Chapter 10

He says: "Possibly no race that God has created has made such rapid progress in the same length of time as the Negro. As a rule, they should not be judged by the criminals among them who have become conspicuous in the newspapers for their evil deeds, but they should be judged from the honest, hard-working men and women, who, beginning with nothing, have in the course of one generation accumulated over $650,000,000 worth of real and personal property."

_How many Negroes in the 55th Congress of the United States?_

Only one--Hon. George H. White, of North Carolina.

_How many colored people own their own homes in this country?_

According to the census of 1890, there were 234,747 homes and farms, free from all incumbrance, owned by Negroes; and since that time the number has probably doubled.

_How many books have been written by Afro-Americans?_

More than 300 books written by Negro men and women have been published, while probably not more than fifty have had an extensive circulation. The "Afro-American Encyclopedia" has had the largest sale.

_How many newspapers are edited and published by Afro-Americans?_

Over 400.

_Name one of the leading papers in each of the several states._

The "Colored American," Washington, D. C.; the "Age," New York, N. Y.; the "Freeman," Indianapolis, Ind.; the "Gazette," Cleveland, O.; the "Courant," Boston, Mass.; the "Planet," Richmond, Va.; the "Gazette," Huntsville, Ala.; the "Southern Age," Atlanta, Ga.; the "Progress," Helena, Ark.; the "Elevator," San Francisco, Cal.; the "Statesman," Denver, Colo.; the "Sentinel," Pensacola, Fla.; the "Appeal," Chicago, Ill.; the "Herald," Leavenworth, Kans.; the "Standard," Lexington, Ky.; the "Afro-American," Baltimore, Md.; the "Enquirer," Charleston, S. C.; the "Woman's Messenger," Memphis, Tenn.; the "Republican," New Orleans, La.; the "American Citizen," Kansas City, Mo.; the "Progress," Omaha, Neb.; the "Gazette," Raleigh, N. C.; the "Tribune," Philadelphia, Pa.; the "Freeman," Houston, Tex.; the "People's Defender," Jackson, Miss.

_By whom were Negroes first called contrabands?_

By Gen. B. F. Butler, on the 22d of May, 1861, at Newport News, Va.

_When did Hon. Frederick Douglass die?_

On the 20th of February, 1895, at seven o'clock p.m., at his home in Washington, D. C.

_Who is the greatest poet of the race?_

Paul Lawrence Dunbar.

_Whose blood was the first spilled in revolution?_

Crispus Attucks, a Negro, was the first to lay down his life in the defense of his country.

_What does the Washington Post say of G. W. Bryant, editor of the Race Standard, of Baltimore, Md.?_

"He is one of the most gifted orators of natural compass, white or black, in the United States. He has a voice that reminds men of Henry Grady, and controls an almost inexhaustible vocabulary."

_How many building and loan associations are conducted by Negroes?_

At least forty building, loan, and co-operative associations are doing business on a substantial basis, having conformed to the laws of the various states in which they are operated.

_Who was the first President of the Afro-American Press Association?_

John Quincy Adams, editor of the "Appeal," was the first President of the Afro-American Press Association.

_When did the Negro exodus take place?_

In 1879-80, when about 7,000 colored people left the Southern States and settled in Kansas.

_When did the last sale of slaves lake place?_

In October, 1859, Pierce Butler, of Philadelphia, sold 988 slaves at the race track, Savannah, Ga., for $303,850.

_How many Negro colleges in Mississippi?_

There are ten colleges in Mississippi for the education of Negro youths, and they are all well filled with bright, progressive students, who are fitting themselves for intelligent, worthy leadership of the race.

_When was the Freedman's Bank established?_

In March, 1865. It was established in Washington, D. C., and had thirty-four branch banks in different parts of the United States.

_How long did this bank live?_

Nine years, during which time it handled no less than $56,000,000.

_How many colored Catholics in the United States?_

Colored Catholics have two priests and over 200,000 communicants.

_Who are among the leading poetesses of the race?_

Mrs. Francis E. W. Harper, Mrs. Charlotte F. Grimke, Mrs. M. E. Lee, and Mrs. Josie Heard.

_Who is the highest colored Mason in the United States?_

John G. Jones, who was recently elected Third Vice President of the Cook County Lawyers' Association, a new but strong organization composed of those admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, the highest in the United States.

_How many colored lawyers in Chicago?_

There are thirty colored lawyers in Chicago, Lloyd G. Wheeler being the first, and was admitted in 1869. Miss Ida Platt is the only colored lady lawyer in Chicago. She was admitted to the bar about two years ago, and sought to make herself a first-class lawyer in every respect.

_How many colored councilmen has Philadelphia?_

Six.

_Who is the richest negro bootblack in the United States?_

Thomas Gleason, of Baltimore, Md., is said to have accumulated $15,000 polishing boots and shoes.

_Who is considered the best colored mathematician?_

Prof. Kelly Miller, of Howard University, Washington, is the finest mathematician of which the race can boast. He is the author of a text-book on geometry, which is taught at Howard University.

_How many colored public schools in Washington?_

In his annual report of the colored public schools of Washington, D. C., Superintendent G. F. Cook accounts for 242 schools; 297 teachers, of whom 252 are females and 45 males; 12,876 pupils, with an average daily attendance of 9,767.

_How many Negroes on the police force in Chicago?_

Twenty-seven.

_Can you tell how many colored troops there are in the United States Army?_

The Negro soldiers in the United States Army number 2,400.

_When was the National Baptist Publishing Board organized?_

This institution was organized at St. Louis, Mo., on the 16th of September, 1896, and the Publishing House established in Nashville, Tenn., January 1, 1897, with Rev. R. H. Boyd, D.D., as Secretary.

_Of what is this organization composed?_

This organization is composed entirely of Negro Baptists, and is said to be the largest Baptist organization in the world.

_How many colored men and women are employed by the city of Pittsburg, Pa.?_

The city government of Pittsburg, Pa., gives employment to 233 colored persons, 23 of whom are in the police department as clerks, patrolmen, turnkeys, etc., and 9 are clerks in the courthouse.

_Who was the first colored man elected judge in Florida?_

Hon. Joseph E. Lee, of Jacksonville, Fla., enjoys the distinction of being the first Negro to be elected to a judicial office in that state. He is a lawyer of high repute, and has served in the Legislature of his state for many years. He was elected city judge of Jacksonville in 1887, and has been collector of customs there for some time. He will doubtless serve in that capacity under the incoming administration.

DR. WILLIAM KEY.

No colored man in all the South is more highly esteemed for his integrity by all who know him than Dr. William Key. He is the very soul of honour, and is a living example of what every colored boy should strive to be. His word is his bond among all classes wherever he is known. He is the inventor of Key's Liniment, so widely known and used all over the Southern States.

JIM KEY.

In many respects this is beyond all question the most wonderfully trained horse in the world. He was foaled near Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tenn., May 1, 1888, and was reared and educated by Dr. William Key. Seven years of close attention were given to his education. He is a graduate, and is said to be the finest scholar of the equestrian race, or possibly in the animal kingdom.

He gives all the symptoms of the common diseases to which the horse is heir, prescribes the remedy for same, gets and delivers the medicine, collects the money, makes the correct change (when needed), and puts it in the cash drawer as correctly as any clerk.

He takes a silver dollar out of a full bucket of water without upsetting the bucket or drinking a drop of the water.

He delivers mail correctly, allowing any person to call for it by number.

He can play a number of pieces on an organ as correctly as an Italian.

He knows every piece of money from a one-cent copper coin to a one-hundred-dollar bill, and can change any bill as correctly as the average clerk.

He knows the deck of cards perfectly, and will get any suit or size called for.

Jim is also a mind reader, and after reading the mind of a man, woman, or child he will go to his wheel of fortune, turn it, and get the true character of the person as well as any clairvoyant in the country.

Every coin from one cent to one dollar can be laid on a table promiscuously, when any one in the audience may name the coin he wants removed, telling Jim to give it to his owner or place it in the cash drawer, and he will comply with the request promptly and correctly.

Kerchiefs of different colors may be tied on each hind foot, and this intelligent horse will remove the one desired by any one simply by naming the color.

If Dr. Key should say, "Jim, I am going to sell you, provided you are a sound horse," Jim will immediately get so lame that he can hardly move; but on being assured that he shall not be sold he is miraculously cured of his lameness.

The above are only a few of the wonderful things this horse performs. Dr. Key, his owner, has his horse now on exhibition at the Tennessee Centennial, and he challenges any or all the horsemen of the world for a wager of $10,000 to show on these grounds his equal, the winner to donate $5,000 to the Centennial Committee.

Seven thousand dollars has been offered for the horse since the exhibition commenced, but was promptly refused. We have learned that $10,000 will buy him.

A SOUL AT AUCTION.

BY REV. JOHN HENRY DICKERSON, OCALA, FLA.

There is a very good story told of Rowland Hill and Lady Ann Erskine. You have seen it in print perhaps, but I would like to tell it to you. While he was preaching in a park in London to a large assemblage, she was passing in her carriage. She said to her footman, when she saw Rowland Hill in the midst of the people: "Who is that man?"

"That is Rowland Hill, my lady."

She had heard a good deal of him, and, desiring to see him, directed her coachman to drive near.

When the carriage came near Rowland Hill saw the insignia of nobility, and he asked who that noble lady was. Upon being told, he said: "Stop, my friends, I have something to sell." The idea of the preacher suddenly becoming an auctioneer made the people wonder, and in the midst of a dead silence he said:

"I have more than a title to sell, I have more than the crown of Europe to sell--it is the soul of Lady Ann Erskine. Is there any one here who bids for it? Yes, I hear a bid. Satan, Satan, what will you give?

"'I will give pleasure, honor, riches--yea, I will give the whole world for her soul.'

"Do you hear another bid? Is there another one? Do I hear another bid? Ah! I thought so; I hear another bid: the Lord Jesus Christ--what will you give for this soul?

"'I will give peace, joy, comfort, that the world knows not of--yea, I will eternal life.'

"Lady Ann Erskine, you have heard the two bidders for your soul; which will you accept?"

And she ordered the door of her carriage to be opened, and came weeping and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear reader, will you do the same?

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Illustrations have been moved from their original locations to prevent splitting paragraphs. The page numbers in the List of Illustrations are for the original printed book.

Table of Contents page numbers put in order: Moved Mrs. Georgia Gordon Taylor (page 75); originally listed after page 57 in book.

Pg. 53: Changed section to sections (other sections of the country.)

Pg. 78: Changed citzen to citizen (Douglass is the new citizen--).

Pg. 131: Changed our to ours (prosperity as ours is at this late day)

Pg. 176: Changed nothwithstanding to notwithstanding (never harmed, notwithstanding the number)