Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-24


Sunday evening. and went full Of pref
udice. had seen his name IN the news
papers, together with the caricatures
which some publishers dignity with the
title OF portraits. | found that Associa-
ton hall-the largest hall, believe, in
New York-was packed full, every seat
being taken. With the characteristic
and shrinking modesty Of the stranger
made myself as small IS possible in
corner. But this would not DO; one Of
the congregation, suspecting that this
was my first appearance there, insisted
on my taking his seat.
Now | had chance to take in the
Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., who had just
begun 10 preach. The first impression
did not attract me. l saw a very tall
and very slender young man, with
smooth shaven face and long black hair.
His eyes flashed and his long arms waved
as he walked To and fro while he spoke.
He spoke in visions. / don't remember
particularly what he said, except that he
felt very sorry for the poor rnortals who
go through this world and are glad that
their austere practically keeps them from
beang visionary and dreaming dreams.
But he interested me. he excited me.
Here was n man. | said 10 myself, who
Is dreadfully in earnest. he believes In
his work, ne believes what he says and
he feels that he has a message to speak.
This was refreshing. In these practical
days, when earnestness either takes the
form OF q so-cslled realism which
shocks by its gross unreality, or which
hmps in the shackles OF what the acade-
micians call good taste-here was man
who spoke what was in him, a man who
delivered his message because he be
hsved that it was right that he should
say ont before the whole world that
which he thought to be right and true.
The next day went TO see Mr.. Dixon,
TO learn something of his brief career and
something of his future plans. was
very sure when heard Mr., Dixon preach
that he was n southern man. Usually
can tell by q mans accent what state he
comes from. | made up my mind on
that Sunday night that he was a southern
man. There was a smoothnesS IN his use
OF most Of the harsher consonants which
seemed 20 make it certain that he had
acquired this use, or habit II you choose,
by association with the negro. who GER
tainly speaks the most melodious En-
gtsh Of all the American races. There
are strident tones IN the white people 10
America which are always absent In the
negro. He is Is musical in his speech as
he Is black. | have often thought that
no class Of people in the world spoke En-
giish ~ unsteady "a the blacks OF the
southern states Of America. except the
young English women OF the upper
classes in the old island from which we
inherit our tongue.
These young women don't have much
b. say for themselves. but they do say
what little they care To say with a
wondrous music. The rising infection
may account for this. bat whatever the
reason. the fact remains that an En-
riish speaking man wants 10 hear IN
heaven no better music than the voice
Of an English girl As to her singing.
that, ~ Rudyard Kipiing says 80 often
that it has become bore, IL another
story.
But called on Mr. Dixon. He was
rot st home. | sent in my card. Mrs
Dixon kindly saw me. She Is a beautI-
fpl woman. and gracious in a way which
made il no longer possible for me 10
doubt that Mr.. Dixon was southern
man. A southern man. IL he - wise.
narrie.. a southern woman. Or. Dixon.
from the platform 81 Association hall.
had the night before convinced ne IN
other ways Of bis wisdom. e1od erat
dauon<frau,iurn. But Mr. Dixon Is
southern man. and he uses The consO-
pants az their fuli value while preserv-
inc the uneEiowness Of the negro inau-
ence.
He Wa born in the mountains Of
North Carolina in 1854 Think 81 a man
who xas born when the war was about
20 ai>-.. and who soisy sxerts sn infu-
~nc~ day bv dav uv-nn men many II
whom wsr> - old - ne a now when
Sherman marched - the go and Grsnt
er..s th.. sword II L~s ar Appomsttox.
uah<i only finished his Eve year course
az he WAKE Forest college N North
Carolina fsv years ago. He took a
Eve Years crur.s there AMI got the L.
800 ~ master Of arts We who have
s.knp asyr~es AZ better known ccllegss
may lcok down @nE1evhat upon The
scholarship - sich sehoos, bat doubt
lez- we aye wrong.
When Mr.. Dxon bad snished At his
b-raI college hs went - The Ioans Hop
kirs university At BsiGnaore- snd took
th.. usst graduate course n history md
political sciessoe His object AZ thls tlnae
vss nos IN as own nnina Will defined.
lie wanted either - - a LAWYER or an