The Washington bee., 1897-09-18
THE NEGRO ART COMPANY.
RETURN OF PROF. JACQUES = THE
GREAT EASTERN TRIP.

GREAT EASTERN TRIP.
Prof. w. c. o. Jacques, the we'll
known artist and president of the Ne
gro Art company, has returned to the
city from the East, where he has had
ed his studio at 1888 Tenth street n. W.
This branch of the business is in
charge of his very talented lady, and
one of refinement. The Boston Cour-
ant has the following to say about his
great exhibition in Boston this month
"The pictorial exhibition and lecture
given by the Columbia Negro National
Art Association of Washington, D. c.,
was held at the A. NJ. E. Zion church,
n. Russell ST., Boston, on Thursday
evening, Sept I'd. 1t was one of the
grandeSt affairs of the kind ever wit
messed IN this city.
At an early hour the exhibition room
was crowded with people from points
for miles around, who were much sur
priSed and also pleased with the fine
specimens of art which adorned the
walls. About o:3o the vast assemblage
were invited into the auditorium where
for an hour and half they were favor
ed with fine addresses, solos, duets and
an excellent and instructive lecture on
art by Prof w. {. 0. Jacques, master
artist of the Art Association.
The exercises were opened with sing
ing by the normal. An able address
of welcome was then delivered by Rev.
s. F. Dickson, the pastor of the church.
Among other things Rev. Dickson said
that many of the other races had doubts
relative to the negro in professional
work, also as to their capabilities and
: possibilities in the study of art, but that
those who were in doubt need only to
be referred to the lecture room below
where they would be able to witness
what the negro has accomplished in
art. He said that all we wanted was
chance to show what we can do. May
God bless you and may success follow
you wherever this work may call you.
Miss Miles, of Providence, R. l., then
favored the audience with select solo,
after which the address of welcome
was responded to by Mr.. WoOten, who
spoke ably and earnestly. He said the
time had arrived when we could have
the choicest specimens OF art adorn the
walls of our homes, which would be
painted by negro artists, the graduates
of the Columbia Negro Art Normal.
He invited all to seek this art aSSoC1a-
ton and there see the work which crit
les, however prejudiCed they may be.
will be compelled to recognize as SpeCl-
mems of true art.
Miss Johnson and Mrs. c.. I. Davage
then rendered a Duet, which was loud
1y applauded.
The lecture by Prof. Jacques was next
on the programme, and when Rev.
DaYage, the manager of the association
introduced the famous lecturer and art
instructor there was much applause.
The professor said that we had lat o ed
hard to overcome disadvantages and
fought against great odds of culture,
wealth and the brain of the opposite
race. He said that we had made
place in the world and have shown
what we could do and what we will do.
He said that we have professional
men not only in Boston but all over this
country who are doing this work as
well as any race can do, and yet it is said
we are not able to doit. We first made
our success in music. 1t was then
stated by the white race that any negro
could sing, and that was all they were
fit for. One man stated that he would
be ready to die when the negro could
translate Greek, and to-day negro has
written text book on Greek which IS
used in Yale College, and IN fact all
over the country.
Mr.. Jacques said that it has been
stated that we could not produce min
listers who could ably prcpOund the gos-
pei, but we have men who can give us
theology and furnish proofs to back 1t
up, and who are able to compete with
the leading white ministers of the coun-
try. horace, with the history we have,
can boast of the achievements that we
can All we must do is TO unite as
Africans, come together, protect and
open up avenues OF labor for our chill
dren, and their success will be ours.
He said that banks are what we want
and what we might easily have, but for
one thing that stands in the Way-Slm
ply lack of confidence in each other,
and as long as this lasts we can never
expect to succeed in this world.
We have 10000 ColOred people in
Boston and vicinity and out of that num-
Der we should have 5000 in business. "