Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-24
the grammar and high schools and also
| colleges is surprisingly large.

the grammar and high schools and also
colleges is surprisingly large.
Naturally, after these young people
graduate, they seek something to do
that is in keeping with the cost and
character of their education. Every
one of them could be used:in the school
room Of the south il there was money
IN the south with which to pay them.
but ut present there is little money in
that section to be used for school
teaching. The same problem of how
to ind way to use ones education is
pressing upon the men and women who
graduate from Southern schools and
colleges.
TO HELP POINT THE WAY.
To help point the way out Of this
perplexity is the object of this COM
munication. There is place where
every one can use his education if he
will prepare himself for that thing
which the world wants done and is
able and willing to pay for. The trou-
bic with too many young colored men
and women is that they have not fitted
themselves for the occupations which
are at the command of the race now
and which the race most needs help in.
Few years ago q young colored man
went through the grammar and high
school of his town and then he entered
an Agricultural college in the West
where he took Thorough course in
scientific ard practical agriculture.
When he graduated, three positions in
the South at an annual salary of more
than thousand dollars were offered
him. He did not have to spend day
looking for q position, the position
sought him.
AYouNG MANS EXPERIENCE.
Two years ago another young colored
man finished the college course at a
certain institution and afterwards en-
tered the agricultural department. at
Cornell University from which he grad
uated last June. In this case, three
months before he graduated, at least
two positions were offered him. He is
now receiving a good salary as instruc-
tor at school in North Carolina.
Why is it that these two men were
literally sought out and grabbed up as
itwere Simply because they had
prepared themselves to lead along the
lines of the needs of the race. The
logic of it all is Gle ar. Eighty-fve per
cent of the colOred people in the South
live by agriculture and they need help
in the direction of their life work.
CHOICE OF THREE POSITIONS.
Some six years ago a young man fin
ished the course in Architecture at the
Institute OF Technology in Boston.
When he received his diploma, he had
the choice of three positions. The
logic Of this is also clear. As a race we
need homes. During the next fifty
years we are going to be race Of
house, factory and store builders.
l know but few colored women
who have thoroughly fitted themselves
to teach or do scientific and practical
cooking and domestic economy, and
their services are always in demand.
We need not search for the reason Of
this success Of these'few. The whole
question Of the proper preparation and
serving of food is ore that is being re-
volutionized throughout the country
and the Negro needs leaders and
teachers in this special department..
The whole question Of textile manu-
featuring and the making and fitting
of clio thing is largely q new one in the
South and the race must have leaders
along this line also.
THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION.
In short. in the LAYING of the fonda