The bee., 1883-05-12
SCRAPS AND NOTES

NA1S VIC Qau TO say
lew weeks ago in relation to the
organization of dramatic club in this
city, and generally they speak well of
the idea, and some express astonish.
ment that this great city that can boast
of SO much greatness in other fields
does not possess a dramatic club.
Again we call the attention of the
members that played so well, and so
successfully "our best society" to start
the work and let the metropolis of the
country boast among her other credit
able institutions of dramatic club.
Captain I. Simmons Kelley's Com
pany "A'' Capitol City Guards, propose
an excursion to Richmond on the eve
ming Of the 29th of May so as to be in
that city on decoration day. This will
be good opportunity to visit the ex-
capital of the Confederacy. There is
much to be gained by visit to Rich
mond. Besides meeting generous
whole souled ever hospitable people,
there are notable scenes to witness
and places to visit that will be interes-
ting as well as instructive. Colored
people from the north going to Rich
mond will have very little to remind
them that they are colored. We put
the city of Richmond in the advance
guard with those places that are try
ing to forget slavery and out live the
manifold things that it left behind as
legacy. If Captain Kelley will as
sure his guests of good order and de
corum, we bespeak for the trip a
large crowd, and as for the manner of
treatment that will be accorded them
at Richmond, we know that all will be
made welcome and at home.
The People of Petersburg have lost
one of the truly good and serviceable
men from their number. Rev. Leo
nard A. Black, the well bnown pastor
died there week before last. Mr..
Black had the ardent respect, and con-
idence of that community. He can
be said to have been of the school of
men truly known as workers in the
vineyard, and fine specimen of Gods
noblemen.
There is a way to discuss the propriety
Of why and why not the proposed
national convention should be held in
this city without resorting to meaness,
vulgarity or indecent references. 1t
may be that some of our bretheren have
cause to wish the convention, for rea,
sons best known to themselves, should
not assemble here, but they should
state these reasons like men and as
gentlemen, and not get behind their
privileges and use the power Of their
positions to strike at a lot of gentlemen
who have at least the right to expect
fair treatment at the hands of the press,
especially when they have only done
that which has almost had to be done
by some body taking the lead in IL owe.
ment that it was generally conceeucu
was necessary, but something that al
could not push off for and at the same
time, unkind reflections about Mr.
Douglass such as the following from
Mr.. Pledgers Vindicator May 9Th are
not in good taste, neither does this ar
ticle fit the occasion.
The patent committee has called
the convention TO meet in Washington
The boys have sent word for You fel.
lows down in the woods to come UP
here, we want to tell you what to.do. .
We think we see through the whole
thing. The meeting will be called t.
order and you will see the venerable
old father turn it over to some of the
other members of the patent comittee.
Then there will be two nights caucus
and adjournment in order to find an
available man for chairman. After
this done, policies and plans will be
discussed. The very centre of Negro
unity will be shaken, and in order that
peace may once more reign, it will be
found necessary to send out and have
some big ticoon come in to give advice
to the assembled literati of the Negro
population. After his say, a telegram
will be fixed up showing who is the
"5ig nigger" and then the meeting will
adjourn in order to give the poor devil
that went from the marshes of FlOrida
and Georgia an opportunity to rub his
eyes and muse over the Onorous duties
he shall have performed for his constit
| uency.
Among the signers to the call are
gentlemen of the highest character and
devotion and loyalty, to the best inter
ests and welfare of the race. We un
dertake to say personally that few cities
if there be any that can boast Of better
men than are the majority of the signerS
to that call. If we had plenty such men
as the majority of the signers are III
all our large colored communities. We
couldn't see better state of things than
we do now in many cases, where the
leaders are timid and Subservient. Mr..
Douglass age, if nothing else will do
it. ought to be a truce from unkind,
ness and abuse from young men, who
should sharpen their blades for harder
knights than he, but never mind 'old
man, eloquent true and eloquent; you
shall not say of us, "oh, had l served
my God as / have the king" etc. A
large number of the exchanges that
have come to us during the past three
weeks express a feeling of holy horror
at holding a national convention here
some for one thing and some fol
another. But one main thing they seem
to forget that the gentleman in the
call invite their brethren to this city
for the purpose, ect. The idea thai
| the office holding colored men here
through the influence of official power
will control the convention is absurd
Of fhn IITnbo