Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-07-21
AFRO-AMER|CAN CG[L|NCS

4.
The sturdy practically of the edu-
cation which Booker T. Washington Is
giving to the young men attending his
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial insti-
tute was illustrated by the character
Of the exercises at the thirtieth an
nual commencement of that institu-
ton, which was held few days ago.
There were no essays on abstract
themes, embellished with selections
from volumes of elegant extracts.
There were no speeches on the race
problem or current political topics.
The students discussed their every
day life. and brought upon the plat
form material Illustrating different In
tensely practical subjects taught IN
the school, One number OF the pro-
gram dealt with the care and feeding
OF cows for milk production. A scrub
COW and a highgrade Jersey were
brought on the platform. These COWS
were fed, groomed and MIXED. The
cost Of feeding each cow for year
was shown, also the amount OF milk
that each gave in year. 1t appeared
that for the same expenditure for iced
and care profit Of $50 was made on
the Jersey COW, while $14 was lost on
the scrub COW. A young woman dis
cussed THE Negro Dressmaker In,
the Community" This especially
caught the audience. The student told
how the dressmaker might help the
people to wear more becoming and
less expensive clothes, and to illus
trate she brought in girl who wore
good dress which was somewhat out
Of fashion. The dressmaker COM
mittee proceeded to change this out
of-date pattern, transformation &C
complished by little cutting and
stitching.
The colored pedagogue who is at
the head Of this excellent school for
people of his race is q man with a
hard head who keeps both feet on the
ground. He does not believe IN
"frills' or in "hifalutin."
The young people who come under
his influence learn that life Is real,
life is earnest" and when they have
completed the course at Tuskegee
they leave their alma mater equipped
with ability to take useful part IN
the worlds work. There are many
white pedagogues who with advantage
to themselves and to those coming I'M
der the instruction and influence
| might we'll make a detailed study OF
what is going on at Tuskegee.-Edi-
torial: Milwaukee (Wis.) Evening
| Wisconsin.
There is a type of negro which Is
a constant menace to society and with
no decided or evident criminal lean.
ings. Ahere is in mind q woman who
has three daughters, two OF whom
work regularly in the factory and
thus furnish the only support Of the
family. All live in one room and the
mother, a strong, buxom woman OF
forty-fve, stays at home and does
nothing but work for the family.
Three-fourths Of her day is spent
either in rocking and tanning herself
or sleeping. This Is type, and
though not actually criminal, she is
potentially So. Idleness is a crime
The failure to use ones powers OF
mind and body UP to the full measure
OF their capacity is to invite the most
deadly enemy to ones peace. Such
people supply in their children food
for the chain gangs, warehouses; and
J the tenderloin. 1t would do this
woman good If some one had the di
! rection of her energies and, though
slavery is repugnant to every noble
instinct, we say without hesitation
| that slavery would be better for such
/ a woman thar the freedom which she
has but to abuse. IAN Idle brain is
the devils workshop" and an idle
slothful, shameless mother befouls the
most sacred name among any people
Durham Reformer.