New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-04
Notes from the Capital.
To My Townsfolks cAfar."

latter find in car-riding on the best lines
and in the neatest and cleanest cars.
As the Georgetown cars, containing be-
sides myself, a few passengers the other day
was ascending Connecticut avenue, an elderly
and aristocratic old lady looked inquiringly
over to me (aristocracy can always better
afford these things than shoddy) and said !:
'Sir, what beautiful building is thst ~ "The
Sumner School Building for colored chill
dren," answered. "Indeed, indeed" said
she.
As the car proceeded, and her eye glancing
norlheasterly she inquired again "And, sir,
what fine building is that:'' That, madam,
said, is Howard University, an institution
ostensibly for the education Of colored youth.
"indeed, indeed" exclaimed she again, rails
Ing slightly her aristocratic eyebrows and
delicately applying her cambria handkerchief
the summit of the hill her eyes continuing to
sean the edge of the northern horizon, She
again inquired: "And that building, sir >"
That, madam, is Wayland Seminary, an in
stitution of the Baptist persuasion, and also
for the education of colored youth. ON
deed! indeed" exclaimed the old lady,
now considerably puzzled with the informa-
ton had afforded her.
And are there no schools upon a large
scale for the education Of white children -
inquired she, with unfeignel solcmnitv.
l answered that there were few, and
4. Il,
any of these 4; that there were no rreiudices
against them in these institutions, and How
ard University already contained a consid-
cradle number. 'Indeed! indced!" said the
old lady now, more puzzled than ever at this
announcement of this new feature in e,uca
tional matters here.
After lew minutes of profound me.lita-
ton, she again said "You are a clergyman,
sir, | suppose" Oh, no, ma,lam-neyer
preached IN my life. never was GOOD
enough for that.
MY! my!' said The old lady, and gave
a severe glance at my poor dilapidated
"speds;' my observing of which, she glanced.
aristocratical!y, but kindly, another way.
Looking to me again, she said: 81 hope |
do not intruie, sir, "but pray what is your
occupaton"''
am, madam, only a plain working man,
said | ; and in an under tone croaked out
like Edgar Poe's "Raven," "and NOTHING
more ~ "A plain working man, and nothing
more!' Here an Observation-Disclosures came
over the face of the old lady, which greatly
strengthened me for it was a sadness that
Indicated genuine sympathy with nv lot. and
with the lot Of all who get with me their
bread in the sweat of their face, and at such
wonderful odds at that.
l could see the generous eye of this SYM
pathetic aristocratic old lady peerng at me
through her arstocratc spectacles with an
honest concern, rs | stopped the car and
alghtcd.
In a moment or 50 | found myself upon
one OF the highest elevations of orr city, and
where cluster some of the most touching
"reminiscences, such as laden the mind with
the pleasant and the useful, and, so lrcghtcd,
sweep like zephyr along up to The present.
| stood where Miss Miner sat down with
her never-to-be- forgotten school for colored
girls, when DIR. Bailey hurled the old Ma
i"mat Era into the face of the South, aud
Charles Sumner lay bleeding in The United
states Senate, with three hundred thousand
Shareholders with an urlflcd bludreon
standing over him.
As my eye turned towards The Sumner
School, l remembered that here, where
now stood, once in school days, gamboled
with her mates a little girl at play time, lis
tened TO her preceptor in school time, and
passed from beneath her eve al evening 5
close, 10 return to the same charmed inilu-
ence on all the days that came.
This girl then, thus by gentle ascent, lead
up through all the paths Of learning, now n
woman truly, Miss Emma V. Brown, as
principal of this Sumner School, is gently
leading welnigh a thousand Of our children
of to-day up through the same paths that
lead to the common eminence where gather
all the worthy, and which she herself ll.s,
attained.
Successful not only as scholar anl teacher,
this lady is also one
Oft whose soul the Tyre wakes,
And breathes poetic sweetness forth.
Miss Miner, in her life work gathered from
all sections of our country means for the
sustenanee OF her school. She gave a vaca-
ton at last, and went to rest. Her school,
gathered from all these same sections, and
supported by the means she gathered, sits
to-day in Howard University an honor to it,
aud living monument to her. Sweet be
her rest and perpetual her school!
The annual exercises Of Wayland Semi
nary took place here last week, and reelected
credit alike upon instructors and students,
and bespoke well for the future of The insli-
tuition.
Frederick Douglass, who dare not show
Ia. lion face in any such assembly but he
must pay the penalty in Il lion speech, was
called out and made enc. Ii had the gen.
ulne roar of a lion among men in forest
ana among its many strong utteranccs,
may give you q glimpse of one or two.
Students" he said, thereafter in your re-
searches in history, and in story. as well as
Tor white men, hunt Jiack moaeis for your
imitation. Hunt up black men for your
lights and guides, and for your coHmenda
uon. Find out, if already you have not,
'hat you have a cause of your own to promote
and people TO serve"
And just here, my dear ToWnsfolks "Afar,'