The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-02
NEGRO WRITERS
r:,at are Rapidly Mounting the
Ladder OF Fame.
MANY IN UNITED STATES.
ohio Boasts of two who Have Won
Prominence-Paul Laurence Dun.
bar, Once an Elevator Boy at Day.
tou-ProE scarboro. OF Rnberforce
Uniyorsity-AuthOr Of 4 Volume on
Greek Roots. s


The August number Of the New Eng
land Magazine contains a story and a
p5em by negro author, and the read
or would never dream that this author
was not white. wee 1t not for his
black portrait. which Is also given. A
ll,ter in Boston newspaper from a
southern writer says that all the race
troubles in the south are due to the
mlsohleyous efforts to educate the ne
gro that southern people are unable to
ind competent and contented servants
as they formerly did, and that all
northern people ought to join with the
south in putting the negroes back into
the subsection to which they belong.
So there is provocatlon enough in the
eyaats OF the day to see what the negro
is doing in the realm Of letters and Of
mind generally. The following points
are gathered from both white and
black sources here:
one of the foremost negroes Of the
city, says the New York Evening Post,
says that he does not personally
encounter any race prejudice which is
hlndrance to him in his profession of
law. For fifteen years he has been in
practice here. He gets plenty of white
clients, and has no difficulty because
OF the darkness of his skin. He quotes
the editor of the Atlantic Monthly as
having said to him that his purpose was
to get the best writer's. and that he did
not care whether an author were white
or black as long as his writings had
genuine merit. The Atlantic had been
conducted on that principle even before
SIr. Page became It's editor.
1t is recognized, OF course, that there
is great difference between the treat
INIT of the negroes in the north and
in the south. The comments upon their
condition apply only to the northern
states. Determination is made here
against the negro. but he is fast rising
in spite Of 1t. It is said that chronic
evil in the situation is that the black
man is expected to be gentleman, but
he is not treated as one. Many avenues
are closed to him. but they are opening
slowly. 1t is a fact that negroes as
BARRIERS have disappeared almost en-
tIrely from Boston, but the explanation
is said to be. not that there has been a
growth of prejudice against colored
BARRIERS, but that the Italians have un-
derbld them. The negroes are becom-
Ing carpenters, wheelrightsa and so on,
filing higher Industrial positions than
before.
The broad generalization is made in
behalf Of the negroes that they are be-
coming less emotional, and more BUSH
ness lIke-that is, they are coming to
be mentally more like the whites.
Negroes are said to be getting into
the real estate business. Companies
for dealing in real estate are said to
exist which are never mentioned in
print, and a transaction in real estate
by negroes to the extent of $4,000 in a
suburban city has been consummated
this week. The property holdings Of
the negroes are increasing constantly.
and are larger to-day than ever. They
have much larger amount Of church
property in Boston than few years
ago, and it is added that they are less
tacetious and more buslnesslike in their
meetings,
The individual Instances Of excellence
in education, science and letters are
becoming very numerous. There are
over $50 newspapers conducted by ne
groes, some of which are doing we'll
while others struggle for living. In
dIvidual men and women are named
whose records equals that Of many
white writer's and scientists.
Giving first mention to Booker T.
Washington for his work for his race
at Tuskegee Institute, there Is another
remarkably talented teacher in Profess
Bor Du Bols, Of Atlanta University
who has studied law at the Harvard
University, and was pronounced by
President Elliott to be Of the very first
rank among the graduates Of the UNI
versIty. Du Bots is man OF brilliant
parts, and II not himself a slave, was
OF slave parentage, and Is striking proof
OF the capacity which lnheres In the
race when 1t is given fair chance In
the struggle OF life. Another instance
is that Of Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the
writer In the New England Magazine
referred to. He was an elevator boy at
Dayton, Ohio, whose genius expressed
Itself in verses and other writings OF
such merit that his literary reputation
IS now established. Charles w. Chest
mutt Is the author OF articles in the
Atlantic Monthly and other publica-
tons, and his story, 1.-THE Conjure
Woman" has had so much favorable
mention for its skillful delIncation OF
negro character. He has acquired some
knowledge Of the classics and OF
French and German literature. though
he was unable to get college eduea-
ton. He has two daughters at Smith
College, and son is preparing for
college course.
Archibald H. Grinke, well known In
Boston FOR many years. is author Of
biographies OF Garrison, Phillips, sum.
ner and Calhoun. and stands as wei
as II he were white. His brother, the
Rev Francis ]. Grimkc. has published
n volume " sermons and n contribution
on the Negro Problem. Archibald was
United States minister to San Domingo
under President Cleveland Mrs Fran
cls j. Grinke has contributed to tht
century and Atlantic Butler Il. VIII