The state capital., 1891-12-12
NOTES BY THE WAY.

PINE BLUFF, ARK.-Lawyer Lucas,
Prof. Childress, Messrs. Reed 'Rhoband
Brown, Bell, and others, surprised
Misses Wilkins of st. Paul, Mimi,
Barbonr Of Alton, ILL.,, Massey of Allie
ghany, Pa, and Tolbot of Holly
Springs, Miss, on the 3rd inst. About
IL p. M, the young ladies heard sweet
music and were indeed agreeably sur
prised. The evening was spent pleas
antly, and at II O'Clock the band gave
a march and all repaired to the din
ming hall, where luxurious supper
was served. The gentlemen gave the
toasts, and the ladies responded. The
evening would have been complete,
declared a gentleman in his toast, but
for the illness of Miss Barbour, which
marred greatly the pleasure of the
evening.
Since my last writing, I've been
very busy indeed and have seen but
little of Pine Bluff, the city of Pines,
built upon a Hill. The colored people
seem to be prosperous and thrifty,
many of them owning valuable proper
ty. The street railway valued at
$4,000, is owned by colored man.
strictly to their business, While some
L
mass is uncouth and illiterate. There
are many schools, but the good accom-
| plished is not plainly seen. In this
city there are four schools for the col
| ored people, viz: The branch Normal,
of which Prof. j. G. Corbin is President;
| the Richard Allen Institute, Presby-
terian School, Of which Rev. l.: John
son is President; the Catholic School,
4 hTr n w SICtnFG.
and lastly the City Schools, with Prof.
| Nj. Perry as Principal. The Normal
| is attended by very few pupils, who
are residents of Pine Bluff. The Pres
byterian and Catholic Schools are
doing good denominational work. The
City Schools are not up to the stand.
ard. Our public schools should be the
best schools in the land, for they edu-
cate the mass--the coming America.
If we want good government, we
must educate the youth of to-day, fol
he is the man of tomorrow. Hamilton
saws, HIn the world there is nothing
great but man. In man there is moth
inc great but mind.n All! how true
IThen we must educate properly anC
truly this mind. What is needed tt
bring the Public Schools up to the
proper eminence? A higher grade
license. as certificates are called IL
this section of the "MOral Vineyard ,
/ iind every teacher, except the Princi
pal, in this city, has only thirt
grade certificate. If we accept thirt
grade teachers, we must expect thlrt
grade work. This is not only TIN
case here, but tits also the condition
: Of the majority of country schools
throughout this State. Teacher
actually teaching children by the A
B. C. method. This is deplorable
: we, as a race, will not be recognized
as equals of the whites, until the mas
becomes intelligent, refined, ambition
for higher things and virtuous. Hoy
must these things be accomplished
: One great step toward it is made whel
the third grade teacher is replaced b,
| a firsl grade teacher. Let the III
qualified teacher go to school an
become qualified. He is not able
attend school. but must earn his bread
Then pursue some other avenue OF tol
one that will benefit him and harm n
d one: one for which he is qualifiec
| This done and something is accom-
+ plished.
] The third grade teacher has nobl
! aided his race in its struggle for II
i right. But this is not all that "
e need to take us from the slough
y humiliation, and place us upon tt
+ hill of eminence and equal rights.
i More will be told you in my next.
g PEDR