National Republican., 1877-07-11
FLIPPER AT HOME.
How That CoIored "Gazette" Made . Sem
satiOn.

sation.
Fbom n, Atlantic Onstnution
"Flip's done come homer was the familiar
and yet admring manner in which the young
negroes about town yesterday spread the in
formation that Second Lieutenant Henry o.
Flipper, of the Tenth cavalry and the first
colSred graduate of the United States Military
Academy at West Point, had arrived. His
coming has created quite a sensation in colored
circles, and when he appeared upon the streets
last evening, taking drive with his delighted
father he was the cynosure of all the colored
people, and the object of curious glances from
the whites. The young man had been there
before" however, and took all the Oging with
patience and seeming indifference. Once in a
while he would recognize an old acquaintance
and greet him with smile and bow.
He was horn at Thomasville, Thomas county,
Ga, March 2l, 1856, and is now past twenty
one years of age. He was born the property
of Rev Il. II. Leckcy, a Methodist minister Of
Townsville. His father was the slave of +.
g. Ponder who afterwards bought Henry and
his mother and moved with them to Atlanta.
This gentleman also owned John F. Quarles,
recently appointed Consul to Malaga, Spain.
This young Quarles had the rudiments of an
education, and he gave young Flipper his first
instruction. During the last nine months of
the war Henrys father and himself lived as
refugees in Macon, but after this again took
Of an ex-Conlederate officer taught him for
some months. In 1865 he attended the mis-
sion school. In 1878 he attended the
Storr's public school, and in 1869 he en-
tered the Atlanta University, which is
partly supported by the State. He re-
mained there until appointed to West
Point by Congressman Freeman. In the
Military Academy he has had the toughest
four years experience that any cadet has ever
undergone, but he had patience, good sense,
and determination, and he conquered. Despite
the antagonism of such bluc-blooded abolition
sciOns as Ben. Buffers son, BigelOw's son, and
host of others, he held his own, and when
he was required TO pass the most rigid examina-
ti0n (concOcted with an evident intention to
freeze him OUT he was found to have braced
himself for the issue, and he came through
with success. He graduated with fair rank,
and has been assigned to duty with the 10th
cavalry, colored regiment now on the Texas
frontier. The last number of Frank Leslie's
Illustrated Newspaper contains an excellent
Likeness Of Flipper, dressed in his cadet uni
form. His features betray his intelligence and
indicate the culture which he has acquired by
hard study.
His arrival here was the occasion of buzz
about the Union depot. His parents and a
number of intimate friends were present to
receive him, and the scene was an interesting
one TO all concerned.
'lat : nm = salu dozen OF the curious
darkeys who stood of and hadn't the honor of
the youths acquaintance. They seemed to
feel lonesome.
Hes one OBJ de United States Gazette" !"
shouted young darkey, in reply to a query
from a strange negro who has moved here since
Flipper went away.
But the young officer was speedily spirited
out of the crowd and taken home to his little
bed for rest. On the streets he was greeted
by many of our citizens who knew him and
who have watched his career with interest.
His success was oomplimented, and he was
urged to pursue his course in the same spirit
hereafter Among his cOlOred friends he was
a lion, and they could not speak their praises
in language strong enough. A darkey would
approach the young man, cautiously feel of his
buttons and clothes, and enthusiastically re-
mark: bad man wild de Gub'ment strOps on.n
These were the expressions Of admiration
that best suited the ideas Of his delighted ac-
quaintances