The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08
THE NEGRVS BUILDING.


The progress OF the negro of the South
Is plainly shown in the exhibits in their
building at the Atlanta Exposition. This is
a building about go feet long by 100 feet
wide, and is devoted exclusively to the
products Of the freedmen of the South. The
exhibits embrace everything from the dain-
test handiwork OF the needlewoman TO the
more massive. yet more useful. products
Of the brawny mechanic. Entering the
building from the east, one or the first
things that meets the eye of the visitor is
a beautiful ladies' work table. made Of
many kinds OF wood inlaid in yellow pine.
The work is Of character that very nearly
approaches art, and is SO perfect that it
is impossible to detect joints except by the
difference in the color or the woods. In
this same collection is number Of pieces
OF embroidery that would challenge the
work of the fairest hand, not only in the
workmanship, but I'm the selection of the
colors and their blending.
Adjoining this exhibit is that of black
smith of Rome, Ga. He shows his handi-
work in a fine collection OF horseshoes of
every conceivable pattern, and a carriage
or which the irons were all made by him
without the use of other than hand tools.
In the educational exhibits there are
many things of interest. Most Of the
the negroes of the South are represented.
AS a rule, these schools are industrial, and
the exhibits are work done by the students.
In one exhibit Is a complete farm wagon
that would stand comparison with the
finest product of Northern factory.
Probably the most unique exhibit. and at
most comprehensive and condensed manner
the great progress of the Southern negro,
is that of a bank in Richmond, Va A
sign over the exhibit reads, From sla-
very TO banking in thirty years" In the
collection are shown numerous relics of his
torical interest. showing the condition of
the negroes during slavery. days: By the
side of these are large photographs of the
bank in Richmond that is owned and oper-
ated by colored people. A large picture
shows the exterior OF the building. while
terror with the colored clerks at work. and
the coloret. president and cashier in their
private offices. Not white person is
shown in any of the pictures. All of the
employees and customers that can be seen
are colored. Besides the regular banking
business there is a building and loan de-
ment,. and insurance department. all
presided over by colored man.
ayers The picture presented is strik-
colored man on the block being sold as an
animal and the colored man president
of bank. Nothing In the entire building
shows the great advance made as does this.
Throughout the display the wonderful
progress made by the colored people in a
little more than one generation is shown in
a striking and vivid manner. Articles that
show artistic ideas and skill may be seen.
The attendants I'm the building all coll
ored. and in their explanations of the ex-
hibits show thought and study that would
do great credit 10 a people of more oppor-
tunities for education. There are a num-
Der of paintings by colored people. most of
them showing scenes of the everyday life
OF the race in the South. One is a large
scene OF an Arkansas plantation. 1t is To-
Gated in the cottonwood bottom lands, and
shows the place during the first crop year
after the timber had been "deadened." II
is the common practice to enter the finest
OF the timbered lands and cut the bark OF
the trees all around near the base so as TO
kill them, and then the next year begin
growing cotton, allowing the trees TO stand
until they decay and fall, when they are
rolled up. into piles in the spring and
burned. 1t is such a field that IL shown in
the large picture and 1t Is so true TO nat
ure that one almost imagines he is in the
bottoms of Arkansas
The race in the South has had little OPP
portunity to advance in the line of manu-
features for the market, because few of
them have ever had the chance to master
the practical part of such business. On this
account most of the exhibits in the build
ing are the work of individuals, and not
the product of factories. A wagon is shown
that was made in a small blacksmith sicr,
ard, although the work was done without
machinery, the finished wagon is equal. in
appearance TO the factory product, and
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