Evening star., 1896-12-14
FOR THE MANASSAS SCHOOL.
Dunbar, the Negro Poet, to Read fol
It's Benefit.

Dunbar, the Negro Poet, to Read for
It's Benefit.
Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the colored poet,
will read selections from his poems for the
second time beforeaa Washington audience
tomorrow evening at the Fifteenth Street
Presbyterian Church. The entertainment
in which the Selika Quartet will take part,
is to be given under the auspices of the
Manassas Industrial School This institu-
ton was organized in 1893, and is operated
under charter granted by the state of
Virginia. Its aim Is to place the advant-
ages of an industrial training within the
reach of the hundreds of colored boys and
girls who live in the neighborhood Of Man
assas and fit them for efficient service in
the Industrial pursuits of life. By liberal
contributions from Miss Emily Rowland
and Mrs. Frances A. Haeckley of New
York, and through the successful solicita-
tions of Jennie Dean, the colored woman
who originated the school; aided by Ed
ward Everett Hale and Mrs NJ. c. Whit
man of Boston; DIR. ID. H. Greer and Mrs
Burton N. Harrison Of New York city, and
Mrs L. s. Doolittle and Miss Jane E.
Thompson Of Washington, the school has
been enabled to acquire valuable property
and to continue through nearly three years
OF practical and successful operation with
out serious embarrassment or hindrance
The work in the academic department is
carefully graded: the industrial department
includes instruction in agriculture, car
pentry, painting, laundry sewing, cooking
and housekeeping
The board of directors consists of Carroll
d. Wright, commissioner Of labor, presl-
dent; Prof. Henry T. Montgomery, SUPER
vising principal, District of Columbia
schools. vice president; Henry E. Baker,
assistant examiner patent Office, treasurer:
Rev. James H. Bradford. Indian bureau
recording secretary; Rev. Henry H. War
ing corresponding secretary; Mrs Senator
Hoar. Mrs. L. A. Hale Rev. christopher
Eliot. James Dorum. Miss Jennie s. Dean,
George c. Rounds, Rev. Marshall d. VIII
liams. Miss Emily Howland, Mrs Minnie
{. Whitman, Mrs. Emma v. MONTGOMERY.
James H. Meriwether, Mrs. Lucy s. Doc.
little. Rev. William A. Credit. DR.. Winfield
8. Montgomery, Rev. D. G. Henderson.
Mrs. Ora c. Langhorne. DR.. Clarkson, Mrs,
Dodge and Capt Tyler
Mr. w. D: Howells. writing in Harper
Weekly Of Mr.. Dunbar's verse. has said
Il have sometimes fancied that the
negroes thought black, and felt black; that
they were racially utterly alien and dis
tinct from ourselves that there never could
be common Intellectual and emotional
book has given me pause in my speculation.
Here. in the artistic effect at least is white
thinking and white feeling in a black man,
and perhaps the human unity, and not the
thing after all. Mr.. Dunbar seems to have
fathomed the souls Of his simple white
neighbors, well as those Of his own kim
dred; and certainly he has reported as
faithfully what passes in them as any man
| of the white race has yet done with respect
to the souls of his. do not think
we can read his negro pieces without feel
| ing that they are of like impulse and in
| spiration with the work Of Burns when he
was most Burns. when he was most Scotch,
when he was most peasant"
The Selika Quartet Is new musical or
ganization composed of Mrs Josephine 8.
| Ball, Mrs. Lena Miller Mckinney, Mrs
Lula Joy Brookes and Miss Louise Hamer,
all Of Washington. Mrs. Ball was a we'll
known contralto in the famous Fisk Jubi-
| lee Singers. Mrs. Mckinney was for sew
eral seasons the leading soprano in the ST.
Augustine choir. Mrs Brookes Is we'll
known local soprano. Miss Hamer has a
| voice of rare sweetness and tenderness.
Mrs Alice Strange-Davis will act as ac-
companist. =. -