Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-12-19


wasAingtos. ID. G. Special 70 BY,
ISLANDER. To ~ Priends q Homer
No doubt some OF yOu are somewhat
anxious about me and wondered at
nv sudden leayetak:ng. Yet It was
not sudden TO myself and family. as
/ had been preparing the way for some
time. I did not leave home and
friends because Of desire to become
separated. but only to improve my
self and conditions All | have In
Des Moines and dear Iowa, all that !
am is the result Of my living in Iowa
and all I must receive Is because Of
my allegiance to Iowa. 1t is q pleas
ure to have new surroundings and
have new environments thrown
around one. 1t is a pleasure to meet
some of the great lights" OF ones
race. but after that there is no place
like home and the association OF those
whom you have learned TO love after
wears Of association We do s3. know
the love of home and our friends un
til we become separated Our friends
do not realize what friendship is until
they realize we have gone from them
y
in my absence from Des Moines and
Iowa. you Tiny friends) will continue
to have an interest in me and my vel
fare. / assure you all that ! will ever
remember you and have kind words
for you all.
am now comfortably situated in
Washington. and so far am well
pleased with my surroundings Am at
present copyist in the Recorder OF
Deeds Office of the District of Colum
bia. Upon leaving home l bid fare
well for awhile. I arrived in Chicago
Tuesday a. m. the 18th, took train
and visited there Wednesday, Had
the pleasure of meeting great many
old friends and visited chapel Wednes-
day morning. where l was received
by the students with great ovation
and was compelled to address them
as best / could. felt at the time
it was the crwning glory OF my life.
The school has wonderfully improved
since was student, many buildings
having been erected and homes built
new branches have been added and Il
will soon be a school conducted on
the same order as Tuskegee. Farm
ing will be added next year. / haG
the pleasure Of dining with an old
Des Moines boy who Is now pro-
fessor there, Mr.. Henry jenkins. He
is professor Of the commercial depart
ment and is doing we'll left WILDER
force and went to Lebanon, Ohio. for
a short visit, thence to Columbus,
Ohio, which is magnificent city
From Columbus I went to Pittsburg
Pa. l had the pleasure of riding with
Bishop Arnett to Pittsburg He asked
about Des Moines, and particularly
about Rev. Graves and wife. told
him all the good things l could, and
especially about our pastor. He was
much pleased to hear Of Rev. Graves
success. He said he was particularly
interested in the hoy" because he
came from Wilberforce. Bishop Ar.
nett will lecture in Des Moines some
time during the winter and all should
then turn out to hear him as he Is
considered one of the best platform
orators on the American st1ge today
From Pittsburg l went directly to
Washington, passing through some OF
the large cities. especially Baltimore
Nd, which is a large city and has a
great many colored people in it. Upon
leaving Baltimore passed through
the tunnel. / thought when l would
get out l could see the city. but low
was out in the country. Washington
is beautiful place and worth you
while to visit 1.-THE capital Of our
country. Later on will write fully
about this city. Trusting these few
words will be of some interest to the
readers Of the Bystander am
Yours for Iowa.
J. Frank Blagburn.