The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-10
MONEY BEATS EDUCATION
A CRAZE QUESTION BEFORE THE
CHRISTMAS SOCIETY.
Brother Matthews Had to Go 1t AIone'
but He Showed Conclusively That for
the Colored People Rubies Are Better
than Wisdom

than Wisdom.
The Christmas Literary Society bids
fair to become q strong rival Of the
society is comparatively new, but its in
fluence is already felt. Last night was
the regular meeting night of the Literary
Society, and the subject that Messrs.
Samuel Matthews, William Jackson,
John Wesley Stokes and William Doug
lass were to debate was:-
(Which is the most benefit to the col
ored race, education or money!"
This was sufficient to attract the entire
congregation of the Bergen A. M. e.
Church to the two-story house in which
they worship on the SABBATH and debate
on week days. The room which is used
for this purpose is fitted up like chapel
and is neatly carpeted A railing sepa-
rates the pulpit from the uncushioned
seats and red hot fire in gigantic stove
frequently makes it necessary for excited
debates to go slow. There is an artist
connected with the society and the result
of his labors is noticeable on the walls,
where very gorgeous Autographs are
plastered. They are all Biblical in senti-
ment.
Among them was one labelled "David's
Last Words" and to judge by the direc-
tion of Dayid's gaze, ana the wistful look
in his starboard eye, one would say that
his last words contained a request for
some of the good things on table upon
which the said eye gazed immovably
during the evening. This table was
covered with a snow-white cloth, and was
laden with baked beans, cold roast pork,
corned beef, mutton, bread. etc. There
were no watermelons. but plenty of tea
and coffee.
THE PRETTIEsT GIRL.
While David was surveying these
tempting edibles from the wall, Pastor
Christmas was endeavoring to make
things pleasant for all. Gentle Maria
Williamson, pretty as picture, at the
same time tried to make the pastor happy.
And he liked it. She talked and smiled,
and he smiled and talked. and then both
laughed.
''Oh, there is JERSEY CITY NEWS re-
porter" said Mr.. Christmas when he OBJ
served me. The lively Maria whispered
to him and he called out:-'This lady
wants you to say she is the prettiest girl
here.n
full; said the homeliest. u
''She said prettiest," corrected the
pastor.
''Da's real mean, an Pm just mad at
you now," and Maria moved away three
inches.
Pastor Christmas then discovered that
it was half-past nine O'Clock, and after he
played for while on the organ he opened
the meeting by giving all welcome,
especially members of the press, which he
hoped would be purified, although"
said he, 81 feel sure it would take the
Bishop, presiding elder and a congrega-
tion to purify the Journal if they were
all on it's staff"
Several hymns and prayers followed,
and the pastor called Messrs. Douglass,
Stokes, Matthews and Jackson to the
front to debate Mr.. jackson failed to
appear, and it was said that relative of
his had suddenly departed for another
world Messrs. j. &. Nelson, Levi Stokes
and Ebenezzer Mickens were appointed
judges, and the pastor stated the ques-
tion as to education being better for the
colored race than money.
THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION.
Matthews had to go it alone against
Douglass and Stokes. but he said he
didn't mind that because ''dey am no
pair of side whiskers and high standing
collar, opened thus
'In my 'pinion, gemmen and ladies,
eddication am de bes. Ise worked hard
fer money an like it. / amt gotno eddi-
cation an | amt got no money, and peo-
pie may say den how you know dis. | say
1 know dis Observation-Disclosures / kno
made telling opening and he gave way
to his colleague, John Wesley Stokes.
John Wesley is O. timid young man, and
he wore q natty suit of clothes which he
occasionally viewed with supreme salts
faction.
said he, San | thinks about wat l do eff |
he'd millen dollars. P'raps I'd hey ter
build er ship, en- eff I didn't hev eddica-
tion I'd hev ter get nudder man ter do it
an den he'd git my money, ease he'd hev
de eddication. Muffin kin be did widout
eddication, an l leaves it ter any man
ter show me where money is de bes', an
eff he do gives itup."
MR.. MATTHEWS GOES IT ALONE.
Brother Matthews followed. He had
smile on his face that indicated pity and
contempt for his antagonists. He calmly
stroked his long, glistening beard, pulled
down his vest and with voice filled with
said:-"Gemmen, ladies an Mr.. Chair
man, dat ere man Douglass am de extra
edition of Balaam. Eddication," said he
scornfully, "wat am dat? Yer can't eat
at dat table wild it less yer hev de
money. Eddication may be very good,
but it won't buy meat. Yer mus hev
money ter git eddication. Yes, sir; yer
emphasized with a terrific jerk at the
whiskers and q frantic effort to pull
down his vest" which had become SO
enthusiastic that it had climbed up
nearer the chin.
WHERE MONEY TALKS.
Eradication" said he, don't put shoes
on de feet money will; eddication don't
heal de sores from walkin' bare foot,
money will. Eff er man dies with a head
full of eddication dat won't bury him; he
mus hev money Eff er man gifts on de
street car an says, Use eddicated,' dat
won't pay de fare, he must hev der
dust"
Mr.. Matthews continued in this manner
for some time to annihilate his foes, and
concluded the argument by saying:-"I
fought dat / he'd something to fight dat
did kno' something, but Ise been deceived.
Aint yer 'shamed of yerself." turning to
little Douglass with whitening scorn, and
adding, ''ef die an hev muffin ter leave
de family but my edication, how long will
dat keep EN-, hey? Dey would prefer de
coin any time"
The judges decided that Brother Mat
thews had been the victor and officially
declared that money was better than
education, to the regret of Pastor Christ
mas, who teaches pay school.
A VETERANS FUNERAL.