Evening star., 1897-07-27
PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.
Papers Read Before Conference of
COlOred People at Hampton.

COlOred People at Hampton.
The papers presented at Thursdays ses-
sions of the conference Of colored men and
women at Hampton, Va, were most prac-
tical and suggestive. The morning session
was given up to the consideration Of agri-
culture and the kindred subject of food
supply. The first paper presented was by
Mr.. c. L. Goodrich, instructor in agricul-
ture at Hampton Institute, on nitrogen
and farm economy.
The speaker with the aid of an adnira-
BILE series of original illustrative charts.
made very clear to his hearers the impor
tant part nitrogen plays in the economy
of the farm. He referred to it not only as
a factor in plant life. but as necessary
constituent of food for both man and
beast, calling attention to the proportion of
IL which is essential, and comparing the
various food stuffs in the amount OF nitro
gen which they supply. The paper was re-
ceived with close attention end great in
terest, was shown by the questions
put 10 Mr. Goodrich at its close, and the
animated discussion which followed. Mr.
F. NJ. Fitch pursued the subject still fur
ther in paper Oh food supply.
The afternoon session was a women's
meeting, conducted by Mrs. Titus, the pres
ident of the women's conference Of Nor
folk. The first speaker was Mrs. f. j.
CCrpin of Philadelphia who described the
work that had been done there by colored
girls in domestic sciezce. She was follow
ed by Mrs. Weaver of Gloucester county,
Va, who told OF the work possible in the
rural districts.
Miss E. b. Kruse of Wilmington, Del,
| gave a helpful and sensible address on the
| home life of our people. Other addresses
We're made by Mrs. Bowser of Richmond
and Mrs. Ora Langhorne of CulpepeY and
| the succeeding discussions brought out
many valuable suggestions. The feature
OF the evening session was an address by
Pro! Prof Hugh N Brown of Washington on
industrial Education" in which he
| strongly advocated an education which
| should fit the student for his environ ment,
| and not estrange him from it. A discus
sion followed on the comparative merits OF
| industrial and collegiate cducation during
| which brief but pithy addresses were made
by Prof Kelly Miller of Howard Universi-
| ty. Prof. j. L. Love of Washington D. c.,
| Mr.. f. +. Fortune of New York Prof.
Hawkins of Kittrell. W. c. and Mrs. F. j.
| Coppin of Philadelphia. Dr.S Shadd of Wash
| ingtOn had expected to be present and
speak on the health question, but was un-
! able to come paper by his daughter,
| Miss Shadd. on self-reiance. was listened
| to with much interest.
Friday morning Prof. Kelly Miller, In a
paper entitled Causes of the Negroes
! Great Mortality in Large Cities reviewed
! Mr.. Hoffmann's Race Traits and Tendan-
| cies of the American Negro" Several i'm
| portant errors in statistics We're pointed
| out. and many of Mr. Hoffmann's conclu-
| sions Were shown to be based on insuffl-
| cient data.
One Of the most able papers of the con-
| ference was then presented by Prof. w. E
| Burghardt Du Bois of the University OF
| Pennsylvania, author of the monograph on
| Tha Suppression of the African Slave
| Trade which forms the first volume in
the Harvard Historical Studies. Prof. Du
| Bois' subject was tine Problem of Amuse-
| ment Among Negroes and in his paper
| he added to a careful and scholarly study
OF present conditions some most practical
and wise suggestions for their improve
| ment.
At the closing session Friday afternoon
| an excellent address was made by DIR
| Grimke Of Washington on "Hindrances tc
the Progress of Our People, Resolution:
were adopted by the conference embody
ing In series of recommendations the re
| suits of its deliberations