Richmond planet., 1897-06-26
FROM THE EAST END.
YOUNG AFRO-AMERI-
CANS TO THE FRONT.
J. c. Price Literary and
HistOral Society Holds
Exercises.
The PROGRAMME.
Hon. j. II. Smythe, Ex-Min-
iSter to Liberia, Speaks.
PETERSBURG FORFEITS A GAME TO
THE ECLIPSE.
The PROGRAMME.
PETERSBURG P0RFEITS A GAME II
THE EOLIPSE.
Breezy Personals and General News.

From Our East End Correspondent.
The Joseph G. Price Literary and
Historical Society held their first pub
lie literary exercises last Tuesday
evening, June 22d, at the Fountain
Baptist Church. A large audience
greeted the young men. and applaud
ed their first public effort. The an
nouncement OF the comiDg OF Hon.
John II. Smythe, A. B., LII. D., ex-
Minister to Liberia, and President of
Planet Beneficial Association, as well
as President of the colored Reforma-
tory for criminally inclined youths of
the colored race in Virginia, created
much excitement and no little curios-
ty among the people of this sectien, to
hear the distinguished scholar, an6
orator deliver the address of the even
ing.
The exercises reflected no little cred
il upon the small band of young Afro
Americans who styled themselves, the
Joseph Q. Price Literary and Hisuori-
cal Society.
The musical end OF the programme
Was all that the music loving instinct
| OF the large audience could desire This
Literary Society appeared few weeks
| ago on the literary horizon shedding
faint and uncertain light at first, but
the strong and healthy lustre it now
| sheds in the literary world convinces
| the most skeptical that, though it's
coming was unheralded and unan-
nounced. it will do q mighty work be-
fore II is consigned to the dark realms
of oblivion.
The program was well gotten up, al
though many Who promised to take
certain parts failed to put in their ap-
pearance.
THE PROGRAMME:
Opening, All Hail the Power of Jesus
] Name, by the Society; Scripture Read
ing, by w. T. Anthony Prayer by Mr..
Daniel Bowler; Hymn by the Society /;
Roll call by the Secretary Solo BY
Miss Annie b. Clayton; Solo and duet
by Madame Gazelle Bowler and Miss
Martha Allen Introductory speech by
President l.. III Herbert; Address py
Hon. John Ii. Smythe; Hymn by the
Society f; Remarks by the President
collection for the Church Benedic-
tion by Reverend h. Il. Williams, pas
tor.
4ho null Oa1A " rs Ouc Ol LQ6 Inter
esting features of the occasion and
created q sensation. 1t consisted of
short selections from favorite authors
recited by each member of the Society
who responded when the secretary
lcalled his name.
The solo, "Over the Line" rendered
by Miss Clayton and the solo duet by
Madame Bowler and Miss Allen EMIT
led Have Courage my boy to say no, u
; were especially pleasing, and would
have been ronndly applauded had moi
such an exhibition tended to secu.
larize the Temple OF God.
THE ADDRESS.
: At the conclusion of the duet, Mr.
L. II. Herbert, the president. came
forward and delivered the Introducto-
ry Speech. 1t was a grand effort from
, exordium to the perOration, which al
so embraced eulogy on the distin
, Iguished guest, orator, statesman anC
scholar who would deliver the address
= At the close Hon. John H. Srp vths
arose amid a grand outburst Of enthu
I siasm.
He opened with eulogistic remark
upon the life and character of the lat,
8 Joseph @. Price, the distinguished
Iphilanthropist educator, preacher and
l IorAtor from whom the Society derived
its name and ended with I0mplimen
g tary remarks upon the young m, VIII,
had taken up the task of eleVatifi,
: themselves and their race to a highe
and nobler purpose. He then discuss
ed the subject, Negro Education ant
,, Learning" in all its various phases
e pointing out the good to be derive,
from the Free School System and tn
" evil results to the race if all of on
educational facilities we're left neglect
u ed. He spoke of the great enterpris
that laid so near his heart, namely, tn
IColOred Reformatory now on foot wit
p great emphasis.
ri The address Throughout was one O
- the most precious gems we ever heard
Owing to lack OF space we are unabl
= to give the address in detail; but it
expected at no distant day that tn
entire speech will be published in tn
PLANET,
THR ESCORTS.
Messrs. w. T. Nelson and P. n
II Coleman were the gentlemen who act
ed as an escort to Hon. Smythe, cor
20 ducting him from the car to the churc
and at the close OF the exercises th
Y escort was reinforced by Messrs. v
H. Bank, l.. H. Herbert, James Ros,
9. II. Morton and James Coleman wh
" escorted their distinguished guest bac
in again to the car after a purse had bee
O. presented him by the chairman of I'll
finance committee on behalf of I'll
tn Society.
The grand opening of the Literar
g. will take place next month at whic
on time it is expected that other distil
Id guished gentlemen will be present.
T. Seats were reserved for the Thess
lonian. Chrysanthemum, Hyacinth al
's- Oorinthian Social clubs. A represen
N, ative from each club was invited to
ii, seat at the front. They were Arch
M Coles Of the first named club, Miss
Annie b. Clayton, Susie Burreli al
ell Mr.. Joseph r, Robinson. the respecti
ls presidents OF the other clubs
re- Misses Susie Dabney and Mary Jon
or, presided at the organ.
al BASE BALL.
ms, A large number went out last Nc
oil day to see their fsvorite team EcliE
play ball In the Broad Street Pa
set This being the first time colored te
the has b, en allowed u play ia that pa
IL was quite = novelty The ho