"PS I 4 "So live that, when thy summons come to join The innumerable caravan that moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take Mis chamber in the silent halls oi death— Thou go, not like the quarry-slave at night — Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." But so numerous are the writers both of prose and verse, and so copious are their productions, that time will not permit us here to attempt a consideration of the rich and varied contributions of this, the ripest age in the his- tory of American literatuie. So let us pause here, to resume this pleasant task severally in our private studio ; and there, bearing in mind the inspiring thought that our National Age presents a galaxy ol writers distinguished for their refined tastes, wide culture, profound thought the beauty and purity of whose works challenge the world, we shall be conducted to new and greater beauties in our literature, and be continually inspired byre-reading those beautiful lines of W. W. Story on the English language concluding* "Therefore it is that I praise thee and never can cease from rejoicing, Thinking that good stout English is mine and my ancestor's tongue; Give me its varying music, the flow of its free modulation , I will not covet the full roll of the glorious Greek, Luscious and feeble Italian lisp, Latin so formal and stately, French with its nasal, nor Geiman inverted and harsh, Not while our organ can speak with its many and wonderful voices, Play on the soft flute of love, blow the loud trumpet of war, Sing with the high sesquialtro, or drawing its full diapason, Shake all the earth with the grand storm of its pedals and stops. " TIE DEIIIIS 6F TIE [Annual Address before the Literary Societies of Paul Quinn College, Jnnel2, 1888.] Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — When you recall to mind the fact that for two years T personally witnessed the interest and anxiety manifested by the President, Faculty and the students in their efforts to make the work of this institution second to none of its kind in this whole South-land ; when you remember that it was my privilege to note, and that too with much interest and pleasure, the readiness and earnestness with which you as students have often responded to the call of the President to assist in any way in enhancing or in beautifying and adorning the college premises ; when vour minds go back to the times when, as students, you have launched your adventurous barks amid the tossinig billows upon the great ocean of thought, it was my good pleasue to throw out the rope for you to take in sail and anchor safe in har- bor for rest and recuperation ; when your minds revert to the many vicissitudes of mingled bitter and sweet we have experienced together in the relation of teachers and stu- SELECTIONS. 9 dents, you can somewhat judge of the ecstacy of joy it brings me after one year's absence, to join you again in witnessiug under this improved condition oi things the closing exercises of this institution. Here you have your mechanical department in which you exercise the muscle, develop the bodily form, and at the same time learn a useful trade; and you have also your printing department by which you bring yourselves into constant communication with the people all over this section of the country, apprise them of the grand and no- ble work being done at this institution — these are condi- tions and circumstances under which angels might well rejoice. Mr. President and Faculty, allow me to congratulate you upon the very hopeful prospects you have before you, and to assure you that it was not without a deep sence of gratitude and humble submission that I accepted the hon- or conferred upon me by extending to me the invitation to perform the task of this hour. And here allow me to express my opiuion that with the present growing pros- pects and uuder the vigilant eye of our new Bishop, Paul Quiun's bright day will soon begin to down, that African Methodism and Negro progress will take a fresn start on their road to successs in the great Southwest. If, ladies and gentlemen, in what I shall say to-night, you should find a word of encouragement that you consider worthy of treasuring up in your minds to stimulate and to inspire you in your efforts of coming years, I shall be rewarded in the consciousness of having made the at- tempt. Many of you expect, at most within a few years, to enter 10 SELECTIONS. permanently upon your life-work. You know not just what that work will be. But, as you have been taught here directly from the pulpit, and also in the class-room, to 'do with your might what your hands find to do,' your greatest efforts can be but to apply yourselves studiously and faithfully to the work at hand, that when you enter the arena of active life you may be fully prepared in every particular event to meet the demands of the hour. 1 trust that this has been your aim during this and the preceding years of your studenc life. Human life itself is a problem. What is the purpose of our being? and what our destiny ? are questions that often require a lif-time to solve ; yet, a proper understanding ol our purpose and destiny is necessary to right living and to the fulfillment of the life-mission. Those who think that life and its achievement:! are the result of mere chance generally consider pres nt pleasure and enjoyment the greatest ends to be attained ; hence, much of their latent energy never becomes active, and many of their mental faculties remain forever undeveloped. But, on the other hand, those who believe that "life is real ! life is earnest ! " and that the Master had a grand purpose in speaking man into existance with such unlimited possi- bilities for development ; those who hold the opinion that, when the inferior forirs of animal life come to their perpetual end and the present order of things has been changed, man will embrace perpetual life, and that the mind and soul will continue to develop and unfold their powers, bringing human thought into closer proximity to that of the omniscient Architect himself; and those who believe that each individual is the architect of his own SELECTIONS. 11 fortune, and only they, are the ones who generally reach eminent success and accomplish the highest purposes of life. Would you mount the pinnacle and take the prize, avail yourselves of every opportunity to pluck from the laby- rinth of truth a gem of thought. Remember that "The heights by great men reached and kept, "Were not attained by sudden flight ; But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upwards in the night." The hours and moments that now are yours will shortly be ushered into the irretrievable past, and a few years will soon find you knocking at the door of some field of labor, waiting for addmission. Admittance obtained, much will be expected of you, much demanded. And foremost of importance will be the demand for true manhood. The world to-day wants men and women who can be relied upon for their truth- fulness and honesty, and whose I. INTEGRITY OF CHARACTER is not only unquestioned, but unimpeachable. Character is the sum total of distinguishing qualities. If one man is relied upon raorr than others, and ie pre- ferred above others in the circle of his acquaintances, it is because his character has won for him such pre-eminence- And if one individual reaps a greater, a more illustrious destiny than those around him of equal opportunities, it is because he sowed such seed only as could bring fort a noble character full of richness. "The law of harvest," says a distinguished writer, lt is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act and you reap a 12 SELECTIONS. habit ; sow a habit, and you reap a character ; sow a character, and you reap a destiny." The verdant spring, of life is the right time to sow- Then, labor with diligence and wait with patience for the time to gather the harvest. As the seed sown in fertile soil takes root, sends forth to the golden rays its spreading branches to yield an abundant harvest to the hand of in- dustry, so the seed of discrete thinking, sown early in life, germinates in the fruitful mind arid produces an abund- ant harvest, exactly the same in kind as the thought sown. In fact, life itself, with all its achievements — includ- ing all that is meant by the term, character — is but the outward expression of inwardly cherished thoughts. Hence the secret of forming an untarnished character— a secret because practically unknown to thousands — is in guarding well, with drawn sword, the gate that gives entrance to the sanctum of the mind. Says one writer, 'The thoughts once admitted to the shrine of the mind are there forever." If the statement is a fact — and there are many reasons for believing it to be— think of the feel- ings one would experience at some period of his eternal existance, possibly in the presence of just men made per- fect, reviewing all the thoughts ever admitted and en- tertained! Were this theory of mental and moral philos- ophy universally accepted, and adopted as the basis of mental activity, we might soon expect grand improve- ments in the production of thought, and a higher stand- ard for the nobility of character in the individual, the race, the nation, the world. A desire to have the most favorable consideration and the esteem of their fellows is quite a motive principle in SELECTIONS. 13 actuating men and women in their habit of thinking and in their general conduct. And this principle acts as an incentive to habits of truthfulness, honesty, industry and uprightness. But a still higher motive principle is that of conforming to the right in all things lor the sake of right itself and for the consequent pleasure derived from the approbations of an enlightened conscience. Those who are actuated by the former principle strive to build a reputation; those who adopt the latter princi- ple as the basis of action, strive for the formation of a per- fect character. The former, under pressing circumstances may be bribed, bought and sold; the latter, under all cir- cumstances, are ever found true, trusty, reliable and loyal to every cause of truth and justice. And such ladies and gentlemen are in demand to-day. They are wanted in every line of business, in every circle of society, in every vocation of lite — from the sacred alter to the humblest po- sition of the day-laborer — let your standard be high. Wealth, honor, and the praise of men are blessings rare- ly bestowed, and consequently' much desired. But though you never count your possessions by the thousands ; though praise and flattery never tread to the sweet sound of music along your path of life ; and though the last rest- ing place of your ashes should never be marked by a tow- ering column of marble, and to your memory the pealing anthems never swell their note of praise, let nothing but conformity to truth, and integrity of purpose mark your very actions through life. Remember the lines of Gray: "The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, Awaits alike the inevitable hour. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. 14 SELECTIONS. u Can stored urn or animated bust Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust, Orflatterv soothe the dull cold ear of death? "Full many a gem of purest ray serene The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear ; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air." We often observe two individuals apparently endowed with equal gifts, mentally and physically, and surrounded with equal advantages for culture and improvement — sometimes brothers and sisters in a family — one rises to honor and true greatness, the other falls into snares of shame and disgrace. Why this great difference? r Jhe cause must be found in the ^act that there are, somewhere in the realm of mental and moral possibilities, provisions by which, properly observed, true honor and success are attained; and, disregarded, one is invariably driven to the wall. Those who have been most successful in making their own lives useful, and in handing down to posterity an example of a spotless character have done so, not by any specia-1 favor of providential guidance, but on the other hand it has been simply the result of placing them- selves in harmony with the laws which Nature has estab- lished for the government of the mental, moral and material universe. "Know then, thyself, presume not God to scan ; The proper study of mankind is man." It is not all of life merely to live; in the life of every one there is some grand purpose to be accomplished ; and he who would prove himself worthy the space he occu- SELECTIONS. 15 pies, and would be recognized among men must battle valiantly and rightfully to attain such heights intellectual- ly and socially as he can hold undisputedly his own. And to this end it is necessary that you set your aims high, di- vide your time well, apply yourselves diligently, strive to master thoroughly o very branch of knowledge to which your attention is directed ; otherwise, you will learn, and that too, to your own sad experience, that, in whatever field your lot may be cast, the demand comes, in tones loud and distinct, for men and women of II. CULTURED MINDS AND BROAD VIEWS. Sir Alexander Hamilton once remarked to an intimate friend: "Men give me some credi't for genius. All the genius I have is just this — when J have a subject on hand I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort I make is what the people call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought." What is true in the case of Hamilton is true in nearly every case where men have become the world's groat benefactors. Therefore think not that you were born to poverty and insignificance. Every one has within him- self the germ of genius and greatness. Each one has within himself the spark of nobility. But that germ must be nurtured ; that spark must be kindled into a blazing flame. In other words, you must admit the fact, and act upon the principle that genius is simply the fruit of labor and thought. Then be not satisfied with merely skimming over the surface of knowledge ; dig deep and drink from the bottom of the fountain. 16 SELECTIONS, Says Lord Bacon, "Reading maketh a full man; writing an exactm an; conference, a ready man,'' And again, he says '•Histories make men wise; poets, witty; mathematics subtle natural philosophy, deep; moral philosophy, grave." An- other writer has said that whatever subject you undertake to study never be satisfied until you have so mastered it that you can reach your arms around it and clinch you r hands on the other side. Let me remind you that this kind of application to study not only stores the mind with fact, but gives culture, and develops the reasoning faculties, and consequently gives depth and breadth of.thoughc. I le who has a cultured mind can make himself useful in hundreds of w ays that he could not if he simply "had his mind stored with mere facts. And he who has broad views on subjects of private and public concern is the one who can lessen the friction of human society and give speed to the wheels of progress. Some of onr greatest men of genius have had the poor-. est of circumstances and advantages under which to labor; and what they have accomplished have been simply the fruit of labor and of thought. They have done so by their patience, by their perseverance, by their indomitable will. He who would write his name indelibly in the memories of his fellow-men , and would live in example through the ages of time, can do so if he will only make a proper use of all those mental and physical powers ;with which Na- ture and Nature's God have endowed him. God has placed success within the grasp of every one. All you have to do is to put forth the hand and it is yours. But sometimes it requires a persistent effort and will to put forth the hand. While it may not be within the power of every one to SELECTIONS. 17 make a complete success in the affairs of state, in the field of law, or in the science of medicine, it is within his pow- er to make himself felt in some activity of life, and he can become great in his ability to think, be, and do good. Remember that every good deed elevates the doer; every noble thought ennobles the thinker; every true exertion both of mind and body, lifts the actor one step nearer the plane of true manhood or womanhood. In the language of the poel, "I count this thing to be grandly true, That a noble deed is a step toward God, Lifting the soul from the common sod To purer air and a broader view." If man, by his culture and skill, can relieve the pain and lessen the ills of life; or, by his persuasive words of ad- montion, direct some one to tread the "royal path" of life or, by the power of truth and eloquence, defend the inno cent in face of the sophistries of his accusors; or, by the sinue of his hand, add something to the world's great ac- tivities; or, from the richness ot his mind contribute some substantial product to the common stock of civilization, though his name be denied to history, it is written on the imperishable pages of time, and if he has lived a consis- tent life, that life has been a success — he has met the de- mands of the hour. If woman, by the training of her hand, by the culture of her mind, by the improvement ot her nobler nature, can bring into the home two rays of sunshine where before shone only one, or inspire the mind of man to higher aims and to loftier themes, or magnify true nobility and inspire manly dignity add to the total sum of human happiness by the purity and consistency of her life, that life has been 18 SELECTIONS. & success — she has met the demands of the hour. Finally allow me to say, that when we look over the broad extent of this land and behold the hydra-headed embodiment of moral stagnation in every city, town and hamlet, dethroning reason, desolating our homes and lay- ing waste our land and country, there can be no question that temperance and moral reform are the great problems of the hour, demanding the best brain, the greatest energy and the brightest intellect the race and this nation can produce. Those who are being educated can not afford to stop short of that preparation which will place them in rank with those who are foremost in bringing about these re- forms by their example of living as well as by their pre- cepts. Should you stop short of this kind of preparaton you could not expect, when entering the field, to meet the demands of fhe hour. You who are being prepared for life r s labors, and with whom will rest the Devine charge of guarding the sauc- tity of home, of rearing and training the youth of the land, and of making the fuiure what it ought to be, will have no greater nor more important 1ask than that of teaching by example. You will often have the painful task of teaching those who are your superiors both in age and in experiaace. Then ;*emember the lines of Pope: "Men must be taught as though you taught them not And things unknown proposed as things forgot." It is commonly imputed 1o us that as a, race our moral development has not kept pace with our material and in- tellectual advancement. But when it is boruein mind that we have to battle not only against the imperfections trans- SELECTIONS. 19 milted through several generations of ancestry in the se vei e school of involuntary servitude, but also against the various evils of intemperance springing up in modern times and then number the comfortable and well regulat- ed homes all over this country, the Negro is to be credited for the moral development he has made as well as he is to be congratulated upon his material and intellectual ad- vancement. Notwithstanding the advanced steps we have taken, we have not yet reached the goal by far. And an impartial, intelligent, broad view of our condition and surroundings, will reveal the fact that these demands to which your at- tention has been called come no less nor scarcely any more imperatively to the members of the Negro race than to those of the Caucasian race. But we are a separate, distinct people. ^Ve have our part to perform, they have theirs. And though, both by custom and by statutory law, we are thus constituted a distinct people, subject to various disadvantages, yet we are so related by the ties of a common nationality and of a common Fatherhood that their enlightenment means our elevation and safety : our elevation, their advancement ; and the enlightenment, social elevation, and continued advancement ot both races, and nothing short of this means the grandeur and glory of America. -Sy&s THE FlMEe [Graduating Oration, June 18th, 1885.] If we gaze upon a masterpiece of art, or behold the variegated aspect of a beautiful landscape when the. vernal sun is just creeping forth from behind the oriental hills, there seems to steal over us a mysterious feeling miugled with awe and admiration. Hidden qualities are they that thus dwell in the beautiful scenes of art and nature ; such as can be neither fully perceived by the eye nor perfectly comprehended by the understanding. "What is it in an exquisite design of art that can thus awaken such pleasant emotions in the human breast? What is it in a beautiful landscape that can thus call forth the most serene re- sponse of the immortal soul? The inquiry may be made, but what philosopher is able to set it forth in clear light to the human mind ? It is He, only, who controls this mysterious power, and can understand its nature. It is He who implanted in the human soul this adaptedness and inclination to admire whatever is grand, noble and sublime. Go stand at the base of Bunker Hill Monument and gaze SELECTIONS. 21 upon its lofty column as it towers above the clouds to kiss the sky ; go stand by the tomb of the immortal Luther and meditate upon his incipient movements which resulted in the achievement of one of the most illustrious reforma- tions recorded in the annals of history ; go view the magnificent dome of the great cathedral of St. Peter's of Rome, and think ot the world renowned Machael Angelo whose skillful hand superintended the structure of those exceedingly massive walls — fit scenes are they to thrill the human breast with deep emotions and lead the energetic mind to aspire for the achievement of I. INDIVIDUAL FAME. If there be an individual in whom there remains no trace of a desire to reach fame and renown, it is only he who has had his highest hopes blighted, his noblest springs of action benumbed and his very spirit of manhood completely crushed. This craving desire may be denied, or designedly kept concealed; nevertheless, it is a principle, inherent in the very nature and constitution of the human mind. It is a principle that actuates not only men of superior culture and refinement, but even those in the most savage and uncivilized state. Take from man this, his noble trait of character and he sinks into a condition that is worse than barbarous. Would man rise to that distinction called great? Would he have his name arched in characters of living light? Let him first learn that the secret of this success is obtained only through the teachings of Him in whose right hand are the reins of the universe. The beautiful bud in the forest may bloom, flourish and decay, never once beheld by human eye; but it has accom- 22 SELECTIONS. plished its full purpose. So it is with in any individuals. They contend tenaciously to gain the mastery over the foe of life, labor assiduously to climb the hill of fame,and pass off the stage of activity, never seen or known beyond the narrow circle in which they moved ; yet in the walks of life, frequently have they met their fellow-men over- burdened with responsibilities or verging too near the awful precipice of moral despondency, poured upon their heads the oil of gladness, stimulated them by the cautious words of admonition, and induced them to resume the erect attitude of moral and intellectual manhood. Such individuals, though they have never stood in the van of vast armies and signaled the victory of war : though they have never been honored with titles or sent as repre- sentatives to foreign lands; though they have never thronged the senate-halls or swayed vast audiences by the power of their eloquence, yet, worthy are they as human benefactors and justly do they deserve to have their names enrolled among the truly great. The revolving planets in their periodic course can, of themselves, neither stimulate human life with light and vigor nor cause the green-carpeted earth to bud and bloom in its full verdure of spring; yet, for the stability of the solar system, they are j ust as essential as the meridian sun crowned with all his majestic awe. Let the least con- fusion step in to hinder their established course: "Let earth, unbalanced from her orbit fly, Planets and sun run lawless through the sky," and '•Heav'n's whole foundations to their center nod, And nature tremble to the throne of God." Equally true is it in the moral and intellectual world- In society, many ranks are there to be filled. However SELECTIONS. 23 menial they may appear, he who has the adaptability and courage to enter them and fully performs his life-task, whether it be in the minor circles of activity or in the highest walks of life, is an important and essential factor in the progress aud stability o.' human society. In the great struggle to reach fame, some have miscon- ceived the power by which it is achieved, and have fallen ' in the very beginning of the race; others, like a meteor, have shot forth and, for a short time, shown with great brilliancy and then disappeared entirely forgotten; others, with keen foresight, courage and valor, have made noble efforts, successiully climbed the rugged height,reachedthe pinnacle of fame and erected to their memories enduring monuments of the finest marble and the costliest granite. This adaptness and inclination to admire the beautiful and sublime; this, noble aspiration for the achievement of fame; this inherent tendency and fixedness of purpose faithfully to accomplish the moral aud intellectual mission of life, and these longings of the human race to reward with emoluments and crown with laurels the lives of victors, are exercised for the noblest purpose and to the highest avail when directed to the attainment and per- petuity of II. NATIONAL FAME. From the early dawn ot civilization the race has present- ed an unevenly developed history of progress. In the on- ward march, nations have risen, reached their zenith and wielded the scepter; but where are they to-day? As one nation has sunk beneath the pressure of foreign and domestic foes, others, with all the accumulated products of preceding ages, have entered upon the stage of activity. 24 . SELECTIONS. Thns succeeding nations have entered the van with greater prospects for the attainment of a higher state of national development. Nations of antiquity have proved to the world what art. science and literature can effect for civilization. Modem nations, building up the bulwarks of antiquity, have opened new fields of discovery, presented broader views of science and industry, made possible the attainment of greater moral and intellectual freedom, and obliterated the superstitions and mysticisms of mythological ages by the brilliant light of truth and philosophy. Since it is an innate principle in man to aspire for the perfection of national as well as individual development, it is of prime importance that there be set forth in bold relief the essential principles of which national greatness consists. That nation whose foreign relations are tarnished by the atrocity of wars, whose domestic policy and principles of government do not secure the freedom of thought, the encouragement of virtue and the suppression of vice, how- ever broad her domain, however extensive her foreign possessions, however rich her internal resources, can not be called truly great. Of what then does national great- ness consist, other than the aggregate development of individuals bound together under one form of government whose principles are founded upon the concentration of common interests and so administered as to secure and maintain the moral, intellectual and material progress of all her constituents ? While there is a great galaxy of individuals whose un- told fame has made its impress upon the world, no where SELECTIONS. 25 but in the minds of kings and emperors and in the theories of men are there to be found nations whose entire career deserves to be recorded as truly great. Egypt may justly be prized as the cradle in which was rocked the civilization of the world; Greece, for her principles of democracy and classic lore; Rome, for her municipal laws and pride of country; France, for her polite letters and social genius; Germany, for her scholastic philosophy and independence of thought; England, for her material industry and commercial enterprise, and, proud America may be admired as the receptacle of all these elements, and, by their assimilation with her own, it is possible for her to reach that high and noble state of civilization which the human race is destined to attain. We may form higher conceptions of American possibilities than a few decades or centuries may witness; yet the numerous examples of individual attainments, the wonderfully constituted nature of human society for an unlimited degree of development, the natural resources and accumulated advantages to which the American people have access, form an invincible proof that, by vigil- ance, prudence, foresight and a due portion of patriotism, this nation can attain a degree of advancement far be- yond what has ever before been attained in the history of the world. CMlBIie STABS 6F SOCIETY. [Written for the Paul Quinn Monthly.] Societies, as well as individuals, have character and reputation. The character and reputation of an indi- vidual are not always identical. The same is true of society. Because he never appeared before the masses ouly in his pomp and splendor, and consequently his real character not being known to them, the despot of antiquity was re- garded as a supernatural being, feared and treated with undeserved honor. In those times, sovereign power resided in, and pro- ceed from the throne. And he who sat upon the throne was the guarding star of society. But moderns have learn- ed that the people are sovereign, Hence the character, reputation and destiny of modern society are in the hands of the people. A careful inspection of modern society reveals the fact that those influences that protect society from danger and SELECTIONS. 27 secure if against surprise and attack, come largely from teachers and ministers; hence they are the guarding stars of society. With all the modern inventions, improvements and in- dustries, a community without its well-established schools and churches — its teachers and preachers — can but be in a state of barbarism aud insecurity. Possibly the minister wields the greater intjuence over tho^e of his tim^s; but the influence of the teacher is felt iu molding the smtiment of the rising generation. The work of the teacher, then, can hardly be of less impor- tance than that of the minister. The teacher wields an in- fluence of which he himself is unaware. Those, then, who enter these important fields of labor,to shine as light in darkness, to be responsible for the for- mation of public sentiment aud to guard society against corrupting influences that are so prevalent, ought, of all persons, be men and women of refined taste of broad culture, firm in morals and deeply concerned in all the varied interests of tne community and public at large. How many of your teachers and preachers fill this bill ? Are you satisfied with them? Why not smooth their rough edges and check their unbridled tendencies ? They are not beyond advice aud counsel. Let the masses say that they will admit to these im- portant trusts none but the most fit and competant, and society 'will awaken as with newness of life." 11MTI0I. [Written for the PaulQuinn Monthly.] Ambition is an eager desire of preferment or power. But few persons are as much dreaded and spurned as the ambitious, yet to this class of men the world is indebted for its grand achievements. It is ambition that impels man to aim high ; it is for the want of it that he fails to command the respect of his fel- low-man. It is unbridled ambition that induces man to over-rule law and order, and to abrogate the rights of others; it is slumbering or crushed ambition that fails to assert its claims, and even suffers the honor of manhood to be trammeled in the dust. Crushed within him everysense of mauly pride, and what is man? He is but ambulant dust to be ground by the powers that be, and drifted about as sand before the wind. With two hundred and fifty years of crushed am- bition, what propensity needs more to be aroused in the Negro to-day? Ye who have charge of our youth ! What principles shall ye instill in their grasping minds ? Ye who instruct I What lessons of history shall ye pre- SELECTIONS. 29 seat for consideration? Ye who educate! What powers of mind, soul and strength shall ye develop ? Oh ! Ye immortal souls of earth, Winged forth from God's eternal Thone ! Let manly pride and self-respect The Negro race inspire alone. Say 1 Ye who tread yon sacred height, Does God still rule o'er man and earth? Why, then, shall we, the ?ons of Ham, For aye remain of lowly birth ? Roll on ! dark days, let truth prevail : The darkest hour preceeds the dawn. Hark ! the Clarion's note, distinct, I hear ; It can't be long till radiant morn. BtoeiirtifciL SIETCI. No vh Anthony Banks was born near East Liberty, Logan County, Ohio, March 6, 1859. His grandfather Anthony Banks, of old Virginia blood, reared in those days while the voice of liberty echoed along the hills and vales of this "land of the free/' took the liberty to immi- grate into the state of Ohio. He was a man of prominent features, and was blessed with a hardy constitution, and was one of the early pioneers who leveled the forests and improved the farms of Central Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days on a part of the original farm owned by his grandfather. His father, Washington Banks, came up in those days when there were no railroads in Ohio, and when the farmers of his section used to haul wheat, corn, hay etc., to Cincinnati to market, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. As the forests were then very dense, and the country thinly populated, the highways were often covered with new-fallen timber and the road-sides infested with wild beasts, which made the ax and gun necessary companions SELECTIONS. 31 in traveling. His lather was for several years a private student of law,but his predilection for farming biased him in that direction, and he subsequently became a farmer and trader, whose produce and stock contributed to the increase in valuation of Ohio farms and to the establishing of stock markets. The son, Noah, is the second youngest of six children, three of whom are still living. The mother, a woman of strong inclinations toward a literary life, died while the son was in his fourth year. She had instructed the eider children at home in the common branches, the eldest daughter having become a teacher by the instruction re- ceived under the parental roof. Of the four sons, one be- came a fanner, one a brickmason and the younger two are teachers. The only living sister, inclined toward house industries, settled upon the farm. Eeing the only colored family in Ihe neighborhood, the younger children were instructed at home by the elder ones; Noah, the youngest, having spent six months m the public schools at home. lie was the only colored child in school, but was highly respected by all. Of the three prizes awarded on spelling, writing and good behavior respectively, he won the laster two. Being very fond of stock and of farming, and also much inclined to use the carpenter's tools, his father thought he would either make young Anthony a fanner or a mechanic. Tut as the boy advanced in years, he became more inclined to a literary course of life. "While quite young, having a natural inclination to use the slate and pcucil, he was often depended upon to make computations when his father made trades and sales of stock and pro 32 SELECTIONS. duce. He was also strongly inclined toward a musical course, both vocally and instrumentally, and became a violinist and an instructor of violin music. This latter gift he has not exercised in later years, because it is not much approved by his church. Tn December, 188O, Mr. Banks entered Wilberforce University, two years' preparatory work to be mastered before entering upon his course, making six years work in all to graduate from the department of science. This work he completed in four school years, and though having remained out of school the greater part of one school year, he graduated with high honors in 1885, in a class of eight persons representing seven states. During his first school year, mathematics was his favorite study, especiall algebra, gemoetry and trigonometry. His examination papers show that in algebra he stood perfect eight successive times, and though he made up trigonometry while out of school, on the final examination he stood ninety-nine and one-half per cent, on the scale of a hundred. In his latter school life, and since graduating, his favorite studies have been those of science and of history. Prof. Banks is a close student of nature, and has given considerable attention to the study of medicine. His success as a student is due to his systematic method of studying. The consideration of no subject takes place out of its allotted time, and his method has always been to finish one subject before taking up another. His regular amount of sleep is seven and one-half or eight hours,which he seldom fails to take. In mental temperament he is disposed to be patient and calm, though deeply in earnest SELECTIONS. S3 and occasionally becomes enthusiastic on subjects of great interest. In physicial constitution he is of a fibrous structure, six feet high, weighs about one hundred and sixty-five pounds, and has a constitution capable of endur- ing a great deal of physical exertion, which he seems to take with a relish. In 1883, when seeking a school, he received a recom- mendation from Dr. B. F. Lee, then president of Wilber- force University, stating: "This is to certify that Mr. N. A. Banks is a student of this university. He has the entire confidence of the iaculty; has taught several classes here with satisfaction to all concerned as to ability to teach and to govern. He will fill with credit any position to which he may be appointed. After graduating in 1885, receiving the degree of B. S., he was appointed Professor of higher mathematics at Paul Quinn College, which position he held two years, resigning in the spring of 1887. In the following fall he was appointed Principal of one of the schools at Austin, Texas. While an applicant for the appointment he wrote to his native state for recommendations,and among others, a prominent Ohio man responded as follows: Belfontain, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1887. Mr. A. P. Wooldridge, President School Board, Austin. Texas: Mr. Noah A. Banks has asked me to state to you what I know of his former life. Noah A. Banks was born in Perry township, Logan County, Ohio, within less than a mile of my own home, and was my neighbor until a few years ago. He was universally respected among his neighbors as an honest 84 SELECTIONS. industrious and quiet boy. His conduct and good qualities, won him many enthusiastic friends who would rejoice to know of his perfermont in high positions in your state. Be attended the white public schools in my schooi dis- trict and made special advancement in his studies. About the year 1880, he left this part of Ohio to attend college at, I think* Wilberforce University* and graduated at this university with high honors. He visited his old home some two or three years ago, and lectured in the M. E; Church at East Liberty, O., in his old neighborhood, and his audience was weH pleased to greet him with great cordiality. You will find him an upright, honorable and intelligent gentleman. Respectfully, J. D. Inskeep. He resigned the position at the close of the first session, and prepared to take a regular course of medical studies, but was called to his old place at Paul Quinn College. Prof. Banks has been an enthusiastic worker among, and for our people ever since he has been in the state, and has. in some way or other, been connected, not only with every general movement among the colored people for the bettering of their condition, but he has taken a decided stand against everything that tends to retard the reforma- tion of society in general. .• He professed Christianity in 1880, and joined the M. E. Church, but soon after, while attending Wilberforce Uuiversity, joined the A. M. E. Church. He is one of those Christians who believe in giving the savor of ex- ample to precept. He favored the proposed Prohibitory Amendment to the SELECTIONS. 35 state constitution in 1887, and made speeches in favor of its adoption. He was one of the founders of the Paul Quinn Monthly, and ed'ted the first volume, besides attending to his duties as instructor. His editorial work elicited praise from the white papers all over the country. We quote the following, which appeared in the Paul Quinn Monthly while edited by him: WHAT THEY SAY. Prof. II. T. Kealing of Prairie View State Normal says: "For general neatness of make-up, quality of paper and aptness of selection of matter, I give the Monthly un- stinted praise." The Taxtl Quinn Monthly is on our table. It is an honor to the African race, and we congratulate its editors and publishers on its splendid appearance.— Waco Daily Examiner. We welcome among our exchanges a visitor from Waco, Texas the Paul Quinn Monthly, a neat eight-page paper, published by the Paul Quinn College, an institution owned and managed by colored men. — The Signet, (Kochester, N. Y.) We might quote from many others, but space will not allow. Now we say to our many readers, if you think these and similar testimonies are based upon real facts; if you think that the Paul Quinn Monthly has any promise for the future, will you not give it your support by securing a few subscribers? Let each subscriber secure two others, and help us to increase its circulation. We do not ask every colored person in the United States to subscribe, but only ask for a good circulation throughout 36 SELECTIONS. the "Great Southwest," and especially throughout the Lone Star state. Also, in 1887, he read a paper on "High Schools" before the Texas State Colored Teachers' Association; delivered the annual address before the societies at Paul Quinn College in 1888. If we are to judge from a standpoint of ability, push, and a correct idea as to what constitutes "True Fame," we can feel safe in saying the future career of Professor Banks will be exceptionally bright. For the Best IN THE STATE, GO to W. D. Jackson's. OLD PICT01ES Copied and Enlarged. Waco, - Texas. THOMAS & DECKERD DEALERS IN Stationery, School Supplies, books, &c. 403 Austin Ave., WACO, T[l0£ TOiflf \ B^O. State Agents for the EMERSON, WEBER, and other Standard PIAN OS GALVESTON, AUSTIN, WACO. HOUSTON rf* SAN ANTONIO. Established 1866. fl^THOS. G OGAN & BRO. Sell Pianos and Organs on Easy Payments withou Notes or Interest. B. F. LEWIS, BARBER, FIRST CLASS Work guarnteed. Sharpened, 25 Cents. 124 South Third Street, Waco, - Texas. Jones & Goodloe, 407 AUSTIN STREET, Solicits the trade of the readers of this Book. Call and see the FINEST LINK OF CLOTHING, HATS and FURNISHING Goods in Waco. DO YOU NEED A TEXAS HISTORY enable you 10 pass the Examination ON THAT SUBJECT? If so, send 75 cts. to Sup't. P. V. Pennybacker, at Tyler, Texas. [Mention tVi is pamphlet.] Headquarters for School Supplies. Cheapest Book House in Texas. School and ivliscellaneous Books, Sta- tionery, musical instruments, Plush G o o d s and Holiday Novelties, etc. ARTIST'S 325 Austin Ave., Waco, - Texas. Do You want a First Class If so, subscribe for The Fueeman. the greatest Negro journal in America, and the only ILLUSTRATED COLORED NEWSPAPER Published. Address E. E. Cooper, Publisher, Indianapolis, Indiana. « ',^ VX7ot-.+^vrl Everywhere. Send for Jnstruc- Agents Wanted t( ens. R. II. CHAMBERLIN & CO., REAL ESTATE AGENTS, MONEY - TO - LOAN VENDOR'S LIEN NOTES BOUGHT. R. M. Chamberlin, Notary Public, Joues New Block, Franklin Street, Waco. O. JACKO S ART I DALLAS, TEXAS. Have your pictures enlarg- ed. We will make all sizes from 8x10 to 50x80 in crayon and pastel painting. All our Pictures We guar- antee to last 100 years. We do nothing but first class work. Colored Art gallery at Dallas, Texas. THE Paul Quinn Monthly, A NEAT EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL, —AND THE ilY p«p] PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE COLORED PEOPLE. Clean, Fresh and Reliable. Sixteen Pages, Containing- Reports of Society Meetings and School Work of the College, with Essays on a variety of Subjects by Students and Friends. ONLY ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM. SUBSCRIBE. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS