The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-06
THE NEGRO AT THE FAIR.
HIS EXHIBIT ONE OF THE FEAT
TRES OF THE EXPOSITION.


COIored Folks shOw-The WOman's
Department in the BuiIding-An
Extraordinary showing of the Ne
ErO's PrOgress-Their Advance
mem VIII AstOnish Those Who
Are Not Acquainted With What
they Have Accomplished since
They Became Free.
Atlanta. Ca, oct. 5.-The negro build
ing. built as il was by negro hands alone,
and filed from one end 10 the other with
the product Of their handiwOrk. is the mos,
unique feature OF the exposition. Like
everything else in connection with the big
snow, the management hardly dreamed OF
the extent and magnitude Of this depart
ment at the outset. 1t was agreed as a
matter Of course that. IL given all the
financial aid they required, the negro, as
a race, could make a very creditable show
ing Of his progress since emancipation,
thirty years ago. But more than this has
been done The negro building cannot
fail to prove a surprise to the greater
portion Of those who visit it, especially
TO those from abroad, who have labored
under the impression that the negro IN
the south is a downtrodden race. As a
nAaAAEA u Ad[Ar AAlE tAAAllA II a LOiA-iAAN-
Gus tribute to the fostering care Of the
southern people for their erstwhile slaves.
It shows that every state has provided
the very best educational advantages for
them, almost wholly at the expense of the
white community, and that they are be-
ilg trained up and qualified for the bat
re of life with advantages Of mental and
\ annual teaching the equal of the best
torded 10 the white youth Of the coun-
ny. The building and its contents form
the best evidence of the use being made by
the negro of these splendid advantage
an object lesson which Is much better I'M
scribed.
alhe speech made by Booker T. Washing
ION as the representative of the negro
race at the opening Of the exposition,
mas already attracted attention all over
fhe country. It elevated him 90 the posi-
TIN of leader Of his people-a leader of
Ane practical and truly helpful type. The
keynote of WashingtOns speech was
manual training for the negrO-the same
Gaat characterlzes the department which
he represented on that occasion.
In organizing the negro department. the
exposition company put it in charge of
]. Garland Penn, one of the acknoWl-
edged leaders OF his race. from Virginia.
q the scope broadened commissioners
We're appointed from all the southern
states TO assist him In the undertaking
which now stands as the first united ef-
fort of the negro 20 show TO the world
w2ht he has prolited in the thirty yeans
of his freedom. These commissioners are:
Byoker q. Washington, Alabama, A. e. p.
Albert, ID. D., Louisiana, LESSEE Lawson,
District Of Columbia, NJ. NJ. Lewey, Flor
ida, q. v. Clark, Tennessee, w. II. Crog-
man, Georgia X. J. Perkins, West Nir-
gina, isaiah T. Montgomery, Mississippi,
W. A. Hawkins, Maryland J. b. Middle
ton, South Carolina: W. II. Stewart Ken
lucky; w. G. Coleman, North Carolina:
y. w. Quincy, Texas; W. o. Emery. ID. D.,
All went to work with enthusiasm and
although beset with many difficulties on
account of the untried nature of their un-
dertaking they have succeeded beyond
what even the most sanguine of the ex-
position management expected.
The building, which, as has already been
stated, was built entirely by negro labor,
under the direction of negro contractors.
IS after the same general character of
architecture that prevails in the other
main buildings of the exposition, and COM
p.treS very favorably with any of them In
dimensions as we'll as in appearance. 1t
stands in a conspicuous place between
the Jackson street entrance Of the Con-
Solicated Street Railway Company, and
the depot of the Southern Railway Com
pany, and next door to the Georgia Manu-
facturers building. In dimensions ii is 276
feet long and III feet wide, with four large
towers at each corner and central dome
or tower that gives II a most commanding
appearance. This central tower is .ap-
preached from the inside by a winding
staircase and is designed to afford the ne
gro department a roof garden where they
can enjoy the same pleasures that are
provided for the general public on some of
the other buildings.
over the main entrance to the build
ing IS a massive design in staff work,
showing on one side a medallion of Fred
erick Douglas and on the other the head
Of an uncivilized African, being designed
TO symbolic the advancement of the ne
gro race from a state of barbarity to intel
lectual power and force. This piece is re-
garded one of the art works of the
exposition buildings, the work of the
sculptor being generally admired and COM
mented upon.
As has been suggested the exhibits of
the negro building are almost entirely
representative of the various educational
south for the training of the race, al
though there are some creditable displays
made by individuals. The most promi-
nent of these individual exhibits is made
by the firm of Butler, Slater d Co., drug
gists of this city. Besides being the pio-
neer negro druggists and pharmacists of
the state the firm does quite an extensive
manufacturing business, making colognes,
soaps and toilet articles, such as Florida
water, tooth powder, etc.
Another individual exhibit that shows
how the negro is taking advantage of his
opportunities is made by the Queen City
Real Estate Company of Columbus, Ga.
The company was organized among the
progressive colored people of that city
in 1890, with an authorized capital stock
, of 5000, but since then has been Increased
TO $4,000 and the business is in a flour
1SnlnS cOnulUOn. Inc ShafeS are all held
by colored people, being of the par value
of $25 payable 81 monthly. Under the man.
agement of j. T. Shepherd. the presi-
dent, thu company has prospered through
the hard times of the past three years,
and now owns some very valuable prop
erty in Columbus.
Right across the way from this evidence
of the negro's ability to prosper in the
real estate market is another exhibit
that shows how he is up on other lines
also, being nothing less than sure con
sumption cure" exhibited with profusion
of literature on the subject, by DR. MAJ
thews of Brunswick, Matthews Con-
sumption Cure being the name of the
nostrum
IN this same section, which is devoted
70 a variety of displays, including a
Georgia Womens department" Peter
billiard of Atlanta, shows a tile mantel
and crate, designed and manufactured by
himself that would ornament the home of
millionaire Right beside it is an exhibit
OF the work of uncivilized Africans from
Liberia, consisting of skins, rude straw
hats, grass hammocks and other things
including their implements of war When
placed beside the other exhibits in the
building, they show the great advancement
of the negro of this country over his
brother in his native land. In another sec
ton, where the picture of the native Ar
rcan is held up, is shown some specimens
Of mattings from Stanley Pool and the
Congo Free State. These are of a very pe-
culiar weave, and exceedingly interest