Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-05-27
OF
PROFESSOR
DUBOIS
History of the Negro Entertainingly
Told-Details of the Evenings
Entertainment

Prof. W. E. b. Dubois in his lecture.
The History OF the Negro" fur
nished an Intellectual treat for six to
seven hundred people Monday night
at the Peoples Tabernacle. Previous
to his address a lengthy program OF
music and addresses was given. the
Azalia Hackley Choral club in chorus
work, Madam PenixHerndon. pianist
and Mrs. Lillian Jones. contralto solo
list. being the performers. The speak
ers we're e. r. Harper and 5as. Burg
er, who welcomed Prof. Dubois on
behalf OF the state and city. They.
with John +. Vivian. were the three
white persons assigned to the places
OF honor on the speakers platform,
Rev HAZEL who led in the Invocation
and Thomas Campbell who presided
completed the honorary positions. To
the rear OF them were seated the min
listers OF the city. while In ascending
tiers OF seats to the side were the
presidents of tho women's clubs and
other prominent citizens. and across
from them the Choral club.
The preliminaries continued until
$40 u. m when Prof Dubois began
spe eaking For one hour and ten min
utes. in rapid, terse style he reviewed
the history of the race especially In
northern Africa and related the work
ings of the Society for the Advance
ment of Color.i People. OF which he
IL secretary. The beginning OF the
address was entirely historical. ap-
preached by references to present
day conditions and linked up with the
future in his reasoning. Hurriedly
he sketched what We have done. SO
rapidly passing from age to age and
scene to scene. that his audience fol-
lowed him only because of its in
tense interest in the subject. He then
enunciated his peculiar ideas OF pres
ent day life. appealing to the race to
persist in demanding its civil and
political rights, to seek after real edu-
cation for the masses of us. and try
to secure Justice in the courts. Inas-
much as he is the leader of one class
of opinion and activity in the race his
opinions on education and civil and
political rights were listened TO with
more than usual interest
In style Prof. Dubois is the scholar
rather than the orator. He confessed
as much In his opening. and such per-
sons as expected flights OF rhetoric
and oratory could not but have been
disappointed. He speaks quietly and
dfspassionately. not even raising his
voice in clarion call in his appeal
to the race to take arms against a
sea of troubles" His voice is none
too strong and at times In the more
distant parts OF the auditorium he
was hardly heard. He uses few ges-
lures. and his speech was singularly
free from periods or climaxes. The
lecture. in short, was one that could
best be digested by reading than by
hearing. From the standpoint of lit
erary merit, 1t was of such pre-emi-
nent worth as becomes the great rep
utation he has.
Since the lecture many different
opinions OF 1t have been expressed,
all OF which give him credit for great
scholarship and differ only as to the
worth OF his propaganda.
Coming SO close after the lecture Of
DIR. Booker T. washington. which was
held in the same place some months
ago. by the Y. NJ. c. A., a comparison
of the two leaders OF Negro thought
is inevitable and interesting. In
point OF crowd. the attendance OF the
Washington lecture was the greater
numbering nearly 1,400 persons. In
enthusiasm. 1t also excelled, the great
educator playing upon the feelings of
his hearers with the delicate touch OF
n born leader. Where cheers fire.
quently interrupted him, Prof. Du-
Dois was able to pursue the even ten
or OF his discourse with scarcely an
interruption. The one in practical
appeal to get money. to live in peace
w.,h your neighbors, was oratorlcal;
the other in an appeal to live UP to
t.. ideal citizen. was simple and quiet
"a most curious incongruity.