The Newtown bee., 1892-02-05
Professor Brandon.

Professor Brandon.
 If you should meet on the street to- day man rather under medium height, with full beard, a dreamy, far-away look in his blue eyes. and an elusive manner that is sometimes called timidity by those who talk at random-if you should meet such d man, stop and speak to him. You will find that his name is Prof Brandon. You will also discover from his conversation that he is an Englishman, and you will gather the impression that he is a man Of learn ing and great traveller. You will also discover that the professor is charac- ter; that under his mild and shrinking exterior is concealed the stuff out of to take the position of principal of an academy in little village not d hundred miles from Atlanta. So far as his schol- arship and his literary attainments were concerned, he was admirably fitted to fill the position, and he gave unbounded satisfaction until the night when the de batting society of the town opened it's doors to the public and invited the citi- zens and their families to hear the young men discuss the grave questions that are usually settled on these occa- sions. Naturally the professor, as the head of a literary institution, was asked to participate in the debate and, quite as naturally, he gave his consent.
 The matter under discussion had some bearing on the race question. 1 have for gotten it's exact terms, but it related to the social differences and the social prei- udices that exist between the whites and the negroes. Everybody turned out to hear the discussion, which was in the nl- ture of an event.
 am told that number of the young men who participated gave evidence of remarkable forensic ability, discussing the question with a degree of power rarely displayed on such occasions; but this fact was lost sight of for the time, for when Prof Brandon arose, and in
 
 with his remarks, everything else was forgotten. The audience, shocked and paralyzed, sat and listened to sentiments that were never heard in the village be- fore, ,and never will be heard there again.
 I doubt if there is an official report of the professors remarks extant. If there was reporter present, he probably dropped his pencil and neglected hi. du- ties. There are those, however, who have somewhat vague remembrance of the plea which the professor made. Ac- cording to good authority, it was about as follows:
 My friends, the time has come when civilization and progress ought to shed a new and searching light on the mat ters which have been engaging our at tention. I shall keep you but little while. I have tendency to hoarseness and my voice is naturally not strong, but l desire to say here and now that 1 think you have totally misconceived the grave and far-reaching character of this dis cussion. It goes far beyond the ques- tion of social equality. I think. my friends, that before 1 am done you will be COL vinced that the white man is not ethno- logically superior to the negro. It is common, am told, for those who hold the views that 1 am now endeavoring to maintain, to be asked whether they would be willing for their daughter to marry negro. I am frank to say that I should be perfectly willing for daugh- ter of mine to marry respectable ne- gro. To show you why I am of this opin- ion, will relate a little circumstance which l think is interesting apart from any bearing it may have on this discus sion. Not very long ago, was present at the meeting of one of the most prom lnent philological associations. In close my side, in fact-sat a jet black negro, who, at one stage of the arose, and, with the most perfect propriety, announced that Grote lad misinterpreted passage from Thu ,ydides, and the fact that the jet black negro was correct in his criticism has 'SSh Shc" ny SuuScQutEG DlSCOF1CaI events. Now, my friends, do you not hink it would be an honor to claim such ] negro as member of your family?''
 l need not say that the professors elo- luence failed to elicit storm of ap- 'lause, nor was there any riot when he ook his seat. Shocked, the people slow y dispersed; paralyzed, they made their vay home. A great silence fell on the own. It had been outraged; but so af- ably and innocently had ths deed been one that there was no protest. But at midnight that night Prof Bran lon was aroused by knock at the door if his lodging. He arose, dressed him.
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