The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-10

| EDWIN NJ. BANNISTER.
colored people in st. Andrews. and go
thoroughly free from race prejud ice were
the Inhabitants that "colored" was
rarely heard among them. 1t was not
until he became am bilious to develop his
artistic powers, and consequently left
his native town, that he was made to
feel the distin ction between q white and
a brown skin.
While at nome In st. Andrews he lived
in an atmosphere of British fair play.
where character and not race made the
man, consequently his individuality was
that OF an enterprising "down- Easter -
The presence OF African blood In his
veins had no power to make him ac-
cept prescribed course, or to be other
than what his environment made him.
Few people in this country seem to
understand this. 1t IL com,non
mistake to thinK that q man must
act "cnlorcd" for no better reason than
because he is called "colored," and be-
cause his complexion suggests q descend
ant of American slavery. This apparent
ly trifiing sentiment has blasted the
hopes and stood % barrier to the devel.
oumept of many . promising Afro.Ainer-
lean child. 1t is 90 marked that the en-
tire race has been affected. Noted edu-
Gators testify that the little black cnild is
eager to learn until about the age Of IL
or IA; after that age he becomes sullen
and listless in the class room. The
trouble Is within easy discovery. The
child learns the difference between white
boys chances and the black boys. HIS
ambition dwindles to bitter disappoint.
ment, and his faith In our ''glorious in
situations" fall, fat. The hitherto buoy
ant interest in study slowly dies. There
Is no more companionshiy between him
and his friendly classmstes, becauss the
fortunate boys am bition IL a constant
reminder of what he % deprived Of
Should the Afro. American chiid's parents
send him away from home to some place
where black boys may receive special
training, the memory of past humilis-
iions Is moro than likely to act as a
weight upon him, retarding his fullest
and best development. This Will con-
tiDue until all race prescriptions are
swept from the management OF every
department of education in this country,
and the rig hts OF ell children are Impair
TALLY considered and regarded.
MIR. Bsnnister had been but a short
while from ct. Andrews bsfore he began
to deal directly with attempts to estimate
his manhood by the appreciation of: his
complexicn. Naturally this aroused his
British ire, and led to many vigorous pro-
tests, which rarely ended short OF fstic
exploits. Had his love for art been less
determined, he would have given up in
despair, end settled down to ship build
ing or some other mechanical calling I'm
his native village. He was ever sensItive
TO the beauties OF nature. As boy trudg.
ing after his fathers cows he has stood
in OPEN NC ut he'd wonder at the gorgeous
sunsets, and followed with breathless
suspense the tipping of tree and flower
with gold. In total forgetfuluess of
everything save this wonderful color
com mbinations, he has lain for hours
stretched fiat on the grassy plain, or sat
perched, gnome-like, on some great, bare
rock wstching the colors die away into
soft transluoency, then into night. Many
a time he has gone supperless to his gar
ret bed, because he wss so late returning
with the cows. 1t is told of him that
he really loved the black darkness, be-
cause il made the colors next day newer
to him. And a visit to his WE'LL nlled
studio indirectly gives a sem mblance of
truth to the story. Among a great num-
Der of landscape studiss only an occa-
sional moonlight is To be seen. lis fancy
seems to run entirely In sunny studies.
When he left st. Andrews his brain
was fred with tbeam bition to reproduce
on canvas the glowing pictures Of wild
coast lite and sylvan loveliness that had
nllei mis- childhood hours with never
ceasiug wonder. But contact with mar
row, prsjodicsd minds threw a pail over
these bric ht hopes ana turned bis mind
from nature TO the contemplation OF
man. lie became absorbed I'm his hone
to paint ;he human figure. After con-
sid,rai lie wandering, embittered by many
hsrdships and incidents calculated to
oistearteu less rugged nature. he set
tied down to the study of art In Boston
lie studied under Dr. kimmer. and
showed such indications OF genius that
se oon attract ID the sttcntion of all tho
professors labo'ing with DR.. kimmer. In
tots way he beanie associstsn with some
very chaice spirits. llis iirst sxpe'isnce
as an art stndent meds TIN very slow in
ne formation of friendship outside OF
the realm Of art, sud the msjority OF hi.
associates OF today resulted from tie old
stgdstt contact a. Dr. Rimmer's classes.
tie rni he'd his studies OF Boston and