The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-08-11
ALL THE NEWS IN
'COLORED CIRCLES.
A Department Devoted to the
DOings of the
Race.
THE CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
What is Transporting Among the COlOred
People in and Around
Brunswick.
TT. G. CALHOUN, Editor. |


A story told fifty years ago. My
son, am now "a years, as you mus.
see. l shall soon lay aside the imple-
ments of the warfare of life and re-
tire to the shades of that eternal sleep
by the side of those who have pre-
coded me. You have just embarked
on the tide of this unresisting stream
of life. The channel of this stream
meanders long through unknown
shoals and hidden rocks. 1t will re-
quire your being very discreet, there
fore. Now as you are a public man, |
want to give you piece of advice
which l can best do by relating TO you
misfortune which happened to
young man fifty years ago this very
year. This is 1947 He was like your
self a young man just starting out in
life. He was doctor and finished
his medical course at what Is now
called the "Jamison Medical Insti-
iute." 1t was then known as "Me-
hony Medical Institute" at Nashville,
Tenn, and was for the training of the
cOlored men for the medical profess
sion. This young man finished his
medical course in 1894 and thereupon
came to Brunswick to begin his prac-
tice. OF course, this town was not
then what it is now, having only
about ten thousand inhabitants. But
he sailed forth under flying colors and
it was not long before he had gained
fairly good practice, and succeeded
well for season. He was young
man and so was ambitious, and unfor-
tunately had not the judgment to
properly direct his ambition and the
disposition not to take advice.
1t seemed that he was in short
while after he appeared to succeed in
his practice possessed by an overmas-
tering desire for notoriAty-whIch he
purchased at the dearest price indeed.
He fell upon the conclusion that to
stand by the bedside and prescribe
medicines for the sick and dying of
his people, to visit their homes and
teach them to observe the laws of san
itation and how to preserve their
health, was too long way off from
universal greatness" l can imagine
him confined between the dark, damp
walls of his little office earnestly pom
doring over something that would at
once watt him away to the pinnacle of
universal greatness" So he con-
cluded chat his race was degenerating
in moEals, in intellect and in phys
ique. He at once sets to work to prove
it. He first spent $50 in postage
stamps by writing to the various bu
reaus of information for data and sta
tlstics. These secured, he began to
write hIs address. Having completed
it he showed 1T around to various of
his friends, many of whom advised
him not to venture out upon such
perilous way. High of hope and full
of ambition he ventured forth unheed-
ing. And what was the consequence?
In few months that young doctors
practice was gone. He left Bruins
wick early in the following year, '9S,
and wherever he went he was con-
fronted with the subject OF his lecture.
SO that he never reached the height of
popular favor, and soon prematurely
and ingloriously eked out the remain
der of his days.
Now l trust you have caught what l
desired to convey-the precedent. Be
discrete. Take heed to the counsel OF
your seniors. Be wise and you will
shun a similar fate as this young doc
tor. shall now leave you to your
meditation as / must retire.
The Swim mer.