New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-23
From Michigan.
WINKI.ERIED.

DEANOiiS III, iobfs
To the Editor Of The Neto. National Era:
SIR: In your latest two Or three numbers
1 have been interested and pleased to OBJ
serve the progress and final triumphs of COL
ored pupils in the different institutions of
learning throughout many of our principal
States, and take great pleasure in rendering
to the young graduates my congratulations
through your columns In our last number
read with satisfaction the account of Miss
Ernestine Clark's honois. had the pleas
ure of meeting and forming the acquaintance
of this young lady some years ago while WIS.,
iting in Ohio, who stood as one of the prin
cipal stars in the Gaines High School, and
feel free to say that al the honors heaped
upon the head of this young graduate are
fruty and justly meried. May she be as sue
cessful IN every other single undertaking all
through life.
And now it may interest some Of your nu
merous readers to learn something of our
affairs in this particular respect. 1t has only
been within the last three Or four years that
public schools were safo ~ lr.r ts=.,,r ~
ception of colored pupils. remember well
the struggles Of our active men in striving to
accomplish this design. The modification and
sights which girls and boys were compelled
to receive from their white school-mates for
while, have gradually diminished until
scarcely vestige of the hated prejudice
remains. White and black are walking upon
the shores of knowledge hand In hand, both
drinking from the same fountain.
And it is certainly fact in our favor that
since the admission of eolored children into
public schools not one single year has failed
to produce a number of colored graduates for
the High School, and at the High School
commencement we had the honor of seeing
four eolored graduates in the splendid gradu-
ating class Of IA. These were Miss Ella j..
Gordon, Miss Meta Pelham, Miss frankie
Slaughter, and Mr.. Albert Burgess, and
their places are filled again with colored ones
who will graduate next year, while from our
public schools we have several candidates
for admission into the High School at the
approaching term. The commencement ex-
ercses were very fine, and in some cases the
| essays were so full of imprisoned eloquence
| as to cause the delighted assembly to hold
their breath in admiration. One young crea-
| ture stood before the scores of eyes like an
angel of light giving in a beautiful reverie a
production entitled Goods Greatest Bless.
ing" The eloquence from the young lips
carried her audience away of into some beau
tiful cline seemingly, and kept them there
at will, while each gift from God was thought
His greatest blessing, until she had lait
1T aside for another. The dew-drop, the
sunshine, the shower, the little child, al
seemed the heavenly gift in rapid succession
until "Death, the deliverer from pain, from
sorrow, and care" received the sublime ben
ediction. and when she had glowingly pic
tured its delights, came down 'from affair."
and gracefully received her laurels.
Miss Meta Pelham produced spicy littl'
article entitled ''The Mania for Publicity
She gave us all hit, but so modestly tina
we did not feel inclined to resent. Her essa.
was duly appreciated and warmly received
and if she had entertained any misgivings a
to the effect of her brain working, she mus
have been treasured when she stopped t.
gather the velvet-blossoms that lay at he
i feet.
1 Next Mr.. Albert Burgess came forward
and, without prelude, began an Grafton, en-
titled "Success." Our fondest hopes wer
realized when we saw the proud Independent
step of our young graduate, and heard hi
voice in such noble tones within the yer
walls where he had learned to conquer diff
culties, urge others ON the paths to success
He went on to show the various inclination
of different minds; some were more full
adapted to some pursuits than others, an
in summing up the principal features requ
site for success, advancing the different TIT
cries of each, he exhibited native taller
almost beyond his years. The careful stud
which he must have given his Grafton mac
it grand success, and the storm of applaus
, that made the old walls of the capitol rir
? for a while were full and ample reward.
Mr.. Burgess bears the name Of one OF tt
first scholars of the High School OF Detrol
He has won the good will Of his numero
classmates and the highest regard OF
, ! rror+l,,, proconfors He will enter college