The Colorado statesman., 1912-04-20
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NCS

beyond our incomes. We are now en-
gagged in living beyond the incomes of
the generation to come
THE thing is 30 simple that Ii
seems ridiculous"
No one element of the American cit
izenship should take Life's statement
to heart more than the negro people
They have reduced the credit system
abuse to a science, which makes 1t
no more credit system, but the
spendthrift's abuse of credit. Most of
the negro's dealings are on a small
scale, but small scales grow to be
large scales, If not killed in their
youth. The average negro would rath-
er have small item Charged" to
him than pay for it on the spot when
he has the small change in his clothes,
and later when requested to pay, he
becomes highly insulted and takes him
self and his trade to some other vic
tim. The easiest and most effective
way to make an enemy of friendly
negro Is to seriously ask and insist
that he pay this little debt. please!"
This small tendency to get credit
instead of paying cash f-r small
things, and getting offended when pay
ment is demanded, is all the more dan
gerous now in small things because 1t
Will become a rope about the neck
when the race comes to deal in large
things, as it is fast coming to do.
What men learn to do in small things
they do in large things, when they get
to them.
The credit system among poor peo-
pie is positive calamity. 1t allows
them to get whatever they desire,
whether they need 1t or not, or wheth-
er they have work or not. When pay
day comes they are oftener poorer at
the end of the week than at the be-
ginning of It, The credit system, of
which the installment plan Is the dead
liest agent, keeps more negroes poor
and slaves to their backs and stom-
achs, than any other in their lives.
The best way is to pay as you go, and
go as you pay. 1t will discourage the
spendthrift habit, which eats up mil
lionaire and pauper alike when the
weakness cannot be overcome. And
no one can know that he cannot over
u,
but allows his desires to lead him
wherever the credit system beckons.
New York Age.
The Negro Society of Historical Re
search, Yonkers, N. Y, present the
| following names of negroes of distinc-
| ton
Francis Williams, born 100, poet,
graduate of University of Cambridge.
Anthony William Amo, doctor phi
losophy, University Wittenberg, 1920.
Richard Allen, founded first negro
church in America.
j. E. J. Captien, Latin poet, linguist,
University Leyden, 1920.
Geoffrey LIslet, botanist, member of
French Academy Sciences, 1850.
Prince Hall, founder Negro Masonry
in America, Boston.
Crispus Attucks,> patriot and soldier,
| 1773 Boston.
Eustace, philanthropist, winner Mon
thyn prize of virtue, Santo Domingo.
benjamin Bannaker, astronomer,
born 1882, Baltimore.
Touissant L'Overture, soldier and
| statesman, born 1743.
Alexander Dumas, novelist.
| Alexander Poushkin, poet, Russia's
Black Byron"
Frederick Douglas, orator, diplo-
mat and statesman
Brindia de Sala, violinist, decorated
by crowned heads of Europe (Cuban).
Sir Conrad Reeves, chief justice of
Barbados, Knight of st. MichaeTs
and st. George, Barbados, British
West Indies.
Alexander Petion, civil engineer,
Haiti.
Paul l.. Dunbar, lyric poet.
John B. Russworm, editor first ne
gro newspaper in New York
Martin R. Delaney, explorer jour
nalist and physician.
Nathaniel Turner, negro prophet