New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-21
A DARKY SCHOOL.
+. w. BoURDILLoN
HOW THE YOUNG AFRICAN IDEA SHOOTS IN
GEORGIA.


blue ribbon upon a dimiuutIVe linobbY plat Of
salys back hair thereby completing that small
maidens decoration for Friday evening sch Oh.
Sally. a bright little darkey of some ten or
eleven years, had constituted herself my special
attendant upon my visit to " the parsonage;
had presented me with diurnai bouquets COM
posed of yellow and pink flowers male mp with
a background Of white paper faneifnly frin2ed
by scissors ana in response to few leading
questions had confdcd in ne a. follows:
"Yesm, go to school. There's three schools
for colored chillun here but ma said she wanted
me 10 90 o this one cause they reads the Btb!e
and SAYS prayers every morning, and ma wanted
me to 90 where they hal deyOt Ons Yes,
ma'am. its big school: about hundred goes
10 it, Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson teach MS; yes,
ma'am, he is cooyed gentleman. He graduated
at The Atlanta University. What do ! study
read In tie Fifth Reader, and study spelling
and geography. They take heap O pains for
us to pernOunce Tisht. think they &c most par
ticular about ed and ing"
VERY properly, Sally, l suspect. And DO
YOU write compositions ("
"Yesm, ;'ld letters. And Friday evenings
we have q spelling-match, and speeches and
singing and essays. Mr.. Jackson tells us to in
yite our white friends, but uobodys done H.
and he says he'll have to ask somebody then"
She paused and looked st me.
Would you like to have me 70 next Friday.
Sally ?" l asked. Ii seemed that She wOnd ana
having learned that the ''cyening session. from
two to four p. H., was the time set apart for
these exercises, held myself in readiness.
confess to feolnga considerable degree Of
curiosity as walked along the streets OF tie
little Georgia town. accompanied by Sally IN
her clean light calico, her head testify adorned
ia the pink roses in front aud bue ribbon be-
hind. | felt sceptica as to the merits of any
school for colOred children winch should be
taught and managed by one of their own rage.
The only thing counted on with certainty was
a polite reception; for have never yet, save
once. met true son of Ham who did not mani
fest courtesy and kindincsS to any one who APP
preached him in a friendly way.
The apprortiveness Of the race WAS soon
made most striking app rentlv. fO} an Sally aud
| turned into tie street On winch the school
house was situate, numerous "schu.e-weanS
gathered about rs. lunning beiO'c and behind,
cutting all sorts of capers and playing them
selves in various feats OF strength AMI ABILITY;
while occasionally one would throw an ann
around So ,y's neck, or take her ann wi;h
great show Of iriendhne,s, cycling me mean
while askance and nquiriDg IL whispers about
me. By the time | reached ihe schOo-house
door had an escort of ahOut thirty children,
one bright little fiye-yoar-old IN advance d" 10
show the lady the way WHALE derisivc boots
from small boy whose mockeiy Of little Mandy
Z. ofI..ftnnf III followed
Leels.
Tie scboOl-tOuse is a large Imprinted wooden
hall, with an upper room approac ed both by
fight of stairs from the outside and a ladder
like fight IN one corner OF the room below. i
is new and unpainied. mere shell OF house,
without laths, plastering, or any INSIDE finish
whatever, ard is divided IN half by lie rough
stud ing of a partitOn wall not completed. In
one half of this hall the benches are ranged, and
al the upper end is tie stove, recitation beLcA,
teachers platform and table. and three small
blackbOards. The Other bali Oh tne haii Is en-
tirely un FINISHED | did not go upstairs whe'e
] believe the girls are taught. Both girls ana
boys were now gathered IN this lower room,
awaiting the arrival OF the teacher. As soon as
| went forward and sat down near thc PLATFORM,
1t was ovenun 10y the same demOastrduVe set
OF little mps, who tawned upon Sally, ana ni ne
eveTy possible show of wit ami activity mis-
chief AMI Jun, that could he supposed 10 attract
my attention. tall lad OF fifteen, a bright
mGlattO with a Sim figure and general AR oi
aieitness and intelligence, came forward ana
Tried 10 disperse he unlGlY m moe. - ana
s'ia:gl,ened The teachers table. Then two or
three gown girls III neat caIcocs, iheirhaii dec
Grated with sprays OF plumb blossoms or With
roses or bridal wIeath--the month beng Feb
IuaIy--came forward, each with an lnchndlo.,
o. the head 70 ma or snspiclOn o. a "Gutisey'
and they with some dignity suppressed Tug ,Ie-
1Noiiione gpoQHf n all !aItti, ti.l
jackson was coming" 80
Presently little hush and stir announced the
arrival o. the teacher-a yong cololtd man.
dressed ia black. al wearing, VIII OG thc least
mr. of fopDishness. a watch-claln ard small
gold slIr;-siuds white linen aud
n black eravat. He is a real negro IN com
p,exion and hair, with good features AID T,4.-
saapod head indicating . prrdcmnmlce o. Inc
iDtfnectual faculties. He came up TO ne al
once, listened while | explained my presence
and welcomed me- politely WIZ very purely
n-onouuc d English; then bar d,ng ne q c..iir
he called the roll, AID sUmmored the memYe!s
Of the match-speliimg class 10 LiAt zen
Dlcees. Twenty eight boys and girls TOOK theI
siand in the unoccupcd bali OF The man ten
boys stood at the head OF the, class ana IN.
flere WAS a shrinking OF girlSi hit ltaCitI
gave me hook. and began TO hear t2e lesson
of 100 words. tn iirst time lic went down tuc
class from head 10 foot, AID they con,d cut
down ole another, aud / was Pleased 10 see
Sally Use b. two OF three seps; after NAT
whoever missed q word took his seat / he
hight how OF fifteen whom ! had noticed was
rex, the lead, aud was orc of the last 10 yie'd;
she champion Of tie school beng dark heavy
youuo man. who wore brass Watch-cboln ana
no collar, but WHO spelled Gag after all tie rest
wee gore. and finally yielded only when tie
VOID cliicane" was propodLded
Tnen came Moody and Sankcy hymn--and
| eIutifa music these negro voices made OF it
ono sban / heo1n 10 egioy my visit indeed. l
sas with Win an open window. through which came
the Spring-lke breeze,sweet with the blossoms
Of fruit. on my left, and the small platform on
NV right, upon which a boy Low mounted 10
, ~ max a literal copy of the composition then
bsaTd. as il was afierward laid on The table, The
first words surprised me. Subject OF cham