o w n , N . J., and M o u n d B a y o u , M i s s .

T h e Peop le ' s Institute, N e w Y o r k City, has opened a c o m m u n i t y cent re at P u b l i c S c h o o l 189 w h i c h is in a c r o w d e d district , la rgely N e g r o .

T h e c o l o r e d peop le o f Phi lade lphia are o p p o s i n g the e lec t ion o f Joseph P . R o d g e r s as distr ict a t torney because o f his unfa i r atti tude.

T h e Nat iona l Baptist C o n v e n t i o n met in the E igh th R e g i m e n t A r m o r y , Chi c a g o . T h e str ife be tween the part isans o f Pres ident E . C. M o r r i s and D r . R . H . B o y d threatened a ser ious rift in the o r ganiza t ion . J. A lbe r t A d a m s , a c o l o r e d man , has been elected a lderman in the four th w a r d in Ba l t imore .

T h e Clara F r y e Hosp i t a l in T a m p a , F lo r ida , named fo r its f o u n d e r and president , is d o i n g a needed w o r k . ( [ G e o r g e E d w a r d Cannady , t w o years o ld , appeared in the I rv ing ton , O r e g o n , m i m i c floral parade du r ing the R o s e Carnival . H e w a s the on ly c o l o r e d chi ld in the parade and m o v i n g p ic tures o f h i m were s h o w n in a local theatre and pos t cards sold on stands. ( [ T h e M a y o r and Chie f o f P o l i c e o f N e w H a v e n . Connec t icu t , have refused to permi t the "Bi r th o f a N a t i o n " to b e s h o w n there. A n appeal wi l l p r o b a b l y be taken to the cour t s . ( [ M r . Char les F r e d e r i c k H e a r t m a n , a

whi te N e w Y o r k e r , has jus t f inished a c o m p l e t e edi t ion o f Phi l l i s W h e a t l e y ' s w o r k s . T h e first v o l u m e is a b ib l io g raphy , the s e c o n d v o l u m e con ta ins her p o e m s and letters and the third v o l u m e r e p r o d u c e s s ix b r o a d s i d e s in facs imi le . M r . A r t h u r A . S c h o m b e r g w h o has he lped in this r emarkab le w o r k wil l wri te an a c c o u n t o f it f o r T H E CRISIS in the nea r future. ( [ T h e E igh th In fan t ry o f the I l l inois Na t iona l G u a r d u n d e r C o l . D e n i s o n has spent a w e e k in c a m p at Spr ingf ie ld , I l l inois .

C o l . John R . Marsha l l , f o r m e r l y the head o f the E igh th I l l inois R e g i m e n t , has been admi t ted to the c iv i l ian c a m p o f the Fede ra l g o v e r n m e n t . A t first there w a s s o m e ques t ion o f c o l o r but this w a s qu ick ly s w e p t as ide . ( [ O v e r 10,000 p e o p l e ga the red at the o p e n i n g o f the L i n c o l n Jubi lee and E x pos i t ion at C h i c a g o . G o v e r n o r D u n n o f I l l inois w a s the ch ie f speaker and B i s h o p Samue l F a l l o w s p res ided . A m o n g the o ther speakers w a s D r . J. W . E . B o w e n . M u s i c w a s fu rn i shed b y a c h o r u s o f 1,000 and the E i g h t h R e g i m e n t B a n d . T h e e x p o s i t i o n c o n t i n u e d d u r i n g the first t w o w e e k s o f S e p t e m b e r . ( [ O n m o t i o n o f the c o l o r e d a lderman, DePr i e s t , o f C h i c a g o , M o n d a y , A u g u s t 2 3 d w a s m a d e a legal ho l i day in h o n o r o f the H a l f Cen tu ry A n n i v e r s a r y o f N e g r o f r e e d o m .

( [ C o l o r e d so ld iers o f D o u g l a s , A r i z o n a , have s u c c e e d e d so far in keep ing the "B i r th o f a N a t i o n " film f r o m be ing s h o w n in the loca l p ic tu re houses . T h e r e are 9 0 0 N e g r o so ld iers and 2 ,500 whi t e soldiers in the c i ty at present . ( [ J o h n S i s c o , a N e g r o b o y , rescued a whi te girl f r o m d r o w n i n g in the swol len Passa ic r iver jus t at the e d g e o f the e ighty f o o t Grea t Fal ls . T h i s is another reason f o r in te rvent ion in H a y t i . ( [ T h e S o c i e t y o f A m e r i c a n Indians held its annual mee t ing at K a n s a s U n i v e r s i t y , L a w r e n c e , K a n s a s .

( [ O n the oppos i t e p a g e w e g i v e t w o n a m e s : Russe l l L e e o f D e s M o i n e s , I o w a , has m a d e such a r emarkab l e r e c o r d in the pub l ic s c h o o l s that he de serves especial m e n t i o n ; G w e n d o l y n Bennet t has been an h o n o r pupi l in Har r i sbu rg , Pa.

A L O N G T H E C O L O R L I N E 269

CALIFORNIA C A N A D A

RUSSELL LEE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WISCONSIN

G W E N D O L Y N B E N N E T T

P E N N S Y L V A N I A A R K A N S A S

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

270 T H E CRISIS

M E E T I N G S

THE Nat iona l M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n held its seventeenth annual mee t

ing in C h i c a g o wi th 500 delegates . Dr . U. G . Da i l ey o f C h i c a g o , a g radua te o f N o r t h w e s t e r n , w a s elected pres ident . ( [ T h e c o l o r e d E l k s m e t in C h i c a g o . ( [ T h e U n i t e d States O r d e r , o f O d d Fe l l o w s , Dis t r ic t G r a n d L o d g e , N e w Y o r k , at their s ix th biennial mee t ing e n d o r s e d W o m a n Suff rage . ( [ T h e s ixteenth annual c o n v e n t i o n o f the Nat iona l N e g r o Bus iness L e a g u e w a s he ld in B o s t o n w i t h 7 0 0 delegates f r o m 30 states. T h e L e a g u e e lec ted the f o l l o w i n g officers : B o o k e r T . W a s h i n g t o n , P r e s i d e n t ; Char les Banks , F i rs t V i c e P r e s i d e n t ; E m m e t t J. Sco t t , S e c r e t a r y ; J. C. Nap ie r , Cha i rman o f E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e . ( [ T h e fifth biennial c o n v e n t i o n o f the G r a n d B o u l e , S i g m a P i Phi fraternity, met in St . L o u i s . ( [ A r t h u r H o l m e s , o f Jersey City, w a s the ope ra to r w h o sent the wire less m e s sage to P res iden t W i l s o n , o n the open ing o f the L i n c o l n Jubi lee. ( [ G o v e r n o r W a l s h o f Massachuse t t s , m a d e a st irr ing address at the Bus iness L e a g u e c o n v e n t i o n in B o s t o n .

m E D U C A T I O N

DR. C. G. W O O D S O N spoke o n early N e g r o s c h o o l s at the T o w e r Hi l l

Cong re s s , he ld in W i s c o n s i n . ( [ T h e G e o r g i a at tempt to p roh ib i t w h i t e teachers in c o l o r e d schoo l s fa i led, but the A l a b a m a bill is still pend ing . ( [ M i s s G l a d y s Caut ion s tood s e c o n d in a g r o u p o f 1,500 applicants at a recent munic ipa l c ivi l se rv ice examina t ion fo r p l a y g r o u n d w o r k in N e w Y o r k City. B e c a u s e o f her rat ing her n a m e w a s p laced on both the N e w Y o r k and B r o o k l y n el igible lists and she has been appo in ted to the p l a y g r o u n d at the B r o o k l y n end o f B r o o k l y n B r i d g e . ( [ E d w a r d M o r g a n , a c o l o r e d b o y o f s ix teen, w h o g radua ted f r o m the N e w t o w n H i g h S c h o o l o f E lmhurs t , N . Y . , last June, r ece ived a N e w Y o r k Un ive r s i t y schola rsh ip and a s i lver meda l . H e w a s pres ident o f his class .

T h e twel f th annual session o f the Na t iona l A s s o c i a t i o n o f T e a c h e r s in

C o l o r e d S c h o o l s has b e e n he ld in Cincinnati . T e a c h e r s f r o m 25 states w e r e in a t tendance and J o h n H o p e o f At lan ta , Ga. , w a s e lec ted pres ident . T h e mee t ing was unusua l ly success fu l and m a r k e d a grea t a d v a n c e o n f o r m e r ga ther ings .

C. M . B a x t e r , a res ident o f R e d l a n d s , Cal. , has lef t a third o f his estate va lued at $ 5 3 , 0 0 0 to the A m e r i c a n M i s s i o n a r y S o c i e t y o f N e w Y o r k f o r educa t ing "the c o l o r e d p e o p l e w h o have been so w i c k e d ly o p p r e s s e d . "

( [ M a c k M u l l e n o f Ca l i fo rn ia , left $30 , -0 0 0 to a s c h o o l f o r c o l o r e d y o u t h at O k o l o n a , Miss i s s ipp i , o f w h i c h W a l l a c e A . Batt le is pres ident . ( [ T h e W i l b e r f o r c i a n s , a W a s h i n g t o n o rgan iza t ion o f f o r m e r W i l b e r f o r c e students, is pe t i t ion ing wi th B i s h o p s ' Counc i l o f the A . M . E . C h u r c h to m o d e r n i z e the un ivers i ty and m a k e it the central inst i tut ion o f the c h u r c h . ( [ T h e c o l o r e d c lub w o m e n o f A l a b a m a p r o p o s e to start a r e f o r m a t o r y f o r c o l o r e d gir ls . T w o acres f o r the s choo l w e r e dona ted b y M i s s Corne l i a B o w e n at their recent sess ion. Seve ra l years a g o these same w o m e n started a r e f o r m a tory f o r c o l o r e d b o y s , w h i c h the state has s ince taken o v e r . C C o l o r e d p e o p l e o f Ph i lade lph ia are still fighting the B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n to p revent segrega t ion in the s c h o o l s and a change o f c u r r i c u l u m des igned to effect the N e g r o s c h o o l s a lone and train servants and l abore rs .

( [ V i r g i n i a has t w e l v e c o l o r e d publ ic h igh s c h o o l s o f w h i c h t w o h a v e fou r yea r c o u r s e s . T w e n t y - s i x p r iva te schoo l s enrol l the fol lowing- s t uden t s : f o r ty - s ix in p r o f e s s i o n a l c o u r s e s ; fifty-two. in co l lege ; three h u n d r e d and twenty- three normal , 1,606 h i g h s c h o o l pupi ls and 3,141 g r a m m a r s c h o o l pupi l s , a total o f 5,442 students u n d e r 2 9 2 teachers . T h e c o l o r e d s c h o o l p o p u l a t i o n o f the State is 2 1 7 , 7 6 0 ; the en ro l lmen t 1 5 1 , 3 7 3 ; the seating capac i ty o f the s c h o o l houses , 106 ,191 .

m E C O N O M I C S

THE G r a n d L o d g e o f c o l o r e d M a s o n s A o f A l a b a m a co l l ec t ed $ 1 5 6 , 9 1 2 last

yea r chief ly f o r e n d o w m e n t insurance . ( [ E x p e r t s f r o m the D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u cat ion o f the Fede ra l g o v e r n m e n t wi l l


c o n d u c t a state w i d e survey in D e l a w a r e a long soc ia l lines and wi l l also inc lude the N e g r o p r o b l e m in their w o r k .

T e n yea r s a g o there w e r e only about 25 N e g r o fa rmers in C o l o r a d o and s o m e 75 f a r m laborers . In M a y 1910 N e g r o e s began m o v i n g in and n o w in W e l l s C o u n t y 6 0 c o l o r e d famil ies have 15,000 acres , and in eastern and southern C o l o rado there are s o m e 500 c o l o r e d families o n fa rms and 2 ,000 fa rm laborers . A p r o s p e r o u s N e g r o t o w n k n o w n as the Deerf ield Set t lement is be ing built up .

T h e year b o o k o f the S tandard L i f e Insurance C o m p a n y s h o w s g r o s s assets o f $ 1 3 5 , 0 6 8 ; a reserve fund o f $22,545 ; capital s tock fully paid in o f $ 1 , 0 0 0 ; cash i n c o m e dur ing 1914, $69,025 and $1 ,205 ,000 w o r t h o f insurance in f o r c e D e c e m b e r 31st. 1914.

P E R S O N A L

R O B E R T N . W O O D o f N e w Y o r k Ci ty is ser ious ly ill.

Char lo t te Y o r k e w a s fo r 4 4 years a w o r k e r at the C o l o r e d O r p h a n A s y l u m o f N e w Y o r k City. She b e g a n work-there as assistant nurse at the age o f 17 years and at he r death had been h o u s e keeper f o r 3 0 years .

T h e R e v . W i l l i a m M a d i s o n o f M o n t g o m e r y , A l a . , has jus t finished rais ing $50 ,000 to pay fo r his church .

W . C. H a n d y , the N e g r o c o m p o s e r o f the ce lebra ted " M e m p h i s B l u e s " has recent ly put on the marke t the "Hes i t a t ion B l u e s " w h i c h bids fair to outr ival his f o r m e r w o r k . H a n d y is leader o f a band in M e m p h i s , T e n n . ( [ M r . J ames D . Cor ro the r s , the wel l k n o w n poe t , has left the Bapt is t Church and b e c o m e pas tor o f the S e c o n d Pres byter ian C h u r c h o f W e s t Chester , Pennsylvania .

T h e b o d y o f the late D r . M . C. B . M a s o n lay in state in Cincinnati at the t ime o f his funeral and w a s v i e w e d by h u n d r e d s o f whi te and c o l o r e d ci t izens. B i s h o p Har tze l de l ive red the e u l o g y .

M r . R . C. B r u c e , assistant superintendent o f s choo l s o f the Dis t r ic t o f C o l u m b i a , still cont inues ser ious ly ill f r o m his recent au tomob i l e acc ident . C M . W . B u l l o c k , the f o r m e r footbal l star o f D a r t m o u t h , g ives up his Atlanta

l aw prac t ice to teach at the A . and M . Co l l ege , N o r m a l , A l a b a m a .

T h o m a s W a l l a c e S w a n n , secretary o f the L i n c o l n E x p o s i t i o n at C h i c a g o , has been dismissed under charges .

Pres ident M . W . D o g a n o f W i l e y Univers i ty was brutally assaulted by whi te soldiers as he was pass ing th rough Texas City to rescue his fami ly f r o m the

Galves ton flood. H e w a s finally r e scued by his chauffeur w h o m the soldiers thought w a s whi te .

T h e R e v . C. W . Mosse l l , a p rominen t A f r i c a n M . E . minister o f Ba l t imore and bro ther o f D r . N . F . M o s s e l l , is dead.

m F O R E I G N

DR. M A J O L A A G B E B I , D . D . , P h . D . , has been elected pres ident o f the

C o m m u n i o n o f A f r i c a n Churches in W e s t A f r i c a , d i rec tor o f the N i g e r B a p tist U n i o n and cha i rman o f the c o n f e r ence o f Y o r u b a Bapt is t Churches . H e is a fine schola r and one o f the mos t forcefu l m e n in A f r i c a .

John G. Russel l , a f o r m e r m e m b e r o f the Cle f C lub , N e w Y o r k City, has enlisted in the Bri t ish a rmy .

M a j o r Char les Y o u n g and M a j o r W i l son Bal la rd have aided P r o f . Frederick-Starr o f C h i c a g o Univers i ty , in gett ing together the L iber ian exhibi t f o r the Lincoln Exposition, in Chicago. Mayor Wilson Ballard of the Liberian front ier fo rce has res igned after three years ' se rv ice and has been succeeded by M a j o r W i l l i a m F. Y o r k . Capt. E . T . H a w k i n s has res igned and re turned to the Uni ted States. Y o u n g c o l o r e d men of educat ion , mili tary training and phys i cal fitness can secure appoin tment to this f o r c e b y wr i t ing M a j o r Charles Y o u n g , at M o n r o v i a .

Fur the r details have c o m e to us c o n ce rn ing the concess ions m a d e to c o l o r e d people in the Danish W e s t Indies . M r . A b r a h a m Smith is not a m e m b e r o f the Danish legislat ion but C r o w n m e m b e r o f the legislat ion o f St. T h o m a s . T h e r e are three such m e m b e r s of the Colonia l Counc i l of St. C r o i x today , Mess r s . Pret to , L e v y and McFar l ane . ' T h e r e have been fo rmer ly c o l o r e d m e m b e r s o f the Counc i l elected by popu la r vo t e but never b e f o r e have c o l o r e d men been ap-

272 T H E CRISIS

H A Y T I

poin ted by the C r o w n . Hi the r to , the whi te poli t ical bosses o f St. C r o i x have he ld all the financial, industrial , c o m merc ia l and poli t ical p o w e r . T h e y have even con t ro l l ed the g o v e r n o r . T h e c o l o r e d peop le finally a w o k e f r o m their s tupor and sent M . B . H . Jackson , a y o u n g man o f 32, d i rect to D e n m a r k and d e m a n d e d o f the K i n g the r e m o v a l o f certain officials w h o s e c o n d u c t in office had l o n g been a scandal . T h e result w a s that three whi te C r o w n m e m b e r s w e r e replaced by c o l o r e d men . M r . P re t to is a m e r c h a n t ; M r . L e v y , a f a rmer and M r . M c F a r l a n e one o f the best carpenters and bui lders in the island. C " I have rece ived a letter f r o m • ,

desc r ib ing the m u r d e r s b y the late Pres i dent Gu i l l aume , his o w n par t in he lp ing one o f the v ic t ims , and desc r ib ing the act o f the f renzied m o b , t w o h u n d r e d o f w h o s e sons , b ro thers , and fathers had been bu tche red in pr i son , in d r a g g i n g the murde re r s f r o m the consu la t e s w h e r e they had taken r e fuge . A n d n o w , he says, A m e r i c a n bullets are k i l l ing una rmed and quiet c i t izens . S u c h v io la t ion o f the consula tes as o c c u r r e d is, o f course , a mat ter f o r a p o l o g y b y the g o v e rnment ; n o at tache be ing assaul ted—a mere technical w r o n g by m e n d r iven wi ld by the massac re o f their f r iends and relat ions. T h e G e r m a n L e g a t i o n has protes ted , not against the Ha i t i ens , but

T H E UPRISING IN H A Y T I : RELATIVES BEARING A W A Y THEIR D E A D


against the act ion o f the A m e r i c a n s . I enc lose f o r y o u r i n fo rma t ion c l ipping f r o m the Nouvelliste o f the 7th inst.

" T h e capitalist interests o f different coun t r i e s are s teadi ly stirring, up r evo lu t ions, so ca l led f o r the purpose o f gaining large c o n c e s s i o n s f r o m the leaders a ided and then c o i n i n g them into m o n e y b y display o f f o r c e against the s u c c e e d ing g o v e r n m e n t s .

" W e might , by fair, equitable deal ing, bind the peop le in Hait i to us in fr iendly re la t ion."

% T H E G H E T T O

A M E M P H I S po l i ceman shot a 1 *" c o l o r e d w o m a n w h o refused to halt w h e n he cal led her. T h e patrol w a g o n w h i c h c a m e at his call r e fused to take he r in because the w a g o n w a s n e w and they did not want it "all b l o o d e d u p . " M e a n t i m e the w o m a n lay in the alley and bled to death. T h r e e po l i cemen have been suspended dur ing an " invest i g a t i o n " o f the affair.

Clarke L . Smith , a c o l o r e d l a w y e r o f Ba l t imore , has b o u g h t a house in a " w h i t e " b l o c k on M c C u l l o h street. It happens that the house is on the c o r n e r and has a l w a y s had a Press tman street number . P ress tmen street is c o l o r e d . H e n c e wi ld exc i t emen t a m o n g Smith ' s whi te ne ighbor s .

T h e " C o l o r e d R e l i e f C o m m i t t e e " wr i tes f r o m T e x a s City, T e x a s :

" T h e unde r s igned Commi t t ee represents ( 5 0 0 ) five hund red c o l o r e d peop le , w h o have jus t e m e r g e d f r o m one o f the greatest s to rms in the his tory o f this t o w n ; m a n y are wi thou t shelter o r h o u s e h o l d g o o d s . In the face o f all this, o u r race a lone w e r e m a d e pr i soners and f o r c e d to w o r k o n the streets five days under U n i t e d States soldiers at the poin t o f a gun . M e n w e r e separated f r o m their famil ies . A b o u t t w o hundred w e r e gua rded at n ight in one r o o m and w e r e c o m p e l l e d to sleep on a w e t floor wi thou t anyth ing to sleep on . M a n y w e r e s ick. T h e m e n w e r e f o r c e d to w o r k in the rain, and off t imes the gua rds f o r c e d them to get in d i tches wais t d e e p . " ( [ C o l o r e d t ax-payers o f Jacksonvi l le , F lo r ida , s topped the sale o f s choo l b o n d s because n o p r o v i s i o n had been m a d e f o r

c o l o r e d schoo l s . Th i s act ion f o r c e d s o m e cons idera t ion f r o m the whi tes .

T H E C O U R T S

A T T O R N E Y C . S. S U T T O N has secured $ 5 0 damages f o r Charles

S. H a c k l e y against a restaurant in C leve land, O h i o , wh ich refused to serve M r . H a c k l e y .

C. A . Jones , a c o l o r e d a t torney o f L o s Ange le s , has r e c o v e r e d j u d g m e n t f o r $ 1 0 0 in the case o f T . A . Cole against a restaurant keeper w h o re fused service . ( [ T h e S u p r e m e Cour t o f the Dist r ic t o f C o l u m b i a has s u m m o n e d the officers o f the Grand L o d g e o f c o l o r e d Pyth ians f o r con tempt because they re fused to r ecogn ize the V i rg in i a Grand L o d g e at their C o l u m b u s , O h i o , session.

T h e "Bir th o f a N a t i o n " was s topped by the M a y o r o f Pi t t sburgh but permitted b y the cour t s .

M C R I M E

S H A W N E E , O K L A . , E d w a r d Ber ry , ^ suspected o f cr iminal assault.

A man named F o x w a s hanged near Tunne l Spr ings , A l a b a m a . H e shot an officer.

In Tennessee , t w o N e g r o murde re r s w e r e hanged at a p icn ic , at w h i c h pol i t i cal and re l igious speeches w e r e made .

T w o m e n c h a r g e d with po i son ing mules w e r e lynched at Hul t , Alabama.An old man , John R i g g i n s , accused o f assault w a s killed by a m o b at Bain-br idge , Georg i a .

W i l l L e a c h , accused o f assault, w a s lynched at D a d e City, F lo r ida . ( [ K i n g R i c h m o n d and Joe R i c h m o n d burned at the stake at Su lphur Spr ings , T e x . ; they had killed a sheriff and his deputy .

A n unidentified man, w h o fled f r o m the r o o m o f a planter 's daughter , w a s lynched at Coushat ta , Louis iana .

O n Fr iday , A u g u s t 6th, seven N e g r o e s w e r e hanged and t w o lynched in four southern states. In Mississ ippi the hanging o f t w o N e g r o e s w a s made a publ ic festival and 8,000 peop le inc luding 1,500 w o m e n w e r e b rough t in on e x c u r s i o n trains.

A JUDGE IN I S R A E L M I F F L 1 N W I S T A R G I B B S died re-

cent ly in A r k a n s a s at the remarkable age o f n ine ty - two . J u d g e Gibbs w a s a man o f strength and influence. H e was bo rn in Phi ladelphia in 1823, re-

T H E L A T E S. B. ALLEN

ce ived a c o m m o n s c h o o l educa t ion and eventual ly b e c a m e a ca rpen te r and bui lder . A s a y o u n g m a n he w a s c o n nected wi th the U n d e r g r o u n d R a i l r o a d and finally w e n t to Ca l i fo rn i a w i t h the " F o r t y - N i n e r s . " T h e r e the wh i t e m e -

T H E L A T E M. W . GIBBS

ILLINOIS

MEN OF THE

MONTH

M E N O F T H E M O N T H 275

chan ics kep t h i m f r o m w o r k i n g at his t rade but he w e n t into the c lo th ing business and w a s a m e m b e r o f the Cal i forn ia c o n v e n t i o n s o f 1854, '55 and '57 . In 1858 M r . G i b b s wen t to Bri t ish C o l u m bia and set u p as a merchan t . H e r e he read l a w and eventual ly turned u p in the l aw depar tmen t o f Ober l in Co l l ege w h e r e he w a s g radua ted in 1870. H e toured the southern states, especial ly F lo r ida , w h e r e his b ro the r w a s S e c r e tary o f State and at last settled in Lit t le R o c k , A r k a n s a s , w h e r e he w a s admi t ted to the Bar . H e r e he se rved as C o u n t y A t t o r n e y and as Ci ty Judge . In 1871 he b e c a m e Reg i s t e r o f the Uni t ed States L a n d Office and w a s a delegate at large to the R e p u b l i c a n Nat iona l Conven t ions f o r ten years . Pres ident M c K i n l e y appointed h i m consu l to T a m a t a v e , M a d a gascar , w h e r e he se rved until 1901. S ince that t ime J u d g e G i b b s has perf o r m e d n o act ive w o r k a l though he has been interested in the business d e v e l o p ment o f the c o l o r e d p e o p l e in va r ious ways .

A C I T Y M A Y O R

S A M U E L B L A I N E A L L E N , w h o died recent ly , was b o r n in s lavery

at L e w i s b u r g , V i rg in i a , in 1842. A t the beg inn ing o f the w a r he wen t to Gall i-pol is , O h i o , and secured w o r k as barber and boa t s teward . H e mar r ied in 1861 and is su rv ived by t w o chi ldren, E d w a r d and B lanche .

I n 1881 he t o o k his fami ly to R e n d -vil le, O h i o , a p r o s p e r o u s min ing t o w n w h e r e he acqu i red cons iderab le p roper ty and b e c a m e p rop r i e to r o f a hotel and ba rber shop . T e n years later he w a s e lected m a y o r o f this c i ty . In 1893 he w e n t to C o r n i n g w h e r e he buil t a restaurant and finally re turned to M i d d l e p o r t w h e r e he built a n e w " H o t e l A l l e n . "

H e w a s a man o f unusual hones ty and business tact and ga ined the respect o f his ne ighbor s , whi te and b lack .

A P E A C E M A K E R

R E C E N T L Y t w o c o l o r e d Baptist c o n v e n t i o n s , w h i c h had maintained

a separate ex i s t ence f o r t w e n t y - t w o years , m e t in G e o r g i a . Chiefly through the efforts o f o n e man, the R e v . M . W .

R e d d i c k , these t w o b o d i e s represent ing m o r e than 300 ,000 N e g r o e s w e r e united into one . A n o n l o o k e r s a y s : " I have no t seen such y ie ld ing on points great and small fo r the sake o f h a r m o n y fo r a l ong time and I cons ide r it mos t significant ."

M r . R e d d i c k w a s b o r n in R a n d o l p h Coun ty , Geo rg i a , in 1868. Unti l he w a s twenty he had had on ly five mon ths o f schoo l . A t the age o f twen ty -one he entered M o r e h o u s e Co l l ege , At lanta , Geo rg i a , and wen t th rough high schoo l and co l l ege . Gradua t ing in the spring o f 1897 he founded that fall A m e r i c u s Institute at A m e r i c u s , Geo rg i a , and there he still w o r k s . H e began wi th t w o teachers in a t w o - r o o m bui ld ing o n t w o acres o f land, and last year had four teen teachers and seven bui ld ings on seven acres o f land. T h e schoo l is n o w valued at $40 ,000 .

M r . R e d d i c k is the Pres ident o f the G e o r g i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f T e a c h e r s in C o l o r e d S c h o o l s and is a clean, far-sighted man. H e has been m a d e the first pres ident o f the n e w Genera l M i s s ionary Baptist Conven t ion o f Georg i a .

REV. M, W. REDDICK

O P I N I O N S F R A N K

SAVAGERY T h e o u t c r y against G e o r g i a f o r the l ynch ing o f L e o

F r a n k and f o r lawlessness in genera l has been t r emendous and so v o l u m i n o u s that w e can on ly indicate it in a v e r y general w a y . T h e New Republic says :

" W e shall have to be chari table to Georg i a , as w e are to Hai t i o r the m o r e pr imi t ive Balkan states. W e shall have to r ecogn ize that here is a peop le suffering f r o m s lavery, f r o m a false r e c o n struct ion, f r o m t o o sudden con tac t wi th a h igher c ivi l iza t ion. It has s e l f - gove r n ment , t hough it is not yet fit f o r it. O n l y a small sect ion o f its -people have risen to the normal c ivi l izat ion o f the W e s t e r n w o r l d . T h e rest are pr imi t ive , uneducated, bu rdened wi th a c i t izenship w h i c h is m o r e than they are capable o f . T h e state needs schoo l s , it needs p ro tec t ion against itself, it needs the g u i d a n c e o f compara t ive ly m o r e a d v a n c e d peop le . T h e true c o m m e n t o n the F rank case is to be kind and fo rbea r ing and helpful to G e o r g i a . T h e r e m a y c o m e a t ime when it will be ready to act as a se l f - respect ing m e m b e r o f the A m e r i c a n U n i o n . "

T h e N e w Y o r k Call s a y s : " T h i s bit o f K u k l u x - K l a n n i s m is not

the first that has eve r d i sg raced the name o f Geo rg i a , n o r the first in recent years . T h i s sort o f ou t rage u p o n jus t ice has been happen ing eve ry day s ince emanc i pa t ion . "

T h e Outlook calls the act a " r eve r s ion to s avage ry . "

T h e C h i c a g o Tribune s a y s : " T h e south is b a c k w a r d . It shames

the Un i t ed States by i l l i teracy and inc o m p e t e n c e . Its hill m e n and p o o r whi tes , its masses o f feared and bul l ied b lacks , its ignoran t and v io lan t pol i t i c ians, its rotten industrial cond i t ions , and its rot ten socia l ideas ex is t in c i r c u m stances w h i c h d i sgrace the U n i t e d States in the thought o f A m e r i c a n s and in the o p i n i o n o f fo r e igne r s . "

E v e n the M o n t g o m e r y Advertiser turns upon its sister s ta te :


" T h e t ime has c o m e f o r the Grea t Seal o f the State o f G e o r g i a to b e taken d o w n and b roken . It bears the w o r d s ' W i s d o m , Just ice, M o d e r a t i o n . ' T h e h is tory o f G e o r g i a f o r the past t w o yea r s has g iven the lie to its p r o m i s e . T h e r e is neither W i s d o m , Jus t ice o r M o d e r a t i o n in m o b l aw and G e o r g i a is the State o f m o b l a w . "

T h e M i l w a u k e e Free Press a d d s : "I t is t ime that this f o l l y c a m e to an

end. Statist ics p r o v e that n o t 3 pe r cent , o f N e g r o lynch ings are f o r the c r ime o f rape. Statist ics p r o v e that southern whi tes are the rape-f iends and n o t the b lacks . T h e truth is and it shou ld be dr iven h o m e to e v e r y f o o l w h o app lauds ' D i x i e ' — the tune that w a s p l ayed to d is rupt the U n i o n and c o n s e r v e s l ave ry— that N e g r o e s are l ynched f o r the pettiest o f c r imes to sat isfy the racial v e n o m and b lood- lus t o f their f o r m e r mas te rs .

" A n d then this rot abou t ' the dangers o f m i s c e g e n a t i o n ! W h o is respons ib le f o r the m i x t u r e o f Caucas ian and Eth i opian b l o o d in the coun t ry , the N e g r o o r the southern whi te ? N o t o n e l ight-c o l o r e d b lack in 5,000 is the result o f a N e g r o ' s des ign o n a wh i t e w o m a n . T h e l igh t - co lo red b lack , w i t h sca rce ly an e x cep t ion , dates his ances t ry to the lust o f s o m e southern whi te master , w h o d id not

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hesitate to make the creature he b o u g h t and so ld as an animal the m o t h e r o f his chi ldren .

" S o m u c h f o r the sou thern h y p o c r i s y that prates o f mi scegena t ion to jus t i fy its c r i m e s . "

T h e B o s t o n Traveler re fe rs to "the inherent savagery o f G e o r g i a . "

D r . A k e d o f San F r a n c i s c o s a y s : " T h e s tor ies o f the M a y o r o f At lan ta

abou t the m a n h o o d o f G e o r g i a a v e n g i n g the w o m a n h o o d o f G e o r g i a can be dismissed wi th a s ingle w o r d o f con tempt . T h e age o f consen t in G e o r g i a is 10 years , but what is the use o f t ry ing to laud the de fense o f w o m a n h o o d in a state w h e r e they have such l aws as break d o w n the future w o m a n h o o d b y permi t t ing m e r e babes to w o r k in their factor ies ?

" W e lie in de fense o f ou r flag w h e n w e say that w e burn at the stake a man fo r the h o n o r o f o u r w o m a n h o o d . In such acts w e have s h o w n a hatred, a v e n o m o u s hatred f o r c o m m o n d e c e n c y . "

T h e B o s t o n Traveler wr i tes : " I n this c r o w n i n g demons t ra t ion o f

her inherent savagery G e o r g i a stands revealed b e f o r e the w o r l d in her naked, barbar ian brutal i ty. She is a shame and a d i sg race to the o the r states o f the U n i o n , w h o are p o w e r l e s s in the matter o f humane jus t i ce to put u p o n her the c o r r e c t i v e pun i shment her c r imes deserve . B u t the consc i ences o f the A m e r i can p e o p l e are not so cal lous as those o f the G e o r g i a n s , w h o sanct ion b y si lence o r take par t in such c r imes against fell o w - b e i n g s , b lack and white . A n d to the deg ree that a humane publ ic can rebuke

the state o f G e o r g i a by re fus ing to have any par t o f her u n h o l y peop le s ' p r o d u c t s they wil l d o so . A n y t h i n g m a d e o r g r o w n in G e o r g i a wi l l bear a sinister b rand and be sugges t ive o f lynchings and burn ings and especial ly o f this brutal m u r d e r o f Frank , and it ough t to be and doubt less will be left un touched . T h e on ly w a y in w h i c h G e o r g i a can be made to feel the shudder o f h o r r o r w h i c h is sweep ing the coun t ry and the utter c o n tempt in w h i c h she is held b y the rest o f the nation, is b y a deliberate b o y co t t o f G e o r g i a - g r o w n and G e o r g i a - m a d e g o o d s — p e a c h e s , co t ton , o r wha t eve r else bears the s tamp o f the so-ca l led ' E m p i r e State o f the Sou th . ' "

T h i s same paper adds la ter : " O n e o f those popula r soc ie ty events

for wh ich G e o r g i a is so no to r ious has jus t been celebrated in T e m p l e , T e x a s , w h e r e a m o b o f 10,000 frenzied m e n and w o m e n roasted a N e g r o to death in the publ ic square . T h e vic t im was one o f a party o f accused N e g r o e s w h o had told confl ic t ing stories regarding a c r ime wh ich had been c o m m i t t e d in the neighb o r h o o d . W h e t h e r o r n o t he w a s guil ty o f the c r ime o f w h i c h he was accused , cer tainly the 10,000 men and w o m e n w h o roasted h i m to death in the publ ic square were gui l ty o f a b lood- lus t ing fiendish-ness that mus t b r ing a sense o f shame to eve ry se l f - respect ing A m e r i c a n citizen. In this T e x a s c o m m u n i t y w h e r e the laws are m a d e and e n f o r c e d entirely by whi te persons , and w h e r e it w o u l d be imposs ib le fo r a N e g r o to escape any de gree o f legal punishment the whi te j u d g e s and jur ies sought to impose upon

278 T H E CRISIS

him, he must still be m a d e the v i c t im o f Judge L y n c h and submit ted to a tor ture such as n o o ther so-ca l led c iv i l ized p e o ples inflict o n h u m a n be ings . In cont ras t to the k ick ing and curs ing o f the m o b as it d r a g g e d the v i c t im to his funeral pyre , the repor t o f the murde r f e s t states that the N e g r o met his fate ca lmly and s to ica l ly ."

R E A L R E A S O N S T H E M a n y wri ters d o not fail to ECONOMIC see that lynch ings and l aw-MOTIF lessness rest on theft . A s

the whi te edi tor o f the El izabeth City ( N . C ) , Independent s a y s :

" T h e G e o r g i a t emperament is the p r o duct o f race hatred and re l ig ious b igo t ry . B a c k o f bo th is business . It is g o o d business in G e o r g i a to ho ld the N e g r o and the J e w , and lately the R o m a n Cathol ic , in con tempt . S o l ong as the landlords and the merchants can keep the N e g r o d o w n , they can keep the p o o r whi te man d o w n ; if the landlords and the merchan t s can keep the J e w d o w n , they can m a k e m o r e business fo r themselves, the J e w be ing a fo rmidab le c o m pe t i t o r ; and then if the l and lords and the merchants can keep the riff-raff busy b e tween t imes roas t ing R o m a n Cathol ics , the m e d i o c r e midd le class and l o w e r class fo lks will have little t ime to wa tch the antics o f their law makers and M r . L a n d l o r d and M r . M e r c h a n t m a y run things to the G l o r y o f G o d and the e x pans ion o f their bank accoun t s . G e o r g i a chu rches and the G e o r g i a n e w s p a p e r s are the servi le too ls o f G e o r g i a landlo rds and G e o r g i a store keepers . A n d

w h e r e v e r bus iness rules , b e it in P e n n sylvania , N e w Jersey, W e s t V i r g i n i a , C o l o r a d o o r G e o r g i a , there is a l w a y s hell to pay . A pub l ic c o n s c i e n c e w a r p e d f o r a h u n d r e d years in the sole interest o f business m a y be e x p e c t e d to ye t d o w o r s e things than ex i l e a g o v e r n o r , raid a peni tent iary and lynch a J e w . A n d it w i l l . "

T h e Char les ton News and Courier bo ld ly a c k o w l e d g e s the so le interest w h i c h the S o u t h has in N e g r o e s :

" T h e N e g r o is here because the S o u t h ern f a rmer needs h i m . W h y d o e s not the Sou the rn f a rmer insist that the edu cat ion p r o v i d e d f o r the N e g r o shall be o f a kind ca lcula ted to increase the latter 's usefu lness as a l a b o r e r ? "

T h e P i t t sburgh Leader adds this trenchant w o r d :

" T h e r e is the w h o l e ba ld case against the N e g r o c i t izen . T h e reason f o r his d i s f ranch isement . H e is o f t r e m e n d o u s e c o n o m i c va lue to the S o u t h because he does a lmos t all the w o r k in the S o u t h . Take the N e g r o w o r k e r ou t o f the Sou th

and there w o u l d b e a bar ren stretch o f g e o g r a p h y .

" T h e ave rage N e g r o c i t izen o f the Sou th is no t m u c h o f a th inker . H e doesn ' t think m u c h . B u t he has though t e n o u g h to k n o w that he o u g h t to have a vo te .

" H e has no t ye t c o n n e c t e d his e c o n o m i c va lue w i th the pol i t ical f ranchise , but he k n o w s he w o r k s and he k n o w s he wants the f ranchise . H e doesn ' t k n o w that the m a n w h o d o e s the w o r k , m a k e s the weal th , the man w h o is o f e c o n o m i c value, ough t to have a v o i c e in the affairs

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o f g o v e r n m e n t , , at least e n o u g h to vo te . " T h e r e the whi te man o f the Sou th

differs i r r econc i l ab ly wi th the b lack man. H e is wi l l ing, and a n x i o u s , even forc ib le , that the b lack man d o the w o r k , but he must not have anyth ing to say about the g o v e r n m e n t o f h imsel f . H e must leave that to the whi te man. A n d w h e n he doesn ' t take that v i e w o f it the wh i t e man refuses to a l l ow h im to v o t e . "

T h e T u l s a ( O k l a . ) Star s h o w s h o w they d o the thing in that s ta te :

" In O k l a h o m a w e have thousands o f weal thy N e g r o chi ldren w h o s e i n c o m e s a m o u n t to f r o m $ 5 0 0 to $8 ,000 a mon th . Th i s m o n e y , o f cou r se , is handled by guardians appo in ted by the coun ty cour t s o f O k l a h o m a . T h e guard ians are all o w e d 10 pe r cent, o f the amoun t o f m o n e y his w a r d is w o r t h in cash o r p r o p erty, and they usual ly use the mino r ' s m o n e y in a w a y to m a k e m a n y t imes this c o m m i s s i o n . A s a result there are hundreds o f wh i t e men in this state w h o have b e c o m e rich f r o m the wealth o f N e g r o c h i l d r e n ; because it is a r e c o g nized fact that the c o u n t y j u d g e s invariably appoin t whi te men as guard ians o f N e g r o chi ldren w h e r e there is any great a m o u n t o f m o n e y i n v o l v e d , — s o m e t i m e s ve ry of ten o v e r l o o k i n g the ch i ldren ' s natural guard ian and p ro tec to r—the parent, wha t eve r the parent 's qualificat ions. A n d n o whi te man has eve r been k n o w n to refuse the guard iansh ip o f a wea l thy N e g r o chi ld , h o w e v e r p r o n o u n c e d his hatred o r p r e j u d i c e f o r the N e g r o race . N o r has any wh i t e man been f o u n d w h o w o u l d be as fair and impart ia l in his t reatment o f his N e g r o

wards as he w o u l d o f whi te minor s w h o s e m o n e y he handles . O k l a h o m a is full o f graf t , but the b igges t g a m e o f graf t in the state today is the guard ianship graf t wh ich is manipula ted t oday by unscrupulous whi te men , aided b y the coun ty cour t s . A p rominen t e x a m p l e o f the graf t o f N e g r o guard iansh ip m o n e y w a s s h o w n recently in M u s k o g e e when B o b Fite, a whi te man w h o has openly manifes ted his p re jud ice against the race, th rough the whi te guard ianship o f Sarah R e c t o r , p robab ly the wealthiest girl in O k l a h o m a , and the coun ty cour t , sold his bui ld ing on Sou th S e c o n d street in M u s k o g e e to the R e c t o r girl f o r the ex tor t ionate sum o f $57 ,000. T h e bui lding w a s a whi te elephant on Fite 's hands and he used his pull with the whi te guardian o f this N e g r o girl to load it off on her ."

T h i s kind o f theft runs through the w o r l d . F o r instance, at K ik iku , Central A f r i c a , we have, a c c o r d i n g to James Barnes , this beautiful w a y o f c o m b i n i n g phi lanthropy and one hundred per c en t . :

" A s s o o n as a native w h o paid cash for everything, either as an advance o r for services rendered, he hastened hotfoo t to the c o m p a n y ' s s tores and b o u g h t anything f r o m a ha rmon ica to a s econdhand go ld -b ra ided u n i f o r m , and as the profit in these articles ran f r o m a hundred to t w o hundred and fifty pe r cent. , it can easily be seen w h e r e the m o n e y -trees c o m e in. T h e man w h o had b rought in i v o r y w a s paid for it in cash, at a rate that insured a profit o f about one hundred and fifty per cent., and immedia te ly he repaired to the store w h e r e he b o u g h t

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things he had n o use fo r , g i v i n g another profit o f cent , pe r cent, at least. T h e m o n e y was sent f r o m the s tore to the c o m p a n y ' s offices, w h e r e the nat ive w a s paid fo r ca r ry ing the i v o r y on the first stage o f its l ong j o u r n e y to the c o a s t ; the m o n e y rece ived w a s the same that had been paid f o r the i v o r y in the first p lace, and the bearer w o u l d surely c o m e b a c k and spend his wages at the s tore again.

"I t w a s a love ly sys tem, and the on ly real chance fo r loss w a s the w e a r and tear on the m o n e y itself, and the e x p e n s e o f b o o k k e e p i n g . I f the nat ive d e m a n d e d an ex t ra p r ice for i v o r y o r labor , there w a s v e r y little t rouble m a d e o v e r it, the ext ra cos t was added to the art icles in the s to re . "

O f cou r se s o m e hasten to say that this w o r l d p o v e r t y o f b lack fo lk is p r o o f o f their infer ior i ty to the keen and resourcefu l whi te T h i e f ; but as Grace Po t te r puts it in the New Review:

" T h e fundamenta l t each ing o f Soc i a l i sm should prevent the e r ro r that 'the e c o n o m i c cond i t i on o f a race indicates its e n d o w m e n t o f talent. ' D o e s n o t h i s tory s h o w that races mental ly and spiri tually super io r have of ten been ens laved by other races , m o r e f e r o c i o u s and m o r e aggress ive than t h e y ? B u t d o fe roc i ty and aggress iveness indicate ta lent? A n d i f the subord ina te e c o n o m i c pos i t ion o f a race indicates, as M r s . R a y m o n d maintains, its i n fe r io r talent, w h y does not the subordina te e c o n o m i c pos i t ion o f the w o r k i n g class indicate its in fe r io r ta lent? D i d M a r x ' s e c o n o m i c pos i t ion , when he w a s get t ing five dol lars f o r a w e e k l y

letter to the N e w Y o r k Tribune, measu re M a r x ' s ta lent? O n e recal ls G. K . C h e s ter ton 's charac te r iza t ion o f the s ta tement that the success fu l man is the super io r one . Ches te r ton calls it briefly the 'ultimate lie and all they w h o utter it ultimate l iars. ' "

T H E N E G R O BUSINESS L E A G U E

MR. W A S H - T h e m e e t i n g o f the N e g r o INGTON'S Bus iness L e a g u e at B o s t o n LEADERSHIP has ca l led fo r th m u c h

f avo rab le o p i n i o n . T h e B o s t o n Transcript in a s t rong edi tor ia l speaks o f M r . B . T . W a s h i n g t o n its Pres ident as "a p o w e r f u l m a g n e t attracting the ene rgy o f though t and applause o f a ve ry large a u d i e n c e . " It c o n t i n u e s :

"P res iden t W a s h i n g t o n w o u l d b e the last man in the w o r l d to p r o m o t e a c o m mercial league such as this to the neg lec t o f the educa t iona l and o ther phases o f the c o l o r e d p e o p l e ' s d e v e l o p m e n t . R i g h t ly c o n v i n c e d as he is that a s o u n d e c o n o m i c basis is essential to the p r o g r e s s o f any great race, he seeks e c o n o m i c d e ve lopmen t f o r the gain, not the neg lec t o f the o ther desiderata . H e battles, as he w o u l d have this l eague battle, f o r e c o n o m i c p rosper i ty , conf iden t that the o ther things will b e a d d e d to it. A c c o r d ingly he is not a f ra id to pu t his y o u n g men and w o m e n into the t ra in ing shops b e f o r e he sends them to d a n c i n g s c h o o l , to teach them the plain things o f l ife b e fo r e he permi ts the p re t en t ious . "

T h e venerab le F r a n k B . S a n b o r n b r o u g h t pe rhaps the o n e . c lear w o r d o f w a r n i n g to the L e a g u e w h e n he s a i d :

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" I see that y o u have m a d e fr iends with ' the m a m m o n o f unr ighteousness , ' as the Scr ip tures a d v i s e ; y o u have a c c u mula ted capital , as y o u ough t . Bu t an accumula t ion o f capital is o f t en a veh ic le f o r unr igh teousness rather than f o r r ighteousness . F o r instance, there came to B o s t o n a f e w mon ths a g o a m o v i n g pic ture play, the 'Bi r th o f a Na t ion , ' in w h i c h y o u r race w a s l ibelled and his tory perver ted . B u t it t o o k in m o n e y day by day and w e e k by w e e k , it e x p e n d e d thousands o f dol lars in one w a y and another , and so p r o m p t e d unr igh teousness that the B o s t o n newspape r s , with o n e o r t w o excep t i ons , kept si lence abou t its libels and pe rve r s ions . Tha t was capital unr igh teous ly u s e d . "

H A Y T I

COMPARATIVE In the d i scuss ion o f the CIVILIZATION Hay t i an e m b r o g l i o there

is less cock - su re race "supe r io r i t y " s h o w n than usual, f o r as the I thaca ( N . Y . ) News s a y s :

" W h i l e the b lack m e n o f Hai t i have no t g i v e n the w o r l d a v e r y i l luminat ing e x a m p l e o f the capaci ty o f the N e g r o f o r s e l f -gove rnmen t , in v i e w o f the present devas ta t ing s t ruggle in E u r o p e it beh o o v e s the whi te race to s ing small about his super io r cul ture and civi l izat ion. L o o k i n g the matter o v e r , u p one side and d o w n the other , the Caucas ian hasn' t m u c h to b rag abou t . "

T h e Spr ingf ie ld Republican a d d s : " T h e N e g r o ci t izens o f the Uni t ed

States are m u c h c o n c e r n e d in the solut ion o f the Hay t i an quest ion, inasmuch

as H a y t i is a N e g r o republ ic . T h e y entertain a pecul iar racial sympa thy with the pr inciple o f Hay t i an independence , and it is to be h o p e d that n o final steps wil l be taken by the Pres ident wi thou t consul t ing the best i n f o r m e d and m o s t intelligent N e g r o op in ion in the Uni ted States. D r . D u B o i s ' s sugges t ion to the Pres ident that an A m e r i c a n c o m m i s s i o n , inc lud ing one o r m o r e eminent A m e r i c a n N e g r o e s , be sent to H a y t i to s tudy its p rob lems and repor t o n the future relat ions be tween the t w o count r ies m a y have great value in the present cris is . T h e Hay t i an minister at W a s h i n g t o n need not be g rave ly apprehens ive . N o one in the Un i t ed States desires the annexa t ion o f Hayt i . Certainly its sover eignty m a y be p rese rved . "

O f course , it takes a whi te G e o r g i a paper , the At lanta Journal, with a fine big sarcast ic w a v e o f the hand to put us right. H o k e Smi th ' s o rgan i n f o r m s u s :

" T h e future o f the B lack Repub l i c is dubious . T h e soul o f its l iberator, T o u s -saint L ' O u v e r t u r e , w h o s e h e r o i s m inspired B y r o n to wr i te o f 'the eternal spirit o f the chainless m i n d ' has f o u n d no m e m o r y in the genera t ions that fo l l o w e d h im. T h e people canno t g o v e r n themselves . T h e y must be con t ro l l ed in the interest o f A m e r i c a and c iv i l iza t ion ."

I f the "c iv i l i za t ion" is to be o f the G e o r g i a type m a y the g o o d L o r d del iver Hayt i f r o m i t !

M I S C E L L A N E O U S

" T h e race and c o l o r ques t ion ra ised in the F r e n c h C h a m b e r o f Deput ies a w e e k


W A S H I N G T O N DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA I N D I A N A

• a g o by the bill o f the N e g r o D e p u t y M . Diagne , represent ing Senegal , p r o v i d i n g f o r the ex tens ion o f general c o m p u l s o r y mil i tary service in F r a n c e to co lon ia l municipal i t ies w h o s e inhabitants en joy F r e n c h ci t izenship, was presented in n u m e r o u s n e w lights and compl i ca t i ons at the session o f the C h a m b e r this af tern o o n .

" T h e ques t ion o f h o w to appor t ion a pens ion in cases o f po lygamis t Senega l ese leaving several w i d o w s p r o v e d a pose r f o r the Deput ies .

" T h e Min i s t e r o f W a r and the M i l i tary Commi t t ee o f the C h a m b e r app r o v e d the general p rov i s ions o f the D iagne bill, wh ich p r o v i d e for the inco rpo ra t i on wi th the regular F rench fo rces o f the Senegalese subjec t to c o m pu lsory serv ice . T h e act ion o f the c o m mittee w a s immedia te ly at tacked by Depu ty L a b r o u e , w h o pic tured the difficult ies arising f r o m the presence in the F rench A r m y o f soldiers unable to speak F rench and o f different rel igious and social cus toms . D e p u t y L a b r o u e also raised the ques t ion o f c o n f u s i o n in the payment o f pens ions to the w i d o w s o f p o l y g a m o u s Senegalese . He p r o p o s e d an a m e n d m e n t p r o v i d i n g fo r the i nco r pora t ion o f such t roops in nat ive regiments , entitled to pens ions and the o ther rights o f F rench cit izens.

" T h e speaker was frequently interrupted by protes ts f r o m the N e g r o Deput ies D i a g n e . Lagros i l l i e re o f M a r t inique and Candace and B o i s n e u f o f G u a d e l o u p e , Lagros i l l i e re c r y i n g amid frantic app lause : ' O u r fe l low-c i t izens

ask only to be a l l o w e d to se rve the mo the r coun t ry , f o r w h o m they a l ready have p o u r e d out their b l o o d . '

"Pau l Deschane l , P re s iden t o f the C h a m b e r , w a s f o r c e d to quell the tumult by dec la r ing that the ent ire C h a m b e r felt 'the same respec t and the same l o v e fo r all, wha t eve r their race o r re l ig ion , w h o are fighting under the f o l d s o f the tri-c o l o r e d flag.'

" D e p u t y D i a g n e said that the w i d o w s o f soldiers o u g h t to rece ive pens ions , even w h e n there w e r e s eve ra l ; but he a d d e d : 'Na t ive so ld ie rs are no t as r ich as the ave rage F r e n c h sold ier , w h o is also p o o r and, the re fo re , has o n l y one w i f e . P o l y g a m y is a l u x u r y o f wea l th . '

" A l e x a n d e r Mi l l e r and , Min i s t e r o f W a r , said the D i a g n e bill s e e m e d to meet the wishes o f a m a j o r i t y o f the Co lon ia l s and u rged its passage . T h e bill w a s passed wi thout change . " -—New Y o r k Times.

" A recent t endency wi l l have been not iced by c lose obse rve r s in the Craf t , caus ing a rev is ion o f o p i n i o n s as to F r e e mason ry a m o n g the N e g r o e s in the Un i t ed States. T h e r e is a g r o w i n g c o n vict ion, bo th N o r t h and Sou th , that these men o f another race are wi th in their rights in seek ing the benefits o f the fraternity. It is a lso f o u n d that the bet ter and m o r e intel l igent c o l o r e d m e n d o not desire , because o f M a s o n i c m e m b e r s h i p , to f o r c e themse lves in to L o d g e s o f the whi tes , o r to m i x in any w a y wi th whi te M a s o n s . T h e y ask on ly to be a l l o w e d , with s o m e sort o f r ecogn i t i on o f their regulari ty, to w o r k ou t their o w n M a -

O P I N I O N S 283

BRITISH COLUMBIA L O U I S I A N A NEW Y O R K

sonic p r o b l e m s , and to m a k e use o f the fraternity for their o w n bet terment . T h e A m e r i c a n doc t r ine o f e x c l u s i v e ju r i sd i c t ion stands in the w a y to p reven t r e c o g ni t ion. Bu t it seems likely, n o w that the sub jec t is be ing a p p r o a c h e d in a conse r vat ive t h o u g h sympathe t ic manner , that the ju r i sp ruden t s o f the Craf t wi l l find a sa t i s fac tory w a y to s u r m o u n t the difficul ty . It shou ld be r e m e m b e r e d , a lso, that ' e x c l u s i v e ju r i sd ic t ion ' is a latter-day and a pure ly A m e r i c a n doc t r ine , and not an i m m o v a b l e M a s o n i c l andmark . "— American Free Mason, I o w a .

" T h e pa rade o f the c o l o r e d Kn igh t s o f Py th ias w a s the c l i m a x o f the spec tacular in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the nat ional enc a m p m e n t o f that o rde r . It w a s in all respects w o r t h y o f the o r d e r and o f the race, and m a y be taken as a striking i l lustration o f the aspirat ions and the possibi l i t ies o f the race . T h e N e g r o leaders are gra tefu l f o r the encou rage ment they have r ece ived in the creat ion o f this really g rea t o rde r , wi th state c o m -mande r i e s in 27 o f the 4 8 states and a cer ta in ex t ens ion into o thers . T h e y feel that it has g i v e n them a n e w g r ip u p o n their p e o p l e and a d d e d mater ia l ly to the means o f b r ing ing them into a better c i t izenship . T h i s is n o d o u b t true. A fraternal o r d e r o f the k ind canno t fail to educa te , to sys temat ize and to g i v e n e w and better ideals o f charac te r and c o n duc t . It has d o n e so wi th whi te peop l e . W h y should it no t d o the same wi th c o l o r e d ? Bes ides , in this o rganiza t ion , the c o l o r e d p e o p l e are get t ing someth ing o f that mil i tary training, the n e e d o f

which is n o w e v e r y w h e r e so m u c h e m phasized.

" T h e knights have borne themselves well in C o l u m b u s , and have dese rved the w e l c o m e that w a s g iven to t hem."— C o l u m b u s ( O h i o ) Evening Dispatch.

R A C E P R E J U D I C E A STORY An unusual ly str iking and bo ld

por t rayal o f the effect o f race p re jud ice is the s tory by N o r m a n D u n can in the June n u m b e r o f Harpers Monthly, cal led " A Hypo the t i ca l Case . " W e cannot fo rbear f r o m quo t ing this at length :

" Instant ly the n igger was in flight. I t was a chase . A n d the situation w a s by this d ives ted o f eve ry ser ious aspect . I t was a g a m e . T h e n igger was n o w no longer like a master less d o g . H e w a s m o r e like a child pursued fo r its o w n en joyment . H e chuck led , he gasped , he laughed, he sh r i eked ; and all the whi le he sped a j o y o u s and amaz ing ly elusive c o u r s e — d o d g i n g and p lung ing and squ i rming o v e r the moon l i t beach. It was exce l len t sport-— excel lent ! T h e K e y W e s t b o y s del ighted in i t ; so d id the n i g g e r ; and the m o o n gazed amiably upon the happy spectacle . Bu t the nigger was al together t o o elusive. H i s escape began to savor too m u c h o f triumph . T h e b o y s lost breath and temper ; the laughter fell a w a y — i t w a s p res ently a g r i m and pu rpose fu l chase . A n d the n igge r was a la rmed b y the si lence and n e w f e r v o r o f the pursuit . In a

2X4 T H E C R I S I S

M O N T A N A OHIO N E W JERSEY

panic he rushed M e r c e r ' s in terposi t ion wi th m e a im o f r o u n d i n g the po in t and vanishing f r o m annoyance .

" I t was a b lunder . T h e n igge r should o f course , have permi t ted h imsel f to be caught . A n d he w a s both stupid and c lumsy . He s tumbled against M e r c e r , and the b o y . flashing into rage, s truck h im in the face.

" ' D o a n ' hit me , b o s s ! ' the n igge r p leaded . ' A h didn ' t mean nothin . ' H e was f r i g h t e n e d — n o w wi th cause .

" M e r c e r s t ruck at the n igge r again. A b l o w — t h e b l o w o f a b o y ' s fist—is a small thing. T h e n igger should have taken it, rubbed the pain out o f the bruise , and gr inned . A sensible n igge r w o u l d inst inctively have done s o ; and a c lever n igge r—a n igger that k n e w w h i c h side his b read was but tered o n — a sly old s t a g e r — w o u l d have turned the o ther cheek . Instead, the n igger caugh t the b o y ' s wr i s t—and the b l o w failed. It w a s er ror . T h e n igge r migh t wi th p ropr ie ty have d o d g e d the b l o w , but shou ld not , in his o w n de fense , have laid hands o n the wris t o f a whi te b o y o f qual i ty.

" T h e r e w a s a p a u s e — o f as tonishment o n M e r c e r ' s part, o f appal l ing te r ror on the n igger ' s . In an o v e r w h e l m i n g access o f fury M e r c e r s t ruck swif t ly with his c l enched left hand. T h i s b l o w , also, was s topped . A n d n o w the n igge r held the b o y ' s hands both impr i soned . It w a s a mor ta l b lunder . H e should even then— whi le there w a s yet t ime—have d r o p p e d the hands and chanced salvat ion. A n y n igge r should k n o w e n o u g h f o r this. B u t this n igger w a s flustered wi th fear. T h e

calamity had fal len s u d d e n l y ; and M e r cer w a s s t ruggl ing to re lease his r ight hand f o r a specif ic p u r p o s e hav ing to d o wi th the w e a p o n unde r the breas t o f his shirt. A n d the n igge r d i v i n e d w h a t that p u r p o s e w a s .

" T h u s it h a p p e n e d that in a q u i c k w r e n c h M e r c e r c h a n c e d to b r ing the nigger ' s knuck les against his o w n cheek .

" ' H e hit m e ! ' the b o y sc r eamed . H e w a s c o n f u s e d . ' H e hit m e ! ' he c r ied again.

" I t w a s an hones t c o n v i c t i o n . T h e b o y w a s n o weak l i ng liar.

* * • •# -# * " ' A h — a h — a h ' l l tu 'n y o ' l o o s e , b o s s , '

the n igge r s t ammered , ' j e s ' 's s o o n 's y o ' gits c a ' m . ' It w a s so f t ly s p o k e n : the n igge r migh t have been add re s s ing a naughty chi ld . ' Y a s s a , b o s s — yassa . A h — a h — p r o m i s e ah wi l l . '

" I t is a prac t ica l w o r l d . O b v i o u s l y a master less n igge r m a y no t w i t h i m p u nity restrain a spir i ted w h i t e b o y . T r a di t ion, c u s t o m , and e x p e d i e n c y f o r b i d it. Res t ra in t o f this sor t no t o n l y humil ia tes the w h i t e b o y , and d i s coun tenances the super ior race, but d i sposes the n i g g e r — and all o ther n i g g e r s — t o s a u c y behav io r . P rac t i sed in the p re sence o f o thers , it is a m o n s t r o u s l y agg rava t ed affront . T h i s n igge r w a s a w a r e o f his o f fense , and acute ly aware o f his peri l . M e r c e r w a s f ree to kill h im. It w a s a ques t ion f o r M e r c e r ' s sense o f p r o p r i e t y — p e r h a p s , t oo , f o r his c o n c e p t i o n o f du ty . B u t the n igge r mus t no t kill M e r c e r . H e m i g h t easily have d o n e s o ; and had the b o y

O P I N I O N S 285

been b l ack—armed , as M e r c e r was , and savage ly bent—the n igger w o u l d not have hesitated. B u t no th ing c o u l d e x cuse the ou t r age o f M e r c e r ' s death at the hands o f a n igger . D a m a g e to M e r c e r ' s fee l ings w a s enormi ty enough f o r any n igge r to answer for . T h e b o y must not be hurt in his p e r s o n — n o t so m u c h as inadver tent ly scra tched o r bruised.

* * * * * *

" ' B o s s , ' the n igge r whispered , ' ah 'm g o i n ' t tu'n y o ' l o o s e . '

" M e r c e r ' s heart leaped a little. A plan o f ac t ion took m o r e definite f o r m as to its detail . Bu t he g a v e n o sign o f this.

" ' Is y o ' ready, b o s s ? ' the n igge r quavered .

" O t h e r t ragedies m a y at that m o m e n t have been app roach ing each its separate crisis o n C o c o a n u t Key—l i t t l e t ragedies o f the underbrush and grass and s a n d : a thousand little deaths deal t ou t to the in fe r io r by the s t rong. B u t there w a s n o s o u n d o f t h e m abroad—nei the r in the s h a d o w s n o r unde r d i e m o o n . N o r , as the n igge r s l owly released M e r c e r , w a s there any noise o f a near ing c l i m a x in his case . It w a s d o n e silently. W a t e r laved the sand, and the w i n d w e n t p lay ing p a s t ; but o the rwi se it w a s all still and p lac id o n the c rescen t o f w h i t e beach . T h e nigge r backed swi f t ly off. H e s tood , then, tensely c r o u c h e d , his hands l i f ted and spread, as if to fend off death. H i s att i tude w a s alert—neither ab jec t n o r m e n a c i n g — b u t intently expec tan t . It w a s as t h o u g h he c o n f r o n t e d s o m e m a l ignant peri l o f nature—a threat b e y o n d con t ro l o r any cunn ing manipula t ion . H e w a s he lp l e s s ; he w a s taking his one c h a n c e ; there was no th ing else f o r h i m

*to d o .

" A n d M e r c e r shot h im w h e r e he s tood . * * * * * *

" B a c k in K e y W e s t , M e r c e r , as a dutiful son , n o w be ing in bitter confl ict with his c o n s c i e n c e , m a d e a clean breast o f all this d readfu l business to his father. It was a d readfu l business . M e r c e r k n e w it. H e loathed h imsel f . H i s s tory w a s an int imate recital o f the deed and the fee l ing o f that night on the moon l i t c rescen t o f beach . M e r c e r d id not spare h imsel f . H e w a s not that sort. In his

narrat ive, indeed, he g a v e h imse l f what he was used to cal l ing 'a little bit the wors t o f it.' It was his c u s t o m .

" T h e e lder man listened, and quest ioned, and del iberated. T h e r e w a s a long, t roubled interval. M e r c e r ' s father was horr if ied and aghast . T h i s thing that his son had done was ug ly . T h e r e was n o escaping the h o r r o r and ugl iness o f it. A p rope r th ing?—but ugly and dreadful . M e r c e r ' s father g r o a n e d . H e began to pace the moon l i t veranda . W h a t should he say—to save the b o y ? H e talked, then, a long, long t ime.

" In this f a s h i o n :

" ' I ' m sor ry . I wish it hadn ' t happened . It 's horr ib le . . . . Y o u can ' t kill a n igge r and fo rge t it. I know that. . . . G o d help y o u ! O h , G o d help y o u ! . . . B u t l o o k here, son ; w e mustn ' t be sentimental . Le t ' s get at the rights o f this ghast ly thing. T h e n igger struck y o u , y o u say ? I can ' t see, then, wha t else y o u cou ld have d o n e . H e struck y o u . He—struck you! . . , A n d w e l ive d o w n here with them. . . . T h e r e wasn ' t anything else to d o . N o t h i n g — n o t h i n g ! It 's horr ib le . Bu t there wasn ' t anything else to d o . . . . N o b o d y but J immie and R e g g i e the re? There ' l l be no scandal , then, thank G o d ! . . . S o n , put the w h o l e thing out o f y o u r mind , i f y o u can. D o n ' t b r o o d . D o n ' t fall into the habit o f accus ing yourse l f . W h a t ' s to be ga ined b y tha t? A n d o f cou r se you ' l l say noth ing to y o u r mo the r about it. She w o u l d n ' t unders tand. A n d she 'd gr ieve , p o o r little w o m a n ! . . . G o o d n i g h t '

" ' G o o d night, dad, ' M e r c e r responded , b roken ly . ' Y o u ' r e — y o u ' r e — migh ty g o o d to me . '

" ' Y o u ' l l not be ve ry happy f o r a whi le , I 'm afraid . '

" ' N o , sir.' " ' G o o d night . ' " 'I would have been ashamed of my

self,' M e r c e r sobbed a sudden violent protes t against his horr ib le fate, 'if I hadn't—done it!'

" I unders tand. ' " ' G o o d night, sir.' " ' G o d bless y o u , son . ' "

'THE DROP S I N I S T E R "

W H E N this striking picture was exhibited at the New York

Academy of Design a year or so ago it attracted great attention. There was a crowd continually around it. A part of the crowd did not understand it. "What does it mean?" they asked. Another part pretended that they understood it. "It is miscegenation," they croaked Lest, therefore, the crowd surrounding this page of THE CRISIS should misunderstand this message and T H E CRISIS should figure again in Congress as daring to picture white and black folk together, we hasten to explain.

The people in this picture are all "colored;" that is to say the ancestors of all of them two or three generations ago numbered among them full-blooded Negroes. These "colored" folk married and brought to the world a little golden -haired child; today they pause for a moment and sit aghast when they think of this child's future.

What is she? A Negro? No, she is "white." But is she white? The United States Census

says she is a "Negro." What earthly difference does

it make what she is, so long as she grows up a good, true, capable woman? But her chances for doing this are small!

W h y ? Because 90,000.000 of her

neighbors, good, Christian, noble, civilized people, are going to -insult her, seek to ruin her and slam the door of opportunity in her face the moment they discover "The Drop Sinister."

And God said.

Let us make man in our image

after our likeness

A

" T H E DROP SINISTER "

er the Painting by Harry W . Watrous Copyrighted by The Crisis

T H E CRISIS

E D I T O R I A L

Parents and Children As our children are today so will be our race a generation hence. / - \ T h e children of today will be the men and women, the

fathers and mothers and teachers and bread winners then. Wha t kind of men and women, what kind of parents and teachers and bread winners will they be ? That depends upon what the men and women of today are doing or what they are not doing with the children of today. For what they are doing or what they are not doing are the fateful dual factors which will determine the character and destiny of those children, and the character and destiny of the race. One generation sows the seeds of character and conduct, of success or failure and the succeeding generation reaps the harvest. N o generation has yet in the history of the world escaped the operation of this law of cause and effect. It has always been so and it will always be so. It is a law of nature, a law which is inseparable from and controls all growth and decline, all human success and failure.

W H A T , then, w e make of our children today an everlasting law will make of our race a generation hence. If w e strive earnestly to make them Puritan in morals and German in

efficiency and English in love of liberty, there will be no baffling Negro problem a generation hence. For these children of ours will beat all the evil forces in America which are fighting against the race, and will win for their children a secure place in the sun. In the battle of life they will survive because they will be fit, because they will be strong. T h e weak and the unfit who are fighting against them will fail, will ultimately be overcome. T h e untrained mind and the untrained hand are no match in the long run, in the struggle for existence, in the battle for bread with the trained mind and the trained hand. A n d it matters not whether it is a struggle for land or a battle for liberty. For both land and liberty will go in the end to the victors, and there is no power of race prejudice in the American Democracy and Christianity and Civilization to prevent their going where they belong. T h e transfer of them may be retarded for a season by bad and unequal laws and by bad and unequal social and industrial conditions, made by the weak and the unfit to protect themselves against the slow but irresistible pressure

E D I T O R I A L 289

T H E H O N O R A B L E A R C H I B A L D H E N R Y G R 1 M K E

Born at Charleston, S. C , 1849; graduated at Lincoln University 1870 and at the Harvard Law School, 1874. Formerly special writer on the Boston Herald and Boston Traveler; trustee of the Westboro Insane Asylum; U. S. Consul to Santo Domingo. At present, President of the American Negro Academy, the Frederick Douglas Memorial and Historical Association and of the District of Columbia Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the largest branch in the Association. Author of a life of William Lloyd Garrison, a life of Charles Sumner and various pamphlets.


and advance of the morally strong, of the industrially fit, but that is all. For the race that is morally strong, industrially fit will ultimately obtain all that it is entitled to whether of land or of liberty.

M E A N T I M E we, the men and women of today, have our work, the most vital, constructive and sacred work ever committed to the hands of any race, namely: the doing with our

might, with all the earnestness and energy and intelligence of which we are capable, first to make of ourselves an example to our children in character and efficiency, and second to make these children better than we are—stronger in all the qualities of mind and body which make races succeed, which enable men to rise superior to adverse circumstances, and to get and to keep what belongs to them whether of rights or of riches. D o we care for pleasure more than for rights, do we value more what w e wear than what w e are, do w e hunger and thirst for what is spectacular and sensational and transient in our American civilization and in the life above us rather than for righteousness, for progress of the spirit, for the enduring verities and virtues which alone make races great, then by our treasonable conduct and example we are preparing for the future a race of weaklings, moral and social degenerates, who if they have to struggle with strong rivals will perish, and, peradventure, they have to strive with weak and unfit competitors, will fall together with them into a state of social and industrial collapse of a civilization unworthy to survive.

tj^1

OH! fathers and mothers and teachers, oh! colored men and women, who are not fathers and mothers and teachers, listen:—You have in your hands the making or the marring

of a race. Which shall it be? Will you by your example, by your acts of commission or of omission help or hinder the great work of making the Negroes of the United States fit a generation hence? Fate is knocking for answer at your doors. A s ye do to-day fate will do to yours a generation hence. W o u l d you have the race strong, sure to survive in America, then train the children of to-day in the solid, homely and manly virtues, in temperance and moral purity and honesty and industry and thrift, in conquest of appetite and passion, in stern courage to face and fight wrong and in self sacrificing devotion to duty and liberty.

Archibald H. Grimke

E D I T O R I A L 291

O K L A H O M A TENNESSEE N E W JERSEY

H A Y T I

THE Uni ted States has v i o

lated the independence

o f a sister state. With

absolu te ly n o adequate

e x c u s e she has m a d e a

whi te A m e r i c a n A d m i r a l

so le and i r responsib le d ic ta tor o f Hay t i .

T h e anarchy in H a y t i is n o w o r s e than

the anarchy in the U n i t e d States at the

t ime o f o u r Civi l W a r , and no t as great

as the a n a r c h y today in E u r o p e . T h e

lynch ing and m u r d e r in Po r t - au -P r ince

is n o w o r s e than, if as bad as, the lynch

ing in G e o r g i a . Hay t i can, and wil l ,

w o r k out he r dest iny and is m o r e

c iv i l ized t oday than T e x a s .

H e r e , then, is the ou t rage o f uninvi ted

A m e r i c a n in tervent ion, the shoo t ing and

d i sa rming o f peacefu l Hay t i an ci t izens,

the se izure o f pub l ic funds, the vei led ,

but del iberate des ign to alienate Hay t i an

terr i tory at the M o l e St. N icho la s , and

the push ing o f the m o n o p o l y c la ims o f

an A m e r i c a n c o r p o r a t i o n w h i c h ho lds a

filched, if no t a f raudulent ra i lway char

ter. S H A M E O N A M E R I C A ! A n d

what are w e ten mi l l ion N e g r o e s g o i n g

to d o abou t i t ? Can y o u not at least d o

th i s? W r i t e to Pres iden t W i l s o n and

p r o t e s t ; ask fo r a distinct, hones t state

men t o f o u r pu rposes in Hay t i and an

A m e r i c a n C o m m i s s i o n o f whi te and c o l

o red men to po in t the w a y o f H o n o r in

stead o f Graf t . W R I T E N O W and let

the E d i t o r o f T H E CRISIS have a c o p y o f

y o u r letter.

M T H E B L A C K F R A N K S

IN m y little s u m m e r retreat

in the Jersey Hi l l s I a m

reached by the horrif ied

ou tc ry against the m u r

derers w h o lynched L e o

M . Frank, a whi te G e o r

gian.

I want to assure y o u and y o u r readers

that I a m fully in a c c o r d with all those

w h o n o w c o n d e m n the G e o r g i a m o b law.

Bu t as a whi te m a n o f the Jewish race

I a m s o m e w h a t m o r e consis tent than the

p rominen t peop le w h o n o w express their

indignat ion so vehement ly against the

" l o w e r e lement" o f G e o r g i a w h o s e p r e j

udices were inflamed by des ign ing agi

tators.

H o w about the inflamed pass ions in

the thousands o f cases w h e r e N e g r o e s ,

men and w o m e n , w e r e murde red by

lynch ing m o b s , general ly even wi thout

the chance o f a t r ia l? A n d no t o n l y in

Georg i a , the h o m e o f T o m W a t s o n , but

in many other states ? A r e N e g r o e s not

also human beings entitled to the full

benefits o f c iv i l i za t ion? W h y get e x c i t

ed on ly o v e r the F rank case, and no t

equally o v e r the m a n y N e g r o c a s e s ?

W h y should the press not g ive as much


PHILIPPINES C O L O R A D O LOUISIANA

space to the ou t rages against N e g r o e s as

it devo tes to the F rank c a s e ? Is it a

case o f class p s y c h o l o g y and race p r e j

ud ice only ?

Pe rhaps L e o Frank , in his death, m a y

serve the cause o f social jus t ice by cal l

ing at tention to the real influences that

s tand back o f the revo l t ing injust ice

under wh ich o u r c o l o r e d bro thers and

sisters are suffering so terr ibly.

MOSES OPPENHEIMER.

'LINCOLN'S D R E A M " IN the N . A . A . C. P. notes

f o r this m o n t h is the an

n o u n c e m e n t o f a n e w

mov ing -p i c tu r e p l a y ,

L i n c o l n ' s D r e a m . C R I

SIS readers wi l l be in

terested to hear o f the manner in w h i c h

this play came to be wri t ten.

Miss Elaine Sterne , au thor o f the

play, whi le one o f the y o u n g e s t is one o f

the mos t bril l iant o f scenar io wr i te rs . In

t w o years fifty o f her scenar ios have

been accep ted . Las t win te r she went to

see " T h e Bir th o f a N a t i o n " and whi l e

apprec ia t ing the artistic va lue o f the p r o

duc t ion she ques t ioned ser iously whe the r

it t ruly dep ic ted the N e g r o in the nat ion.

W i t h her to ques t ion w a s to act. She

wen t to W a s h i n g t o n and there m e t m a n y

p rominen t c o l o r e d peop le w h o d i rec ted

h e r in her s tudy and inves t iga t ion . T h e

result was L i n c o l n ' s D r e a m , a scena r io

dep ic t ing the s o r r o w s and cruel t ies o f

s lavery, the b rave ry o f the N e g r o in the

Civil W a r , and his h e r o i c e f for t s to edu

cate h imsel f fo r his n e w f r e e d o m d u r i n g

recons t ruc t ion . O f c o u r s e , the p l ay d o e s

not tell eve ry th ing that w e shou ld like to

have told. It w o u l d take a reel that

w o u l d s tretch f r o m N e w Y o r k to Cal

i fo rn ia to d o that. M o r e o v e r , m u c h that

T H E CRISIS br ings to the at tention o f its

readers the genera l publ ic wi l l listen to.

B u t jus t as N e w Y o r k aud iences , in the

fifties, f o u n d themse lves , to their a m a z e

ment , breathless ly sympa the t i c w i th the

N e g r o as they w a t c h e d E l i z a c r o s s i n g

the ice , so N e w Y o r k aud iences as they

w a t c h L i n c o l n ' s D r e a m wil l find them

se lves—but that's tel l ing the s tory .

T h e r e are m a n y o f us w h o wi sh that

the past o f s lavery might be fo rgo t t en .

B u t until N o r t h and S o u t h cease to

a p o l o g i z e o r e x c u s e s lavery, o u r y o u n g e r

genera t ion needs to k n o w it as it real ly

was . S o it is m o s t fitting that af ter

" T h e Bir th o f a N a t i o n " w h i c h repre

sents the Civi l W a r as a mean ing les s

" s c r a p " b e t w e e n t w o g r o u p s o f states,

w e should have a m o v i n g - p i c t u r e that

g ives the true s ignif icance o f the greates t

revolu t ion o f the m o d e r n w o r l d .

M . W . O .

VIRGINIA

' • T H E N I G G E R "

O P I N I O N differs in regard to " T h e N i g g e r . " It w a s p roh ib i t ed in N e w

B e d f o r d w h e r e the M a y o r r e v o k e d the l icense, ac t ing at the request o f the M i n isters ' U n i o n , and it w a s a lso fo rb idden in P r o v i d e n c e , N e w p o r t and o ther cit ies. In D e s M o i n e s , I o w a , a c o m m i t t e e f r o m o u r b ranch w h o v i e w e d the p ic ture at an advance p e r f o r m a n c e d e c i d e d that there w a s no th ing in it as s h o w n w h i c h w o u l d make it poss ib le to b r ing ac t ion under the theatre o rd inance . In Springfield. O . , w h e r e it w a s be ing s h o w n wi thout the e l iminat ion o f certain ob jec t ionab le scenes , o u r b ranch c o m p l a i n e d to the censo r s and these scenes w e r e cu t out .

W o r d c o m e s f r o m our b ranch in Q u i n c y , Ill., that the p ic ture will not be p r o d u c e d there. In Evansv i l l e , Ind. , o w i n g to protes ts , the pe r iod o f p r o d u c t ion w a s shor tened b y t w o days .

" L I N C O L N ' S D R E A M " THE A s s o c i a t i o n takes great pleasure

*• in tell ing its m a n y m e m b e r s and fr iends that a n e w scenar io deal ing with s lavery, the Civil W a r and the p e r i o d o f R e c o n s t r u c t i o n , wil l shor t ly be p r o d u c e d . " L i n c o l n ' s D r e a m " is by M i s s Ela ine Sterne , one o f the leading wri ters o f m o v i n g p ic ture p lays in this coun t ry . H e r v i e w p o i n t is t ho rough ly sympathet ic to the N e g r o . T h e pho to -p l ay will be

b rough t out b y the Universa l F i l m C o m pany.

m M E E T I N G S

ON A u g u s t 29 the St . Paul Branch held a publ ic test imonial f o r Dr .

P. P . W o m e r w h o resigned as pas tor o f the P l y m o u t h Congrega t iona l Church o f St . Paul to b e c o m e Pres ident o f W a s h burn Col l ege at T o p e k a , Kan . D r . W o m e r has been a staunch suppor te r and m e m b e r o f the A s s o c i a t i o n s ince its organiza t ion and his loss will be keenly felt by the branch .

M i s s Caro l ine M . D e x t e r , addressed the C o l o r e d Branch o f the Y o u n g M e n ' s Christ ian Assoc i a t i on , N e w Y o r k City, on " W o r l d B r o t h e r h o o d , " A u g u s t 29.

In Ch icago , o n Sep tember 10, Judge R o b e r t M c M u r d y addressed the W o m an's Conven t ion , auxi l iary to the Na t ional Baptist Conven t ion , on the w o r k o f the N . A . A . C. P.

O U R P R O P A G A N D A T H E s u m m e r br ings a short needed

rest to many o f o u r N . A . A . C. P. w o r k e r s . But w h e r e v e r they g o they ca r ry with them o u r p ropaganda . S o genuine is their zeal that w e k n o w they must make conver t s to o u r c a u s e ; fo r whether they travel north o r south, east or west , they will p reach the doc t r ine o f equali ty o f oppor tun i ty f o r all men .

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF

COLORED PEOPLE.

294 T H E CRISIS

PRIZE CONTEST FOR N . A . A . C . P .

BRANCHES and LOCALS The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People offers the

following prizes to its Branches and L o c a l s :

G E N E R A L P R I Z E S T o each B r a n c h or Loca l remitting to the T r e a s u r e r of the National Associat ion for the

Advancement of Colored People. Oswald Garr ison V i I l a r d . 70 Fifth A v e n u e , N e w Y o r k Ci ty , cash representing memberships in the Associat ion and subscr ipt ions to T H E C R I S I S ranging in amount f rom $50 to $500, a l ibrary of books on the race question va lued at f rom $5 to $50, and a si lver loving cup suitably inscribed wi l l be donated; this l ibrary and loving cup are to be given by the successful B r a n c h or Local to a person in their membership w h o m they may select. T h e selection of titles of books is to be made by the individual thus named.

T h e d e t a i l s o f t h i s c o n t e s t a r e a s f o l l o w s : Each B r a n c h or Local remitting not less than $50 and under $100 in memberships and

subscript ions wil l receive a l ibrary valued at $5 and a loving cup . Each B r a n c h or Local remitting not less than $100 and under $200 in memberships and

subscript ions wi l l receive a l ibrary valued at $10 and a loving cup . Each B r a n c h or Loca l remitting not less than $200 and under $300 in memberships and

subscript ions wi l l receive a l ibrary valued at $20 and a loving cup . Each B r a n c h or Loca l remitting not less than $300 and under $400 in memberships and

subscript ions wi l l receive a l ibrary valued at $30 and a loving c u p . Each B r a n c h or Loca l remitting not less than $400 and under $500 in memberships and

subscript ions wi l l receive a l ibrary valued at $40 and a loving cup . Each B r a n c h or Loca l remitting $500 or more in memberships and subscr ipt ions wi l l r e

ceive a l ibrary valued at $50 and a loving cup .

G R A N D P R I Z E T o the Branch or Local remitting to the T r e a s u r e r of the National Associat ion for the A d

vancement of Colored People, Oswald Garr ison V i l l a r d , 70 Fifth A v e n u e , N e w Y o r k Ci ty , the largest net amount in Associat ion memberships and C R I S I S subscr ipt ions,a scholarship of $200 for the year 1916-17 in any Amer ican institution for h igher educat ion ( i . e.. above H igh S c h o o l grade) to w h i c h the candidate chosen is e l ig ib le ; the candidate, boy or g i r l , is to be selected by the successful B r a n c h or Loca l on the basis of charac te r and scho larsh ip . In case of a tie a scholarship of $200 wi l l be g iven each of the contesting Branches or Loca ls w h o are t ied.

Only new memberships and new subscr ibers wi l l be counted in this contest. No branch can receive more than one of the genera l pr izes. T h e contest opens September 1st and closes November 28th, 1915.

Results wil l be published in full in T H E C R I S I S , and detailed instruct ions are being mailed to all Branches and Locals . No returns wi l l be rece ived at the Nat ional Office after N o v e m b e r 28th.

Sunday , November 21st is designated as B R O T H E R H O O D D A Y , on w h i c h B r a n c h e s are requested to announce results of the w o r k local ly , and to bring the w o r k of the Nat ional A s s o ciation and its o r g a n , T H E C R I S I S , to the attention of their communit ies by serv ices in c h u r c h e s of all denominations.

Address all communicat ions to the office of the National Associat ion for the Advancement of Colored People. Room 518, 70 Fifth A v e n u e . New Y o r k .

N. A. A. C. P. 295

"BIRTH OF A N A T I O N "

THE peop le c o n c e r n e d in the business o f present ing " T h e Bir th o f a

N a t i o n " t h roughou t the Uni ted States mus t real ize by this t ime that a watchfu l o rgan iza t ion is g i v i n g them a g o o d deal o f t rouble . D u r i n g A u g u s t w e have rec e i v e d f r o m o u r b ranches the f o l l o w i n g "Bi r th o f a N a t i o n " n e w s :

In O a k l a n d , Cal . , the c o l o r e d peop le have s h o w n a v i g o r o u s oppos i t i on to this film and f o r a t ime it seemed l ikely that they w o u l d prevent its p r o d u c t i o n . O u r last news is that the film is be ing shown , with, h o w e v e r , m a n y ob jec t ionab le features cu t ou t .

In T a c o m a the m e m b e r s o f the branch with the assis tance o f m a n y other h igh-m i n d e d ci t izens, succeeded o n A u g u s t 11, in secur ing f r o m the Ci ty Counc i l an o rd inance w h i c h should make it poss ib le to prohib i t such plays i s " T h e Bir th o f a N a t i o n , " " T h e Clansman," and like p lays . T h e o r d i n a n c e is as f o l l o w s :

" I t shall be un lawfu l f o r any person , firm o r c o r p o r a t i o n to publ ic ly s h o w o r

exhibi t in any place in the City o f T a c o ma, any picture o r series o f pic tures by any dev ice k n o w n as a mu te scope , kin-e toscope , c inematograph , k i n e m a c o l o r , penny arcade , a m o v i n g picture, o r any vaudevi l le act, d rama, play, theatrical song , o r stage o r p l a t fo rm p e r f o r m a n c e , o r any adver t i sement o r bill boa rd display which is o r tends to be immora l , o b scene, l ewd , lasc iv ious , or o f any indecent character , o r which por t rays brutality, o r w h i c h tends to incite race r iot , o r race hatred, o r that shall represent o r purpor t to represent any hanging, lynching, bu rn ing o r p lac ing in a posi t ion o f i g n o m i n y o f any h u m a n being, the same being incited by race ha t red ."

T h e branch in Por t land , Ore . , c o n tinues in its efforts against the film. M r s . E . D . Cannady , Secre ta ry o f the branch, w r o t e several articles to the daily papers against the play, articles w h i c h were featured in the Daily Oregonian and the Journal. T h i s ci ty, b y the w a y , d o e s no t permi t T h o m a s D i x o n ' s b o o k s in its l ibrary.

T H E V E R D I C T

296 T H E CRISIS

In O h i o w h e r e ou r s ix b ranches have been energet ic in their oppos i t i on to " T h e Bir th o f a N a t i o n " and " T h e N i g g e r , " film m e n have g iven up their fight to f o r c e a Fall e lec t ion by use o f the re fer e n d u m b y w h i c h they had h o p e d to ous t the State B o a r d o f Censo r s w h i c h has dec ided against bo th these p lays . Government by Injunction:

W h e n the highest publ ic official o f the ci ty dec ides against the p r o d u c t i o n o f a p lay as immora l it is yet quite poss ib le f o r the business interests to o v e r r i d e this dec i s ion . T h i s was the case in C h i c a g o whe re , by the use o f an in junct ion , " T h e Bir th o f a N a t i o n " was reeled ou t n ight after night and the M a y o r w a s p o w e r l e s s to assert his authori ty . T h e same thing has happened in Pi t t sburgh and in A t

lantic City w h e r e the m a n a g e r s o f theatres h a v e ob ta ined t e m p o r a r y inj unc t i ons agains t the c i ty officials, w h o had f o r b i d d e n the p r o d u c t i o n o f the p lay . A Badly Wounded Foe:

W h i l e the N . A . A . C. P . has fai led to kill " T h e Bi r th o f a N a t i o n , " it has at least s u c c e e d e d in w o u n d i n g it. A s it is g iven in s o m e o f o u r ci t ies the latter half has been so cut , so m a n y p o r t i o n s o f scenes have been e l iminated, that it is a me re succes s ion o f p ic tures , s o m e t i m e s r id icu lous in their inabil i ty to tell a c o herent s tory . W e trust that such an artistic p r o d u c e r as M r . Griffith m a y never again m a k e the mis take o f c h o o s ing an iniqui tous s tory as a m e d i u m fo r his genius , o r as a qu i ck m e t h o d o f accumula t ing a for tune .


FOLK LITERATURE OF THE NEGRO M By A . O. S T A F F O R D g§

IF we accept the theory that fo lk liter-ature is a me thod th rough w h i c h

pr imi t ive man and savage races a t tempt to c lo the their impress ions o f the universe , their ideas and their be l ie f s in a roman t i c ga rb , w e can find a m o n g the native peop le o f A f r i c a and their d e scendants in A m e r i c a a great mass o f this literature in an oral f o r m that m a y be g r o u p e d as s tories, r iddles , p r o v e r b s , p o e t r y and mus ic .

W r i t t e n results in this little k n o w n field o f invest igat ion have c o m e pr incipal ly f r o m the labors o f G e r m a n ,

F r e n c h and Eng l i sh miss ionar ies . O n e o f the earliest w o r k s appea red in 1854 under the title o f " A f r i c a n N a t i v e L i te r a ture" f r o m the pen o f the R e v . S. W . K o e l l e , a G e r m a n miss iona ry , w h o m a d e a deep s tudy o f several A f r i c a n languages . S ince then scores o f b o o k s treating o f the fo lk l i terature o f East , W e s t and S o u t h A f r i c a have been pr inted.

N o a t tempt has been m a d e in these co l l ec t ions to g ive a l i terary t o u c h to the na t ive fo lk tales. Se lec t ions o f s tor ies based on interest, a r r anged wi th r ega rd

F O L K L I T E R A T U R E OF T H E N E G R O 297

to l i terary f o r m and adapted to the taste o f the genera l reader are details yet to be w o r k e d out . A n examina t ion o f this l i terature wil l result in a classif ication and an interpretat ion s o m e w h a t a long the f o l l o w i n g l i n e :

T h e stories are d iv ided into three classes, ( a ) fables o r stories o f an ima l s ; ( b ) fa i ry tales o r stories that conta in some th ing marve l lous and supernatural , the o b j e c t o f which is less to instruct than to enter ta in ; and ( c ) sagas o r s tor ies o f native heroes in tended to be be l ieved .

T h e fables o r animal stories are e x ceed ing ly r ich in n u m b e r and in interest. T h r o u g h them w e learn h o w the A f r i c a n expla ins the w a y s and peculiar i t ies o f animals, f o r e x a m p l e , w h y the d o g , cat, goa t and f o w l s l ive wi th men , w h y the hyena is g r eedy , the cause o f his pecul iar c r y and the reason his left h ind f o o t seems shor ter and smaller than the r ight one . Inc idents o f animal adventure and animal w i s d o m are to ld that expla in f r o m the nat ive 's po in t o f v i e w the skin mark ings o f the leopard , the hyena and the j acka l , w h y bats fly at night , the reason rats hide in holes , w h y b a b o o n s wa lk on all fours , w h y the uppe r lip o f rabbits is slit, the reason l ions c r eep upon their prey, w h y the deer c o u g h s , w h y the spider is flat and w h y his wais t is small , w h y the elephant 's tusks p ro t rude , w h y the tor to ise ' s shell is r ough and scar red , w h y the heron ' s neck is bent, w h y the h a w k kills ch ickens a long wi th a vast n u m b e r o f o ther character is t ics o f beasts and b i rds .

T h e cons tant tell ing o f these fables a m o n g the A f r i c a n s has p r o d u c e d a c e r tain mental bias in exp la in ing the w a y s o f l i fe . T h e r e is scarce ly a saying a m o n g them but wha t is f o u n d e d u p o n someth ing that an animal w a s seen to d o at o n e t ime o r another . In their popu la r assemblies o r pa lavers fables are frequent ly c i ted as a basis f o r a p rope r m o d e o f though t and act ion.

T h e s e fables fall into three g r o u p s , each wi th a different h e r o . In one w e find the tor toise , in ano ther the spider and in a third the rabbit as the ch ie f ac to r .

T h e jackal , ascr ibed in n o wise to equal the rabbit in sh rewdness , p lays a l ead ing part in s o m e o f the fables o f

Sou th A f r i c a , but the g r o u p is not large e n o u g h to be cons ide red a cyc l e wi th this animal as a typical he ro .

T h e student o f A f r i c a n fables is frequent ly struck wi th the similarity that the "Just S o " stories o f K ip l i ng bear to them. T h i s , o f cou r se , is on ly incidental as the "Just S o " type o f s to ry is c o m m o n in the fo lk- lore o f all count r ies .

W i t h the c o m i n g o f the N e g r o to A m e r i c a he b rough t with h im his animal stories w h i c h surv ive today in the tor toise fables o f Brazi l , the anancy stories o f the W e s t Indies and the U n c l e R e m u s tales o f o u r Sou the rn States.

T h e W e s t Indian g r o u p gets its name f r o m an A f r i c a n w o r d , A N A N S E , w h i c h means spider, and the o ther f r o m a fictitious charac ter—an old c o l o r e d man o f the plantation c lass—a creat ion o f Joel Chandler Har r i s , w h o is represented as telling innumerable animal stories to a little whi te b o y .

T h e tortoise, whi le a subordinate character to the spider in the anancy and the rabbit in the U n c l e R e m u s stories, fails to play the consp i cuous par t in his A m e r i c a n as in his A f r i c a n h o m e , nevertheless s h o w s at all t imes unsuspec ted ability and shrewdness o f character .

T h e spider , ve ry cunning and at t imes wi th a touch o f v ic iousness in his nature, is the h e r o o f the W e s t Indian anancy fables, whi le the rabbit, a lways c lever and full o f laughable pranks, is the ch ie f ac to r in the U n c l e R e m u s g r o u p .

It is interesting to note that in B u d dha 's "Jataka" that s tore house o f beast w i s d o m o f ancient India, the rabbit is cons ide red w i se and c lever . In the p o p ular mind o f A m e r i c a , his explo i t s and v ic tor ies far surpass those o f any other animal he ro created by the genius o f the N e g r o story teller. D u e to the mag ic touch o f Har r i s , this little animal has be c o m e immorta l wi th the fictitious beast heroes o f all t ime.

A n i m a l stories, as told in A f r i c a , differ s o m e w h a t f r o m those heard in A m e r i c a . T h e genuine A f r i c a n fable, though filled with adventure and h u m o r ous situations, general ly c o n c l u d e in e x plaining the w a y s of the animals and their physical peculiari t ies. In the A m e r i c a n vers ion are desc r ibed mainly the contests o f the tor toise and spider

298 T H E CRISIS

with their foes and the dar ing p ranks o f the rabbit wi th the w o l f , the f o x , the bear and other animal acquain tances , all o f w h i c h end genera l ly wi th an amus ing and exc i t ing v i c t o r y f o r the smal ler and w e a k e r crea ture .

In all o f these fables w e see the w e a k est and m o s t harmless o f creatures o v e r c o m e the s t rong and migh ty . T h e N e g r o s tory teller whe the r in A f r i c a o r in A m e r i c a , makes w i t and c leverness triu m p h o v e r brute f o r c e in the animal w o r l d .

D o w e find here a key to the N e g r o ' s ph i l o sophy and m e t h o d s o f ac t ion in dea l ing wi th his present -day p r o b l e m s ?

" I n these fables are d i sp layed , " o b serves a whi te miss ionary o f s ixteen years ' expe r i ence in the A f r i c a n field, " n o small share o f c lo se obse rva t ion , l ively imagina t ion and ex t r ao rd ina ry sh rewdness o f charac te r . " *

T h e nex t class o f stories in this fo lk l i terature are those similar to o u r m o d ern fa i ry tales. A carefu l examina t ion o f these stories o f w o n d e r d i sc loses all the marve l lous ideas c o m m o n in fa i ry lore , such as the m a g i c bir th o f the h e r o o r hero ine , m a g i c rods , m a g i c m i r r o r s , m a g i c spears, m a g i c d rums , f r iendly and r o g u e animals, animal t r ans format ion , similar to the w o l f superst i t ion, beast marr iages , the c lever y o u n g e s t son o r daughter , the tree as a l i fe token, inanimate ob j ec t s that help the h e r o and var i ous f o r m s o f t aboo . In them are f o u n d also g o o d and bad spirits, the wiza rd and the wi tch , the d w a r f chang l ing and chi l dren o f m i x e d mor ta l and fairy birth.

S tor ies o f this class w e r e b rough t b y the N e g r o to A m e r i c a modif ied , o f cou r se , b y his changed env i ronment .

In L a f c a d i o H e a r n ' s W e s t Indian s tory " Y o u m a , " his " T w o Years in the F r e n c h W e s t Ind ies , " in A l c e e For t ie r ' s " L o u i s i a n a F o l k T a l e s , " in Charles W . Chesnut t ' s " T h e C o n j u r e W o m a n , " in M a r y A . O w e n ' s " V o o d o o T a l e s , " and in E d w a r d M o t t ' s " T h e B l a c k H o m e r o f J i m t o w n , " w e get survivals o f these A f r i c a n fa i ry tales.

In all c l imes and in all ages there have been m e n w h o have w o n the admira t ion

* J. L e i g h t o n W i l s o n in W e s t e r n A f r i c a ( 1 8 5 6 ) p . 32.

o f their f e l l o w s f o r d e e d s o f v a l o r in the hunt, in wa r , o r f o r w i s d o m in t imes o f peace . O f these h e r o e s tribal poe t s have s u n g and s to ry tellers h a v e idealized, b lend ing , as is usual in such cases , fact with fancy .

In A f r i c a s tor ies o f the h e r o o r saga type ex is t in n u m b e r s that are surpr is ing to those unfami l i a r w i th the f o l k tales o f that cont inen t .

T h e m i s s i o n a r y co l l ec t i ons p r e v i o u s l y c i ted conta in m a n y h e r o stories, n o t at all l ack ing in beau ty and p o e t i c c h a r m .

J. L e i g h t o n W i l s o n , the wel l k n o w n A f r i c a n mis s iona ry , w r o t e , m a n y years a g o , in this c o n n e c t i o n , r e f e r r ing to o n e g r o u p o f na t i ve s : " T h e y have i n e x haustible s tores o f ancestral t radi t ions and f abu lous s tor ies , s o m e o f w h i c h if e m b o d i e d in suitable l anguage w o u l d bear c o m p a r i s o n wi th the m o s t ce lebra t ed nove l s and r o m a n c e s that h a v e eve r been presented to the w o r l d . " *

S imi la r cond i t i ons d id n o t arise in A m e r i c a a m o n g the N e g r o e s to m a k e poss ib le the perpe tua t ion o f the saga f o r m o f s tory , t hough in the d rama t i c tale o f B r a s - C o u p e f o u n d in G e o r g e W . Cable ' s nove l o f Creole l i fe in Lou i s i ana , " T h e G r a n d i s s i m e s " w e get a g l impse o f the A f r i c a n h e r o type reflected in an A m e r i c a n setting.

A surpr is ing n u m b e r o f r iddles is known a m o n g the nat ive ch i ld ren w h o der ive great a m u s e m e n t and o f t e n the o lde r p e o p l e find in them an exce l l en t way for pass ing m a n y a soc ia l hou r .

W h i l e these r iddles are qui te shor t and of ten no th ing but a g a m e o r p lay wi th w o r d s they indicate c lose obse rva t i on and an ingen ious turn o f m i n d .

A pe r f ec t s tore house o f p r o v e r b s has also been f o u n d . T h e best b o o k dea l ing wi th these p r o v e r b s is pe rhaps S i r . R . F. Bur ton ' s " W i t and W i s d o m f r o m W e s t A f r i c a , " w h i c h con ta ins o v e r t w o thousand p r o v e r b s , i d i o m s and e n i g m a s o f the W e s t A f r i c a n N e g r o . T h e y d i s c lose the fact that there is sca rce ly an o b j e c t p resen ted to the e y e , sca rce ly an idea exc i t ed in the m i n d bu t it is a c c o m p a n i e d by some sentent ious a p h o r ism f o u n d e d on a c l o s e o b s e r v a n c e o f men and manner s and in m a n y cases o f a d e c i d e d l y mora l t endency .

* W e s t e r n A f r i c a , p . 457 .

F O L K L I T E R A T U R E OF T H E N E G R O 299

In A m e r i c a m u c h o f the w i s d o m o f the c o l o r e d race is f requent ly heard in the pi thy sayings o f the unlet tered class, f o r e x a m p l e , note the keen analysis o f h u m a n nature as revealed in the plantation p r o v e r b s o f U n c l e Remi ts .

P o e t r y a m o n g the A f r i c a n s is a lways sung o r chanted as is usual with pr imitive races . W h i l e there is not m u c h rhyme, a grea t deal o f repet i t ion, alliterat ion and r h y t h m are heard in this poe t ry .

In songs o f l o v e , death, war , hunt ing and re l ig ion (appea l to s o m e h igher spirit o r sp i r i t s ) the native A f r i c a n e x presses his emot iona l l i fe . T h e s e songs are rendered usual ly in a w i e r d m e l o d y a c c o m p a n i e d b y a rhythmical c l app ing o f hands . T h e y are general ly in a m i n o r key .

T h e s e p e o p l e are the easiest e x t e m p o -rizers, even the chi ldren find n o difficulty in p r o d u c i n g an e x t e m p o r a n e o u s song .

T o a c c o m p a n y his s tories, songs and dances the A f r i c a n has d e v e l o p e d m a n y types o f musica l ins t ruments . In the M e t r o p o l i t a n M u s e u m o f A r t in N e w Y o r k City, are s h o w n three hundred spec imens o f these types w h i c h are g r o u p e d in f o u r classes, ( 1 ) string, ( 2 ) w ind , ( 3 ) v ibra t ing m e m b r a n e s and ( 4 ) s o n o r o u s substances.

In the first class are seen instruments o f the harp , lute, lyre and v io l t y p e ; the flute, reed and h o r n type are in the sec ond ; the d r u m and t ambour ine type in the third, wh i l e in the four th class are seen the bell , c y m b a l , x y l o p h o n e and rattle type o f musica l instrument.

In A m e r i c a it is wel l k n o w n that the N e g r o has s h o w n an intuit ive qu ickness in hand l ing musica l ins t ruments o f all k inds , o n e o f wh ich he d e v e l o p e d in the s lavery p e r i o d — t h e b a n j o .

T h o u g h in A f r i c a poe t ry is sung o r chanted in he ro i c , martial , idyl l ic , c o m i c , satiric and re l ig ious f o r m s , cond i t i ons in A m e r i c a n s lavery fostered main ly the survival o f the rel igious popular i ty k n o w n today as N e g r o spirituals o r plantation m e l o d i e s .

" T h e r e is n o parallel ins tance," says C o l . H i g g i n s o n , " o f an oppres sed race thus sustained by the re l ig ious sentiment a l o n e ; these songs are but the voca l e x press ion o f the s implici ty o f their faith and the subl imity o f their l ong res ignat ion ." *

Later p rogress o f the A m e r i c a n N e g r o in the field o f music , especial ly in recent years , with its dis t inct ive character is t ics is not a survival f r o m the folk mus i c o f his ances tors but rather a d e v e l o p m e n t o f a temperamental t endency under c o n di t ions o f A m e r i c a n f r e e d o m .

Through the zeal o f p rofess iona l s tory tellers, many o f w h o m display narrat ive p o w e r s o f a h igh o rde r , the fo lk literature o f A f r i c a is car r ied f r o m vil lage to vi l lage. B y v o i c e , facial express ion , ges ture and the a c c o m p a n i m e n t o f instruments , especial ly the d rum, they de ve lop the dramat ic situations o f the s tory in a manner that neve r fails to impress the assembled audiences .

In this count ry , dur ing the s lavery per iod , the one l i terary oppor tun i ty f o r the slave o f the soil was the tell ing o f fo lk stories.

C o m p a r i n g this f o r m o f literature with that o f o ther races w e find that in m a n y o f the fables, fairy tales and h e r o stories o c c u r the same types o f charac te r and pecul iar incidents that are c o m m o n in all fo lk tales w h e r e v e r f o u n d m o d i fied, o f cour se , by the personal i ty o f the N e g r o with his v iv id p o w e r o f desc r ip tion, an imaginat ion that w e a v e s into the stories his o w n fanciful ideas and that r ich and ref reshing h u m o r so characteristic o f h im w h i c h del ights by its sudden turns o f situation.

Perhaps , b y means o f a later cul ture within the race, its fo lk l i terature m a y be co l lec ted , a r ranged and g iven a literary polish that wil l reveal to future gen erat ions its poet ical and imaginat ive cha rm, its delightful pleasantry and its sh rewd and kindly ph i losophy .

* A r m y L i f e in A Black Regiment ( 1 8 7 0 ) p . 222.

T H E CRISIS

D I S T R I C T OF C O L U M B I A ILLINOIS ILLINOIS A L A B A M A D I S T R I C T OF C O L U M B I A T E X A S ILLINOIS K E N T U C K Y D I S T R I C T OF C O L U M B I A

H O W T H E SPIDER W O N ]

How the Spider Won and Lost Nzambi's Daughter A Negro Folk Tale After Dennett; from

the collection by M. N. Work

N Z A M B I , the g o d d e s s w h o dwel t u p o n earth, had a beautiful

daughter . N z a m b i v o w e d that no earthly be ing shou ld m a r r y her daughter unless h e first b r o u g h t the heaven ly fire f r o m N z a m b i M p u n g u , w h o dwe l t in the heavens a b o v e the b lue r o o f . N o w , the daugh te r w a s v e r y beaut i ful and the p e o p l e marve l l ed saying, " H o w shall w e secure this t reasure, and w h o o n such cond i t i ons wil l eve r mar ry h e r ? "

T h e n the sp ider said, " I wil l w i n N z a m b i ' s daugh te r if y o u wil l he lp m e . " A n d they all answered , " W e will g ladly he lp y o u if y o u wi l l r e w a r d u s . " T h e spider than began to travel u p w a r d until he r eached the b lue r o o f o f heaven . H e then d r o p p e d d o w n again to the earth, leav ing a s t rong si lken thread firmly hang ing f r o m the r o o f to the earth b e l o w . H e n o w cal led the tor toise , the w o o d p e c k e r , the rat and the sand-fly and bade them c l i m b u p the thread to the r o o f . T h e y d id so . T h e n the w o o d p e c k e r p e c k e d a ho le t h rough the blue r o o f and they all en tered the rea lm o f N z a m b i M p u n g u , the g o d o f the heavens .

N z a m b i M p u n g u rece ived them cour t eous ly and asked t h e m w h a t they wan t ed . T h e y a n s w e r e d h i m saying, " O h , N z a m b i M p u n g u , o f the heavens a b o v e , g rea t father o f all the w o r l d , w e have c o m e to fe tch s o m e o f y o u r terrible fire f o r N z a m b i , w h o rules upon ear th ."

" W a i t here , then," said M p u n g u , " w h i l e I g o to m y peop le and tell them o f the m e s s a g e y o u b r ing . "

B u t the sand-fly, unseen, a c c o m p a n i e d M p u n g u and heard all that he said. T h e n M p u n g u re turned to the vis i tors and said, " M y fr iends , h o w can I k n o w that y o u have really c o m e f r o m the ruler o f the earth and that y o u are not i m p o s -ters ? "

" P u t us to s o m e test," they said, "that w e m a y p r o v e o u r s inceri ty to y o u . "

" I w i l l , " said M p u n g u . " G o d o w n to y o u r earth and b r ing me a bund le o f b a m b o o s that I m a y make m y s e l f a shed . "

301

ILLINOIS

A n d the tortoise went d o w n and soon returned with the b a m b o o s .

T h e n M p u n g u said to the rat, " G e t thee beneath this bundle o f b a m b o o s and I wi l l set fire to i t ; then if y o u escape, 1 shall surely k n o w that N z a m b i sent y o u . "

T h e rat did as he was b idden. M p u n g u set fire to the b a m b o o s , and lo , when they w e r e entirely c o n s u m e d , the rat c ame forth f r o m amidst the ashes unharmed .

" Y o u are, indeed ," said M p u n g u , "wha t y o u represent yourse lves to be. I will g o and consul t m y peop le aga in ."

T h e sand-fly was again sent af ter M p u n g u and bidden to keep wel l o u t o f sight, to hear all that was said, and, if poss ible , to find out w h e r e the fire, that is the l ightning, was kept. H e soon c a m e back and related all that he had heard and seen.

T h e n M p u n g u returned to them and said, " Y e s , I will g ive y o u the fire y o u ask for if y o u will tell me where it is kept . "

A n d the spider said, " G i v e m e then, O , N z a m b i M p u n g u , one o f the five cases that y o u keep in the f o w l h o u s e . "

" T r u l y , " said M p u n g u . " Y o u have

302 T H E CRISIS

a n s w e r e d m e co r rec t ly , O spider . T a k e the re fore , this case and g i v e it to N z a m -bi, w h o rules u p o n ear th ."

T h e tor toise car r ied it d o w n to the earth and the sp ider presented the fire f r o m heaven to N z a m b i and N z a m b i g a v e the sp ider he r beaut i ful daugh te r in mar r i age .

B u t the w o o d p e c k e r g r u m b l e d and said, " S u r e l y the w o m a n is mine , f o r it was I w h o p e c k e d the ho le t h rough the blue r o o f , wi thou t w h i c h the o thers c o u l d never have entered the k i n g d o m o f N z a m b i M p u n g u . "

" Y e s , " said the rat, "but see h o w I r isked m y l i fe a m o n g the burn ing b a m b o o s . T h e girl , I think, should be m i n e . "

" N a y , O , N z a m b i , " said the sand-fly, " the gir l shou ld cer ta in ly be m i n e , f o r w i thou t m y he lp the o thers w o u l d n e v e r have f o u n d ou t w h e r e the fire w a s kep t . "

T h e n N z a m b i said, " N a y , the sp ider u n d e r t o o k to b r i ng m e the fire and has b r o u g h t it. T h e gir l b y r ight is his , but as y o u wil l m a k e her l i fe mise rab le i f I a l l o w her to l ive w i th the sp ider a n d as I c anno t g ive her t o all o f y o u , I wi l l g ive he r to n o n e , but ins tead I wi l l g i v e each o f y o u he r m a rke t v a l u e . "

N z a m b i then pa id each o f t h e m fifty bol ts o f c lo th and a cask o f g in , bu t the daughter eve r af ter r ema ined unmar r i ed and wa i t ed on he r m o t h e r .

T E X A S

W H A T TO READ

M I S S R O S E S T K U N S K Y ' S " A b r a -h a m L i n c o l n " ( M a c m i l l a n ) is a

b o o k w h i c h c o l o r e d p e o p l e o u g h t to b u y and read because it s traightens ou t so f rankly and ruthlessly so m a n y o f o u r misapprehens ions about L i n c o l n . W e can best g ive M i s s S t runsky ' s portrai t f r o m her o w n w o r d s in the New Review.

"IF we are really to apply the policies of Lincoln to the problems o f to-day, then it is high time to place in truthful and critical order just what these policies were and what

their significance. In this matter o f emancipation o f the Negroes from slavery and his conception o f what was to be their role in the social and political life o f America, it is especially necessary that his true attitude be given, for on no phase o f Lincoln's career has there been so much fable and popular dictum accumulated as upon this. The picture o f Lincoln looking out upon space with sad and loving eyes, his right hand outstretched presenting the Emancipation Proclamation, his left resting tenderly upon the

W H A T T O R E A D 303

C O L O R A D O C O L O R A D O DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

head o f a newly-freed and grateful slave kneeling at his feet, can no longer be satisfac tory .

" 'A veil o f melancholy' might indeed have Tested on bis face and his eyes be 'sad and loving , ' but his acts were hesitant, compromising and without any faith in the ultimate benefit o f that Emancipation Proclamation -which we have always pictured him as holding so gladly and firmly in that eager outstretched hand

"That does not mean to say that Lincoln was not sincere in his opposition to the institution o f slavery, but it means that he was not an abolitionist, nor that he had the same hopes and desires for the black race as he had for the white. Being against Negro slavery for the white man's reason, he was c o t only ready to compromise with the institution itself, but was also ready to compromise with the principles that underlay it. Not only did he not want to disturb slavery in the states where that 'institution' already existed, but he did not want the Negroes to

live in freedom side by side with the whites in the new territories for which he was fighting. He could not conceive o f the two races enjoying the same political and social privileges. His democracy was a white man's democracy."

S3 MR. T . S H I R B Y H O D G E has wr i t -

ten a satirical nove l " T h e W h i t e M a n ' s B u r d e n . " In it he pic tures b lack folk t r iumphing o v e r whi tes by thought and invent ion rather than brute f o r c e . T h e b o o k has a fine lesson in its breast w h i c h is v o i c e d in these l i ne s : " T h e whi te man ' s burden is h imse l f . "

m T h e students o f H o w a r d Unive r s i ty

publish annually a b o o k cal led " N i k e " wi th statistics o f the senior class, p i c tures o f the universi ty, etc. T h e 1915 publ icat ion, under Ed i to r R . M . A n d r e w s , is unusual ly credi table and interesting.

ILLINOIS GEORGIA INDIANA

304 T H E CRISIS

C O L O R A D O ILLINOIS M A R Y L A N D

M r . L . M . H e r s h a w publishes a g o o d s u m m a r y o f the facts and l aw and c o u r t dec i s ions as to p e o n a g e a m o n g southern N e g r o e s .

A m o n g other pamphle ts wh ich have c o m e to us are the f o l l o w i n g : D r . S. M . S t e w a r d o n the " W o m a n in M e d i c i n e " wi th a list o f thirty-five c o l o r e d w o m e n in med ic ine .

M i s s F rances B l a s c o e r on the c o l o r e d s c h o o l ch i ldren in N e w Y o r k . She has an exce l len t s u m m a r y o f the mora l c o n di t ions a m o n g c o l o r e d girls and s h o w s h o w one phrase has been repeated quite

independen t ly as r e f e r r i ng to c o l o r e d gir ls , to gir ls in H a w a i i and to w h i t e w o r k e r s in P e n n s y l v a n i a : " O n the w h o l e I think the gir ls w e have r e a c h e d are c o m i n g to feel that it is respec tab le to b e mar r i ed b e f o r e their babies a re b o r n . " M i s s B l a s c o e r c o n c l u d e s that the w o m e n o f all the races are v e r y m u c h alike.

T h o m a s H . B . W a l k e r sends us " T h e Pres iden ts o f L i b e r i a " w i th i l lustrat ions.

T h e N e w Y o r k State C o m m i s s i o n to the V i r g i n i a E x p o s i t i o n sends us e ight book le t s wi th p ic tures and statistics g o t ten up f o r d is t r ibut ion at the E x p o s i t ion.

THE BLACK MAN'S SOUL S By JAMES D. C O R R O T H E R S 1

Dedicated to the hoys of Downington School

A cu r ious giant came , years a g o , Bl ind and black, d o w n the V a l l e y o f

W o e . Un tu to red , and g r o p i n g in pr imal night , H e f o n d l e d the harp , wi th a chi ld ' s d e

light. " B l i n d T o m , " the. M u s i c i a n ! G o d ' s hint

w a s he O f a myst ica l mus i c still to be. I a m sure, t h rough that m e l o d i c surge

and rol l , T h a t m u s i c l ives in the b lack man ' s soul .

A S inge r there c a m e , wi th a tender lyre , A n d dawn-f i l led eyes o f l o v e and fire; A n d I k n e w , as D u n b a r swept the

str ings,

T h a t he b r o u g h t w h a t long , l o n g yea rn ing b r i n g s :

D r e a m - V o i c e o f a c r o o n i n g r ace w a s he , G o d ' s hint o f a beauty ye t t o b e ! F o r I k n o w , by a g l impse o f his lyric

scrol l , T h a t beauty dwe l l s in the b l a c k m a n ' s

soul .

A n O r a t o r c a m e , and he thri l led the heart

Ti l l the b l o o d su rged ho t , w i t h a sudden start,

A s he rent the b leak r o c k s o f a p e o p l e ' s g l o o m ,

A n d s o u n d e d O p p r e s s i o n ' s knel l - f i l led d o o m .


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In other words, the right of your family to receive $1,000.00 in case of your death at any time during twenty years, the guaranty of a capital of $100,000.00, and the accumulated assets of the Company that your investment is safe have not cost you a penny.

With these results can you or your family afford to be without a W H O L E LIFE POLICY in the S T A N D A R D LIFE I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y ?

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With that you can borrow $138.00 without sacrificing the estate of your family, for if you should die the next day after securing the loan, they would still receive 362.00. Then the account would stand: Premiums paid, $245.00; money borrowed, $138.00; balance (cos t ) , $107.00; payment to your family, $862.00; excess of payment, $969.00.

This is the service the Standard offers you, with the guaranty behind it of $100,000.00 deposited with the State of Georgia.

Are you going to be one of the persons who profit by it? Please It is for you to say, provided you can pass the Medical Examination. / send me

.• particulars about insurance

STANDARD LIFE INSURANCE CO. 200 Auburn Avenue, ATLANTA, GEORGIA . A m o u n t $

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O m a r v e l o u s D o u g l a s s , the nob le , the true,

W e a n s w e r the s landerous tongues b y — y o u !

A h ! I d r e a m , t h rough y o u r spiri t 's he ro i c m o u l ' ,

T h a t g r andeu r dwe l l s in the b lack man ' s soul .

S e e there, in the c i ty o f o l d r e n o w n , In the mids t o f the C o m m o n , in B o s t o n

t o w n , T h e " r e d c o a t s " c o m e ! T h e Co lon ia l s

s tand, A g l u m , de te rmined and sullen band. ' T i s Cr i spus A t t u c k s , the b lack , d ies ,

t h e n -F i r s t P a t r i o t - M a r t y r f o r b rave , t rue

m e n ! 1 a v o w , b y this, L ibe r ty ' s first death-

toll, T h a t b r a v e r y l ives in the b lack man ' s

s o u l !

Someth ing N e w ! Star t l ing! Y O U A R E T H E O N E

Who Will R e c e i v e tunities of Agencies, Positions; Be Your Own Boss; Offers Mail Order Propositions, etc.

IN Y O U R T O W N

The Buy Sell and Exchange Directory goes to thousands of manufacturers, dealers, mail order men, publishers, who will send you FREE samples of magazines, papers, propositions, catalogues, packages, circulars, etc., etc.

Y o u W i l l G e t a W o n d e r f u l M a i l ! 5 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 M o r e N a m e s W a n t e d a t O n c e ! Send 25c. to help pay the cost of stereotyping your name and address, which will be inserted and you will receive all of above with very valuable information worth hundreds of dollars and a FREE copy of "Buy, Sell & Exchange," containing your name. B u s i n e s s i s B e t t e r ; G e t Y o u r S h a r e o f t h e

G o o d Things. A d d r e s s .

"BUYSELL & EXCHANGE" The Magazine That Interests Everybody.

Dept. 70-H. P. 0. Box 5240, Boston. Mass.. U.S.A. Ad Rates 3c per word. "Thousands Read It"

A n d , have y o u fo rgo t t en , in Cuba , the fight?

H o w the b lack so ld iers tested the ho t Spanish m i g h t ?

O ' e r the c a n n o n ' s red thunder , un -b lenched by a fear,

T h e y c r i ed to their c ap t a in : " D o n ' t talk ' bou t n o ' r ea r ' !

L e a d us o n ! L e a d us o n ! L e a d us u p to that fight!

The re ' l l b e a ' H o t T i m e in th' O l e T o w n T o - N i g h t ! ' "

B y their deeds I d e c l a r e ; b y m y hea r t ; b y the w h o l e :

Still l oya l ty l ives in the b lack man ' s s o u l !

$ 1 0 0 . 0 0 PRIZE Given to the agent selling the largest number of "The A. B. C of Color" over 1,500. This book is different from anything before the public. It is illustrated thruout with pictures of Negro children. No family will refuse a copy. Retail price 15c. Liberal commission to agents. Eighteen other cash prizes ranging from $50.00 down to $5.00 will be given. These prizes do not come under the 1,500 sales as required for the $100.00 prize. Contest closes December 31, 1915. In case of a tie, all contestants thus tied will receive the same stated prize. Address

0. A. P I E R C E & C O . , 224 W. Frambes Ave. Columbus. O.

H O T E L L I N C O L N (American or European Plan)

Opens May 15th under new management

GEORGE E. C A N N A D Y . See page 268

Combines the restful quiet of the country and sea-shore with the gaye-ties of a great city. Only a few minutes' ride by train separates N e w York City from this delightful spot. H O T E L L I N C O L N is within three minutes' walk of the beach where there are bathing, boating and fishing. 26 magnificently appointed rooms, single or en suite. Every convenience to suit the most exacting.'

EXCELLENT CUISINE—MODERATE' RATES—BEST OF SERVICE For information write C. A. BRECKENRIDGE, Prop. Telephone 1417 Hammels Arverne. Long Island



Atlanta University Studies of the Negro Problems

18 Monographs Sold Separately Address

A T L A N T A UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE ATLANTA UNIVERSITY :i ATLANTA. GA.

The Curse of Race Prejudice By James F. Morton, Jr., A. M.

_ An aggressive exposure by an Anglo-Saxon champion of equal rights. Startling facts and crushing arguments. Fascinating reading. A necessity for clear understanding and up-to-date propaganda. Belongs in the library of every friend of social justice. Price 25 cents. Send order to

JAMES F. MORTON, JR. 211 West 138th Street New York, N. Y.

" G L E A N I N G S F R O M D I X I E - L A N D " Ten poems by

EFFIE T. BATTLE, A.M.

"Mrs. Battle has an individual gift of melody." —Springfield Republican.

"You owe it to your race to publish your poems in book form."—Editor, Southwestern Christian Advocate.

"Verses are smooth, graceful, high-minded and clear, reverent to all truth, appreciative of all beauty and true inspiration."—George W. Cable.

PRICE 25 CENTS. ADDRESS: OKOLONA INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,

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$25.00 PER WEEK may be made in commissions by parties handling "History of Negro Soldiers in Spanish-American War" combined with "History of the Negro Race." 400 pages, 50 illustrations. Price $1.25 net. Address: E. A. JOHNSON 154 Nassau Street NEW YORK

The Negro in American History by JOHN W. CROMWELL

Secretary American Negro Academy

296 pp., 35 chapters, 17 full page illustrations, full index and bibliography

P r i c e , $ 1 . 2 5 ; b y m a i l , $ 1 . 4 0 Liberal commiss ion to agents. Address :

J. W. CROMWELL 1439 Swann Street Washington, D. C.

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Self control—poise—the balance which enables you to meet and handle any situation is the most valuable asset you can have. And— no one man living is so well able as Dr. John Harvey Kellogg to tell you how to care for and control your nerves. For years Dr. Kellogg has made a scientific study of the basic causes of nervousness. He has, for nearly forty years, been Superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, affording him opportunity to observe, treat and prescribe for thousands of cases o f nervousness. Thus, he speaks from experience—deals with facts. In his latest book "Neurasthenia," Dr. Kellogg tells you that nervouseness is "a symptom—not a disease." He also tells you how to get at the cause of nervousness so as to regain, and retain, nerve balance and control. Over 300 pages, with many illustrations, diet tables and instructions as to exercise, rest and sleep. Price in Library Cloth binding only $2. Order today. You take no risk. If not entirely satisfied, return the book at once for prompt refund. Send order and remittance to

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9410 W. Main Street Battle Creek, Mick.

YOUNG'S BOOK EXCHANGE ( G e o r g e Y o u n g )

Novel Souvenir Post Cards

Colored Authors and Books on Race Problems a Specialty.

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E. ALDAMA JACKSON Graduate Institute of Musical Art, Organist and Director

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Teacher of Theory and Piano Theory course embraces elementary and advanced

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T H E CRISIS A D V E R T I S E R

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OF INTEREST TO VOCAL STUDENTS T O N E - P L A C I N G A N D V O I C E - D E V E L O P M E N T

Points explained, viz.: Breath in Singing, Trying the Voice, the Soprano, the Mezzo-Soprano, the Contralto, Tenor Leggiero or High Tenor, the Baritone, the Bass, Parts of the Vocal Apparatus, the Mouth, the tongue, Position when Practising, Position when Singing, How to Practice, Good Rules for Singing.

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Write for information. R. O. G O T H A R D , Manager



LEGAL DIRECTORY

T l „i, /Central 104-W Telephones: { Main 61

H A R R Y E. D A V I S ATTORNEY-AT-LAW NOTARY PUBLIC

1607 Williamson Building Cleveland, Ohio

Office L. D. Telephone 3297 Market Residence L. D. Telephone S277-M Market

G E O R G E A. D O U G L A S COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW

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B R O W N S. S M I T H ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

Offices: Suite 802 Sykes Block Near Third and Hennepin

Minneapolis Minn.

GEORGE W . M I T C H E L L

Philadelphia Pa.

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW 90S Walnut Street

Tel. 5437 Fort Hill Cable Address, Epben E D G A R P. B E N J A M I N

ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW 34 School Street Boston, Mass.

Telephone Connection W. Ashbie Hawkins George W. F. McMecben

H A W K I N S & M c M E C H E N ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW

21 East Saratoga Street Baltimore, Md.

PERSONAL CARDS

Telephone 5277 Morningside

DR. G E R T R U D E E. C U R T I S SURGEON DENTIST

188 W . 135th Street New York City

J. E. O R M E S ACCOUNTANT

Audits Systems Business information by mail. Open for

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Wilberforce, O.

A G E N T S W A N T E D F O R

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No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3

F o r S c a l p , H a i r a n d S k i n

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T h e C h i c a g o T a i l o r s ' A s s o c i a t i o n Dept. 222• Van Buren and Market Sts., CHICAGO

EVANS ART PIANOS and Players at / Wholesale!

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Studio 819 Delachaise St. New Orleans, LA Cartoons, etc.

catalogue covers business cards

letter heads newspaper work

F R E E T A I L O R

B O O K

A New Book by Dr. Du Bois

THE NEGRO By W . E. BURGHARDT DU BOIS, author of "Soul, of Black Folk," "Quest of the Silver Fleece," "Select Bibliography of the Negro American," etc.

This is the authentic romance of the black man. It is a history of him at once scholarly, earnest and eloquent. He is considered from the earliest times, and the thread of his fascinating story is followed in Africa, America, and wherever else it has appeared. T o look at the Negro against the background of his history is to see him in a light fairer than that in which most Americans have seen him.

256 Pages—3 Maps—Cloth Bound A t the low price of 5 0 cents ne t—By mail 5 6 cents

Dr. Du Bois's new book is the latest addition to a remarkable series of low-priced new books with which everybody should become acquainted.

These books may be obtained from The CRISIS, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York

T H E H O M E UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Is made up of new books by leading authorities.

The editor, are Professors GILBERT MURRAY. H. A. L. FISHER. W. T. BREWSTER and J. ARTHUR THOMSON.

C l o t h b o u n d , g o o d p a p e r , c l ear t y p e , 2 5 6 p a g e s p e r 50c. net i v o l u m e . E a c h c o m p l e t e a n d s o l d s e p a r a t e l y - - O v / L < I lCl

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SOME SELECTED EARLIER VOLUMES: EVOLUTION By J. A. Thornton LATIN AMERICA By W. R. Shepherd THE FRENCH REVOLUTION VICTORIAN LITERATURE

By Hilaire Belloc By G. K. Chesterton ROME By W. Warde Fowler GERMANY OF TODAY PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY By Charles Tower

By Bertrand Russell EURIPIDES AND HIS AGE NAPOLEON By H. A. L. Fither By Gilbert Murray THE CIVIL W A R By F. L. P a x i o n UNEMPLOYMENT By A. C. Pigou

94 volumes now ready. Send for a list

H E N R Y H O L T A N D C O M P A N Y 34 W. 33d Street New york

Mention T H E Crisis

THE HORIZON GUILD in conjunction with a committee of citizens announce* the first rendition of a

P A G E A N T commemorating the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, entitled

"The Star of Ethiopia" in the City of Washington, during the week of October 10, 1915

One Thousand Actors Fifty-three Musical Numbers Scenery and Costumes

Master of the Pageant Director of Dramatic Action Director of Dancing

Directors of Music

Grand Marshall

W . E. B U R G H A R D T DuBOIS CHARLES BURROUGHS

- D O R A COLE N O R M A N J J. R O S A M O N D JOHNSON 1 AUGUSTUS G R A N V I L L E DILL

L A U R A BRUCE G L E N N

And others to be announced

WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS: The Pageant, 1216 You St., N. W. , Washington, D. C.

It is planned to repeat this pageant in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other cities West and South

the crisis, vol. 10, no. 6. (october, 1915)

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