The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-01-07
LETTER FROM LOCKPORT.
LoCKPoRT. n. Y. Dec. 9R Is

LocKPoRr, n. Y, Dec. %, 1859
Mr.. EDIroR:- Thinking that a line from
this corner of the Empire State would be
of interest to some of the readers Of
the anglo" take pleasure in MAKING
brief statement of facts connected
with our people here. The population
here is between $50 and 300, whose occu.
pations range as follows: One cabinet fin.
isher, one carpenter, one shoemaker, one
brick-layer, one tanner and currier, one
cooper, six BARRIERS, besides farm laborers
and men of all work. Among the ladies
we have one milliner and two-dress-makers
We have two churches, one of the Bethel
and one of the Zion Connexion. There is
a fourishing Sabbath School connected
with the Bethel Church, which is without
a minister, except local one, Rev. Mr.
Hemsley, of Canada, who, ] think is doing
some good among our people. The Zion
have no preacher at this time.
We have one public school, or rather |
may say an apology for one. I made
visit to the school few weeks ago, and
found that there were four scholars pres
ent, which the teacher informed me was
about the number that had been present so
far during the term; and must say that
felt for her, to see her sitting there from
day to day teaching just four scholars. l
have NO doubt that she is a lady well
qualified to teach primary school, but
nothing higher. 1t may be said that the
small attendance is the fault of the parents.
Why don't they send their children to
school will answer. 1t is miserable
house, about ten by fourteen feet square,
to which no white person would send a
child, were it school for white children.
and in which there is no stimulous nor en-
enlargement to make child study. This
school is considered by most of the Board
of Education of this village to be one in
which the pupil can go from the alphabet
to the highest branches taught in a common
school, when at the same time it has been
admitted by one of their number that the
teacher is only qualified to teach primary
school. These are the reasons why they
will not patronize the school. There are
young men and women here who would
attend school, but they have none in the
village which they can attend, for they
would feel degraded to be stuck up in one
corner of lumber yard for this is the sit
uation of the school, when their white
brethren are drinking from fine, large
founts of learning, from which they are ex-
cluded. But then we believe in fighting
for our rights, and if we expect to get them
we must fight
One of our citizens achieved victory
think, the commencement of the last term
of the Union School, of this village. in gain
ing admission tor his brother, after fight
with the Board of Education for three
weeks, which will no doubt tend greatly
to do away with the prejudice which now
exists in regard to this matter The term
has just closed, and the boy has received a
great deal of praise for good scholarship.
In speaking of the different occupations
of our psople, failed to allude to two
brothers, farmers, who live near the village.
Each of them owns a farm from which thew
get comfortable livings; and / sometimes
visit the mandatory of large company
here, and feel proud while walking around
amidst the hum of machinery and the
scores of white faces, to see prominent
among them as pattern maker one of our
young colored men, The cabinet fnisher
to whom referred has worked for one firm
in this village over eight years, doing all
their best work. Is not this evidence that
we can be good mechanics ? Would that
more of our young men would turn their
attention to getting trades.
The Bethel church hold festival on the
Sd of January, the proceeds to be used for
reftting their edifce MASON.