The American Missionary | Page 4

I promise, and I
require the same execution of their side of the bargain. _And I pay
them just what I agree to pay them._ They work six days every week. I
give them a chance to attend a funeral or church service if they keep up
the work."
A prominent contractor, builder and brick-maker in Thomasville, Ga.,
employs from one hundred to three hundred Negroes constantly in all
branches of his business. He says: "They are a patient, reliable class of
workers. If a man will be fair with them and do as he agrees, he will
never have trouble. They are not cranky as some white workmen. They
do the finest part of mason's and carpenter's work well."
These two men are native Southerners, whose parents were large slave
owners.
Fault is found with the Negro on the coast line, wherever the turpentine
business exists, because he will not work on the plantations. The
turpentine work with its "boxing," "scraping," "gathering" and
"distilling," is all piece-work, paid in cash. The Negroes are among the
trees before daylight and work till dark. By so doing they earn 75c.,
$1.00 or $1.25 per day. The plantations pay "rations"--a peck of
common meal and four pounds of bacon per week, and 35c. to 50c. per
day, the latter mostly in promises.
A lady in New Orleans who keeps a popular boarding house for tourists
said, when Straight University was mentioned, "Just as soon as a
colored girl goes to school she is good for nothing afterward. She won't
work. I've lost several bright, likely girls that way." Inquiry shows that
the lady pays five dollars per month and requires the help to sleep at
home. A constant demand is made on our Normal Department for
teachers for from twenty to forty dollars per month. Strange that
educated colored young men and women will not "work!"
* * * * *
PARAGRAPHS.
Dr. Roy, in his lantern lectures, sometimes meets with pleasant
incidents. Recently, at East Saginaw, before the General Association of
Michigan, coming to Fisk University on his programme, he had

brought on his canvas pictures of the Jubilee Singers, Jubilee and
Livingstone Halls and of Jowett, one of the students, and when he came
to present Mr. Ousley and his wife, a venerable man jumped up and
remarked, "We received Mr. Ousley and his wife at the Zulu Mission
on their way to East Central Africa. So also Miss Jones. Within two
weeks I have received from Mr. Ousley his photograph." This man was
Rev. Dr. Rood, for forty years a missionary among the Zulus, just now
back to this country. After the lecture, Mr. Rood told Dr. Roy that Mr.
Ousley was one of the most level-headed men in the mission, and so
had been made the treasurer of the mission--a good tribute to one of
Fisk's graduates.
* * * * *
Our readers will remember an account in our last month's magazine of
a communion service held by Rev. T.L. Riggs at one of the out-stations
where he was obliged to use the back of a hymnbook covered with a
napkin for a plate, and a tin cup for a baptismal bowl. It gives us
pleasure to say that Mr. Riggs has received from Mrs. Farnam of New
Haven, a beautiful and complete traveling communion service closely
packed in a small morocco case, with the needful linen, which also
goes in the case. One piece fits into another in such a way that the
whole service takes up scarcely more room than is required for the
largest piece. Mrs. Farnam also sent suitable bags for the different
pieces, so that Mr. Riggs, when he goes on horse-back can carry them
in his saddle pouches. This is certainly the right gift in the right place.
* * * * *
The New York Sun says: The merchants of Chinatown have heard of the
Johnstown disaster and have contributed their share to the relief of the
survivors. Tom Lee explained the matter to them, and at a mass
meeting at the Chinese municipal hall on Tuesday a subscription was
opened. Here is a list of some of the subscribers: Tuck High, $15; Tom
Lee, $50; Sang Chong, $15; Sinn Quong On, $15; Kwong Hing Lung,
$15; Kwong Chin Cheong, $15; Yuet Sing, $10; Yuen Kee, $10; Wo
Kee, $15; Ju Young Keau, $2; Wong Chin Foo, $3; Wing Wah Chong,
$15; Jow Shing Pong, $3; Ham Lum Chin, $3; Mai Li Wa, $2; Kwong
Yin Lung, $15; Quong Lung Yuen, $15 and Ung Wah, $10.
* * * * *
The New York Tribune says: It appears from a report made to the

Presbyterian Assembly that the mountain districts of North Carolina,
Southwest Virginia, Southern and Eastern Kentucky and Eastern
Tennessee