Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-07-15

Research, recently organized at Lon
ked, has set out to collect books writ
ten by Negroes and about Negroes.
OF the one hundred or more titles
which II now owns, none is more val
liable or interesting than the life OF
Julius Melbourne, with sketches Of
the lives OF Thomas Jefferson. John
Quincy Adams. John Randolph and
other eminent American statesmen.
Julius Melbourne was born a slave
on a plantation ten miles from Raj
eigh. N. c., July 4. 1880. When he was
three years OF age he saw his mother
seized and manacled by slave deal
ers and carried away to be sold. and
he never saw her afterward. At nve
ha MA ~p0rohaeed By rich English
~ IN S1s lE1luoGs1s, RuUs-Aod-ia iasnl
educated and subsequently gave him
his freedom and at her death left him
the residue OF her fortune, some $780,
900. which by careful investments he
increased In few years to $4,000.
He married a beautiful slave girl who
was gambled away by her master and
sold into Louisiana. BY her he had
one child. son (who was spared the
cruel fate of his mother) TO whom he
gave liberal education.
Mr.. Melbourne subsequently retired
his wife to n suburb near New Or
leans. She had run away from her
master with the intention OF commit
ting suicide by jumping into the river.
A good Quakeress passing the place
in carriage about that time halted
her and asked her what she was go
ing to do. To her Mrs. Melbourne
told her sad story. with the result
that the Quakeress advised her to
~ ut ,ln in n
sapling near the rivers edge SO as to
give the impression that she had
really killed herself rather than re-
main a slave. She then took the girl
to her home and metamorphosed her
into n Quakeress who spoke no Eng
lish-only Spanish-passing her as
the daughter OF a sister who had
Uaany years before married Cuban
gentleman. She WIS given suitable
dres8es for her new role and instruct
ed how to play her part, which she
did well. Dropping into little meet
ing house one evening in the little
town where he and his son were
spending n few days, MIR. Melbourne
as he entered saw woman in poke
bonnet with n Hymn book in her hand
giving out hymn. Their eyes met
and both were considerably agitated.
He gazed at her long and wistfully
and finally spoke her name. She
turned pale, gave piercing shrek
and fell to the floor. Mighty Cod"
my Maria" And then, regardless
OF the proceedings of the meeting and
everyone around him, he sprang to-
ward her and raised her in his arms
whom he had long believed to be
dead. The scene was most affecting
Some time was required to revive
Mrs. Melbourne who had swooned
and when she returned to conscious
ness her first words were. There
they come! Take care! Take care!
There they come! Take me away!
Where il my dagger? / will never go
alive"
She at length became calm: her
f<t,s inquiry after the return Of her
reason was for her boy. She was told
that he was alive and we'll. Then she
fell on her knees and poured forth .
prayer Of thanksgiving and praise.
The family was finally reunited and
soon after took up their abode in Eng
land, where Mr.. Melbourne prospered
and where his son entered into busi-
ness as a partner in a commercial
house.
Mr.. Melbourne wrote his book while
living in England. It was published
in Syracuse, N. Y, in 1851. passing
through two editions.
Tho Negro Society for Historical
Research hopes to reprint this and
other volumes Of books by Negro
authors now out Of print, especially
those Of such = high order Of literary
excellence - Mr.. Nelbournes book.
In chapter 1. the author ssts out on