Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-05
A Oolored School Examination in Tuckahoe
Correspondence OF the Staunton VIND1cAroR"l
HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE,

HAMPDEN SYDNEY OOLLE0Gs
June,
The news being spread among the stu
dents last evening that the closing exer-
clses of the mercy Seat Public School,
No. H." (col.) were to take place about
o'clock P. NJ, party of about twenty
of us, led by curiosity, collected after tea
and started in the direction OF "Mercy
Seat.'' We had gone but about mile
when we heard music not far ahead, and
on arriving at our destination we found
quite number Of dark skinned youths
gathered in front of the school house,
crowded around "de ban," which consist
ed OF a bass and kettle drum, a triangle
and a "French harp. The building is
very neat one, capable of holding about
$50 persons Inside a chandelier OF four
lights is suspended from the ceiling, and
five other bracket lamps are fastened to
the walls. These were decorated with
festoons of evergreen.
We were not in our seats long before the
house began to fill up with scholars, pa
irons and friends of nearly all sizes, and
colors varying from light straw to pot
black. At half past nine o'clock hymn,
eve are waiting on the Lord, twas volun-
| tarlly sung, at the conclusion OF which the
teacher, Mr.. Brown, said he would ''opin
the sarvices by redin the eighth Psalm
After this was done, he called on "Brud-
der Flemmin" to ''lead us in prar." This
| old man made a most excellent prayer,
using pretty good language, and expressing
himself with great earnestness. Another
| hymn was sung by the congregation, and
then came the "chillun's time," and
| twenty-five of them made declamatlOns.
After each ones performance hymn or
song was sung. AS there were so many
speakers l will comment upon none but
those who were the most prominent.
At the beginning of this part Of the
ceremonies very beautiful colored girl of
about twelve years of age. apprised us of
our welcomeness, in non-Orlglnal COM
position entitled, ''We are glad you have
come"
The teacher now called out, 'sBettie and
| tie blackberry by Bette Scott" and
Bette came forth. l don't think she could
| have found, in all her rambles among the
| blackberries, one of darker shade than
| herself. she was dressed in white. a red
bow, brown gloves. and tight pin-back.
After this Ethiopian beauty left the stage,
| Isiah Richardson. tall negro, about six
feet, four inches in height. with light
| brown complexion, presented himself, and
gave us "How doth the little busy bee."
| Soon Phoebe White was summoned. She
was dressed in very handsome tarlatan
overskirt and basque, with superb
lowered calico skirt. A beautiful striped
sash of various colors was gracefully
thrown over the left shoulder, the ends
meeting on the right side, about the waist,
and pair of green striped stockings COM
pleted her attire. The words of the poem
beginning, ''Oh, come into my parlor, said
the spider.to the fly" fell from her lips.
| Performances by the children now being
over, MI. John Brown" (teachel) arose
and stated; LAS de chilluns is now dun,
eff any oh de parents wants tO.say my thing
dey kin now do 500 No response being
made. he continued Il is glad to Sc so
many oh our white friends here dis chen
| ing. and if dey would like to say somthin'.
we would be glal to hear dem." Upon
| this. after little hesitation, an old man
called out Mr.. --, who had been very
liberal short time before in contributing
to a cause for which they were very anx-
| ious to raise certain amount. The whole
|
rather reluctantly the gentleman got up
and made few ''off hand' remarks, and
concluded by saying, that he came rather
| to hear than to be heard, and introduced
! his friend Mr.. So, No. 2. who was then
| urgently called for, SO he took his position
on the rostrum and after q few words, de-
| claimed a very amusing and appreclatlve
piece OF prose which caused great applause
| After the gentleman had resumed his seat,
the walls of that little building were made
to echo with the outbursts Of eloquence
which came from those sops of Ham as
they were called npOn, by the audience.
sounded Throughout their midst was Mr..
Joshua Niche, small crosseyed youth of
about IS summers, who, by the way, at
tends to the wants of nv room every morn
ing. He arose and began thus, Brethren
ak you for your prarful 'tention. ant
got much ter say. but what | dos say, l
wants all ob you ter swaller. When 1
looks tout me | sees some OBJ dem whar
used ter be my playmates, whar | has fire.
quentimes shaked hands wild, but If | neb-
er shakes hands wild 'em again On dis earf.
[ speks ter in de odder one - A low bow,
all exit.
The cry now being raised for Mr.. Madi-
son, tall negro. with the appearance Of
| having had a late application of meat skin
to his cheeks arose and assuming the air
of an orator, burst forth in the following
words: when | sot my foot in dot al
door, to night [ did not spec ter git up
here on dis here platform ter make you a
speech, but as | lis'en to dis here school
tonight, see future prospects, I'm dat is,
dat Etheopia.may become intelligent and
learned race some DIES days. Some may
tell you dat you got to git your edication
/ nhh ,,o be lint foil lot ,3nf III
| togeder, you got to cultivate morals dar's
! whar it is brederin, tell you dar's whar
it is, and may de good Lord show de teach
er Cat dar is Whar de root oh de matter
lays, and when brudder Brown is gone,
may he send some odder good man to edi-
cate desc here chilun. | coud say heap
more but it is mighty nigh time ter eat
dat chicken. I'll say do for de sake OBJ de
teacher, dat some OBJ DIES children may
| grow up and become preachers OBJ de Cos
pei and some of 'em teachers OBJ de Public
Schools. Thar is somethin' for dem all ter
do. say fur all, we has had a good time
here dis night, and may de Lord take keer
! OBJ you all.''
Peter Flemming, fatherly looking old
! man, after an urgent call now presented
| himself to the gaze of the house and briefly
| spoke thus: f'My dear friends, it makes me
feel very good to meet you all here to n ght,
you want me to make you speech, but 1
don't think kin add inything to what's
done been sed, but 1 will say one thing and
dat is, dat DIES here chilun has don exceed
ing well tonight, 1 was fraid dat some
! would fail, l was tremblin' all de time, and
SO KEEP prayin' to de good Lord ter keep
dem from it, none in dis house did pray har-
der as [ did. Dey shows dat dey has been
| faithful and pusseyeIin' dis seshin and dis
here night dos prove tits fac' In con-
| clHsion mus say dat we dos owe mighty
heap to our teacher, yes .bredrin, we dos.''
Broddef Flemfn' having finished, gave
| up his place to BROADER Coleman, the ora
| tor of the night. This 'geman" is tall
man of about IS wears of age. has moderate