The American Missionary. Volume 42, No. 07, July, 1888

In behalf of visitors from the Raymond Excursion, it gives me great pleasure to express to the officers and students of Straight University our thanks for the interesting reception we have received at their hands. We have come from a long way off, for sight-seeing, and the study of the country, but here we find something more than the wild mountains, and desolate plains, and border towns, that are to make up so much of the interest of our journey. Through institutions like this, a problem suggested to me in one of your streets will find solution. I visited the Republican State Convention in session, to see ex-Governor Kellogg, whom I had known in his boyhood among the Green Mountains, and who was one of the officers of the convention. While there I listened to several speeches from colored men, which, for clearness of thought and pathos of oratory, would have done credit to any public speaker in the country. I have since learned, with great pleasure, that several of these gentlemen were graduates of this University. On leaving the convention, when scarcely a block away, I met a well-dressed gentleman, and naturally fell into conversation about the convention. The gentleman claimed to have inherited the blood of Boston, but had lived twenty years in New Orleans. With respect to the convention, he said: "I tell you, sir, the white people here will never consent to be governed by a lot of ignorant Negroes, like those in that convention!" I have thought on this statement, and coming here, I find its solution. Knowledge is power, whether its possessor be white or black, and unless the white people of the South make the education of their children more of a paramount interest than heretofore, they will find the learning and muscle, the precedents of wealth, combined in the colored race. The rural population will find that they need for themselves and their children a better knowledge than can be acquired from the court-house, saloon, or the village tavern.

It is an interesting thought, that these students will go from this institution back to their low-down homes on the borders of rice fields and cotton plantations, where their fathers and mothers have toiled in slavery, and by an inspiration that is divine, will dissipate the dark memories of the past, and will show, by precept and example, that sanctification of spirit and purity of life will shape the destiny of their race for coming time. Again we thank you for this interview.

JOHN M. STEARNS

VALUED APPRECIATION

B.M. Zettler, Esq., who for many years has been in charge of the public schools of Macon, Ga., and who has, therefore, eminent qualifications for pronouncing judgment in regard to schools and school work, has written the following in reference to the Lewis Normal Institute of Macon. We are always glad to welcome the inspection of our schools by our Southern friends, and are specially gratified with their approval of our work.

Having had this year for the first time since Lewis School was placed under your charge, an opportunity to see the institution "from the inside," I desire to place in your hands a brief statement of my impressions concerning the school and its work. And while I do this (without solicitation) for the encouragement of yourself and associates, I have no objection to the use of the statement in any way that you may see fit. I confess I was not prepared to see so many practical, common-sense features in the school. I refer especially to the well conducted industrial departments, and the prominence given to moral training.

The teachers impressed me as being not only qualified, zealous and skillful, but as possessing a genuine interest in their work that is as inspiring as it is beautiful and becoming. The results of their labors as I witnessed them in the closing exercises were such as always follow where skill, good judgment and zeal are brought to bear.

I am satisfied that you, and the noble ladies associated with you, are doing a good work among our colored people, and that, too, in a way that leaves no room with fair-minded men for adverse criticism in any direction. In leaving our city for the summer vacation, you take with you my earnest wish that you may have a season of genuine rest and recuperation and that a kind Providence may return you to us in the fall, to continue your "labor of love" in Macon.

THE CHINESE

Our missions in San Francisco observed their thirteenth (public) anniversary on Sunday evening, May 30th, at Bethany Church. The audience—partly American, partly Chinese—crowded not the pews only, but most of the aisles. The service was impressive and deeply interesting. Lack of space forbids my attempting to describe it in detail, but I forward for the readers of the MISSIONARY the following address, delivered by Fung Jung, who has recently entered upon work as a missionary helper.

    WM. C. POND.

SCHOOL LIFE IN CHINA

I suppose you would like to hear about the school life of the children in China. The girls are never sent to school, as the Chinese do not think it is necessary for girls to be educated. Nearly every boy is sent to school at about the same age as your American boys, six or seven. From this time the boy's playing days are over. If the teacher sees or hears that any one has been playing after the school hour, he would be severely punished. What would your American boys think of such treatment?

School begins at the first dawning of light, and closes when we can see to read no more. No intermission is allowed, excepting for the pupils to go home to get their meals. The first thing in the morning we begin to study the book of Confucius, all the pupils studying aloud. We shall have to recite to the teacher very soon. When we go up to recite, we must hand the book to the teacher and turn our faces from him. This gives no chance to see which word comes next. This is called backing the book. The consequences will be very sad should we fail in reciting our lessons. A new lesson is then assigned if we recite well. School dismisses for the pupils to go home for breakfast at 9 o'clock. The writing lesson begins as soon as we come back. We study again, and write again, and our copy books are examined by the teacher. The nest time we recite, the teacher picks out ten of the hardest characters from our lesson to see if we recognize them. We shall have much trouble this time if we miss. The teacher will inflict some curious punishment upon us and will say, "You know this very well, I suppose, but the trouble is, you are too old to study your lesson, and I am afraid you cannot see; I will give you a pair of spectacles for a present. Perhaps that may help you to see." Then he takes some red ink and draws a large circle around both eyes, and then we may go home for lunch. No one is allowed to clean it till coming back to school. Hardly any one with such marks wishes to go home for lunch; every one who saw you would know you had been in disgrace.

We come back for our afternoon's work. The first part we spend in writing, and the remainder of the day preparing our lesson for the next morning. For the slightest offense the children are whipped severely. The teachers are so strict, that it is no wonder the children run away from school; some go fishing, or else to the woods hunting birds' nests. If the boys see anybody not belonging to their company they will climb up a tree as high as the branch can hide them from view. All you boys will know the reason we are afraid any one should see us. I remember running away from school once, but unfortunately my father sent my sister to the school for me to go home on business. As she could not find me, my father knew I had not been to school that day. I went home for lunch about the time school dismissed. When I got home, the first question my father asked was, "School dismissed?" I answered, "Yes sir." He then said, "How did you get along with your lesson?" I answered, "First class." "And who was the first one in the class to-day?" I answered, "I am, sir." Then I noticed his voice seemed to have an angry tone, and he said, "Are you sure you have been to school?" I answered, "Of course I did, do you think I am a liar?" I got terribly whipped this time, and when I went to school in the afternoon, I also got a whipping from the teacher. I did not have any more chance for running away from school this year, for I was too closely watched. The children of China, you see, have no pleasant time as you American boys and girls.

The high schools are quite different from the primary. The students have to lodge and board in the school-house. We get up in the morning before daybreak to study; the teacher and all the students go to the explanation hall for our lesson. The teacher explains the meaning of the lesson, and in the afternoon we are expected to recite and give the explanation as given by the teacher. This is the hardest work of the whole day. Our evening lesson is studying essays and poems by Chinese Princes. About eleven o'clock school closes, and in a very few minutes I am sure you will find no one awake. In winter time we manage to get about six hours for sleep, but in summer only about four. We generally sleep a little while at the noon recess. It would not be surprising if when the teacher could not see us, we try to take a little nap in our seat. Each boy has a table to himself. None of the scholars sit erect as your American custom. Every boy leans his head upon his hands, so that he can manage to take a little sleep when the teacher is not looking.

We are allowed two meals a day only, and students cannot tell the cook to prepare any private lunch. We can have as much tea as we wish. The only way we can get anything extra is to try and get the cook to buy it secretly, then it is very hard to get a chance to eat it without the teacher seeing. I remember once my teacher made a visit to his friends; usually he came back in about half an hour. When he was gone, I thought I could make a little lunch, and eat it before he came back. He came sooner than I expected. When I saw him coming back, I ran to my seat as fast as I could and left the lunch in the kitchen. When the teacher found out he told the cook to dish it up and he ate it. When he finished, he came to us with a smile on his face and said, "Whose cooking is this? If he tell me I will give him back the money." When I heard that, I thought it was true, and I never thought the teacher of the high school would tell stories and deceive me. So I said, "It is mine." After I said that, he walked slowly back to his seat. I thought he was going to give me back the money. I did wonder he did not ask me how much it cost. So I watched him and saw him take up the bundle of rattans. I guessed what was coming, and I guess I need not tell you the result. The children of Christian lands have much to be thankful for. I earnestly hope that soon the children of China will enjoy all the privileges which the Gospel brings.

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK

MISS D.K. EMERSON, SECRETARY

WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS

CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

ME.—Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.

VT.—Woman's Aid to A.M.A., Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

CONN.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.

N.Y.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.C. Creegan, Syracuse, N.Y.

ALA.—Woman's Missionary Association, Secretary, Mrs. G.W. Andrews, Talladega, Ala.

OHIO.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin, Ohio.

ILL.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St., Chicago, Ill.

MICH.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren, Lansing, Mich.

WIS.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead, Wis.

MINN.—Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. H.L. Chase, 2,750 Second Ave., South, Minneapolis, Minn.

IOWA.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh, Grinnell, Iowa.

KANSAS.—Woman's Home Miss. Society, Secretary, Mrs. Addison Blanchard, Topeka, Kan.

SOUTH DAKOTA.—Woman's Home Miss. Union, Secretary, Mrs. S.E. Young, Sioux Falls, Dak.

WOMAN'S TEMPERANCE WORK IN THE SOUTH

We regret that the color-line is rigidly drawn in some parts of the South, at least, in the woman's work for temperance. Too much praise cannot be given to the white women in the South for their zeal in this good cause. The day will probably come when they will extend the hand of fellowship to their equally earnest sisters of the less favored race, but at present they do not recognize them as fellow-workers in the same societies. Some of the extracts given below tell this unpleasant story. All of them, however, show that the colored women, undeterred by this ostracism, are throwing themselves with zeal and success into this good work.

STORRS SCHOOL, ATLANTA, GA

We have a W.C.T.U., also a Band of Hope. Our Union has increased very much in interest, as well as in numbers, during the year. The Band of Hope meets every Wednesday. It has a membership of one hundred and twenty-five, and an average attendance of seventy-five or eighty. Occasionally one or two ladies from the white W.C.T.U. will visit ours, but our Union is not recognized by the State Union. At one time a lady, acting then as President of our Union, went to the white Union, but she was so light that no one could know to what race she belonged, unless they knew her personally. There were no questions asked, and I don't suppose any one thought of her being colored. Our colored members would not be admitted. Our teachers would be, going by themselves.

TALLADEGA, ALA

We have a W.C.T.U., also a Loyal Temperance Legion. Our Union is auxiliary to the Second W.C.T.U. of the State, and we are not recognized by the First, or distinctively white organization. Colored members would not be admitted. Indeed I understand that the First Union has withdrawn from the National, because colored delegates were received on the same basis as white.

LOUISVILLE, KY

I endeavored when I first came to L–, to arouse an interest in temperance work among the people. I visited members of the white W.C.T.U. They assured me of their interest, and a Y.W.C.T.U. No. 2 was organized among the colored women. They were not anxious to be associated with the whites, but when the whites insisted that the name given them should be changed to Colored Y.W.C.T.U., the colored women refused, and the Union disbanded, since which time it has been impossible to arouse among them an interest in organized temperance work, much as it is needed. Colored women would not be admitted as members of a white Union.

WILMINGTON, N.C

We have a Temperance Society of about eighty members, and a Band of Hope of one hundred and sixty members, no W.C.T.U., and if there were, it could not have any co-operation with the white societies. Colored members would not be admitted to white societies.

LETTER FROM A TEACHER IN ATLANTA

When, last November, Atlanta voted to bring the deadly saloon back to our quiet streets, she brought also startling revelations of woman's power. We are accustomed to the refrain of "woman's sceptre," &c., with all its dulcet variations, but the wild threats of deluded wives if their sons or husbands voted for prohibition was a hitherto unheard of "wail from the inferno." Many an earnest Atlanta woman dates her re-consecration to the temperance cause from that awful Saturday night when her frenzied sisters in the public streets joined in the Bacchanalian revelries over the return of their cruel foe. Woman's Christian Temperance Unions at once sprang up in various parts of the city. So much has been done by colored women here, I feel that other A.M.A. centres may be encouraged by an account of it.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of East Atlanta, formed in 1885, is an inspiring gathering to visit, with a membership over fifty, and the programme of weekly meetings full and interesting. There are three female physicians in the city who cheerfully address the Union when desired. The pastor of the First Congregational Church, once a month, gives up the mid-week prayer meeting entirely into the hands of this Union. Last week at the close of one of these meetings, a young man told his sister it was the best prayer meeting he ever attended in his life. The Temperance Catechism has been thoroughly taught and illustrated. Committees of women are appointed to visit homes and solicit members or attendance on the Union. At the close of the meetings the women have access to a box of leaflets on social purity, training of children, &c., which they read and return.

Atlanta University has a Y.W.C.T.U., composed of over seventy girls in the Higher Normal department. I wish our Northern friends could look into their intelligent faces and watch their eager interest in this work. A committee for visiting the poor reports every week; the press superintendent reports her work, and if there is time reads what she sent to the papers; the social purity superintendent gives a little talk or has something read on the subject; and the most cheering thing of all is the report from our literature superintendents, who often report as many as thirty books or leaflets read during the week from our little circulating library. This library cost about five dollars.

Every officer in all these four Unions is a Negro except one. They preside with such intelligence, grace and dignity, that our Southern white ladies who sometimes visit them are enthusiastic in their praise. The Unions plan for a mass meeting every three months in some large church.

Its forty departments of organized work give each a place where she can do her best, and its opportunities for visiting the lowly are excellent. To give our money is generous, but to give ourselves is Christly. House-to-house visitation and personal contact of the ignorant and unfortunate with those who are only a little wiser and better, even, is a mighty elevator. A W.C.T.U. visiting committee with short terms of office, and so including a large number of women during the year, can, in an official capacity, call on a poor or wayward sister without antagonizing her or wounding her self-respect.