The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-18
AAiG>GiGlGiElGiEiIiIiNf
= HER POINT OF VIEW =:
AMMa!!C!,!g.

IT Is a pathetic thing to be- a "brotll-
er to the OK" with no instincts
. higher than the drudging toll of
the day--to have no aspirations no
ambitions, no hopes: to he satisfied
with the sodden. coarse food and the
sleep Of the animals of the field; bur
infinitely Sadder it is to have had the
advantages of culture and refinement,
the glorious ambitions of youth, the
broader outlook into the world, and
yet to be as one imprisoned within inn
pregnable walls. over which he may
not climb and through which he may
| never pass-walls which likewise battle
the futile efforts of the few friends on
the other side who would reach the
immured victim.
He was only a porter in Pullman
car. To he sure one was obliged TO
| look twice and sharply, too. at the
| tall young man with the eyeglasses
and the regular features and the wavy
| hair. before being at all inclined to
| think he might have the single purple
drop Of blood in his veins which allied
him to an unhappy race. Even after
certain that the suspicious We're well
founded. He did not have the porter
| symptoms. he was so courteous and
thoughtful and betrayed none of the
| grasping instincts characteristic of the
| class.
Yes" he said. as he brought in The
| soup from the buffet. II am of cOlOred
blood. My father, however. is very
| l;pli nf MI iS
mother. I am usually taken for a
white man. No. | have not always
been Pullman porter After leaving
college 7 was stenographer for Booker
7. Washington. and I have done much
work as private secretary, but in the
South we are so poorly paid, and
sometimes not paid at ALL and there
are no opportunities to work except
among our own people. and the work
| could get took me so far from my
home in Washington that 7 made up
my mind to try something else.
wanted to travel and to learn some-
| of the great world. | have been in
almost every state in the Union, have
travelled with presidential parties and
with the owners of private ears.
| have letters from several of the most
are really tlatterng testimonials but
| | am nothing but Il porter. Some times
when I think of the possibilities which
| lie before other young men who have
| had my advantages. I feel bitter in
| deed at the fate which rnthralls me-
| There seems to be no place for me in
| The world"
| "Oh. indeed.' he continued. in re-
| in
great ambilion-but it seems very far
wanted to be a physician. but | have
not been able to save enough to pur-
SUE the necessary course. am not
sure that I could find practice
tn support me. but I'd like to take the
chances" and he removed his glasses
as II sudden mist dimmed his eyes
And this is one OF the problems
! which faces Booker r.. Washington. Or.
! Mason and other noble workers who
| are daily making sacrifices for their
! people. They find these bright young
men and women. educate them ana
! send them ont into the world. Often
! their own race can offer no adequate
! III Id for their ambitions and abilities.
| Like this handsome young fellow with
| lis trained intellect, conscious capa-
| bilitieS and restive temperament. they
heat the wings Of their aspirations
against the cold bars of hereditary en-
! vironment ard racial prejudice. Tho
! white people viii not employ them
! save in the most menal capacity.
| They may not mingle with the white
! workers III mercantile pursuits or even
| In The higher class of operative indus
| Try for which they are peculiarly
adapted. II is indeed q problem
| Vet, In some respects the attitude Of
this young man answers the doubts
regarding the possibility and feasibility
of uplifting and educating the colorcd
population of the south, l,verv hoy
! who is thus taken from the ranks OF
| ignorant. superstitious ma asses reduces
the criminal statistics by a large ratio,
! for mis- influence must he considered
| In The matter. In The southern schools
training of the brain and training of
| the hano go side by side. This Is the
highest conception of true education
! and although the BOYS and girls of this
| generation who have been thus helped
| T. az eat their hearts out with thWar-
! cd hopes and pitiful discouagement
| and NAV perhaps fall into an apathy Of
| GisappoiL tment: yes. their children will
be- farther along in the line OF advance
! and will swell the procession of fu-
ture happiness and prosperity 10 the
race in The south.
There are some instances of disap-
pointed ambition in which direct
leading the way of character form
ing seems evident. The pathos OF
! thwsrted hopes. the melancholy mem-
>rv of what might have been draws a