Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-04-26
AFRO.AMERCAN CULL|NCS
Evil habits, like diseases. are CO.

| Evil habits, like diseases. are con
tagious; and. II left to their ravages
unchecked. will. ere long, consume
their victims. The first indulgence
may be slightly partaken; but the
habit increases with practice. and
| gains a firmer foothold with each
passing day. When error becomes sc
bold by continual adherence, that II
ceases to regard public sentiment. the
participant, therein has advanced a
stage from which redemption is most
difficult: and the infectious one be
comes a disgusting nuisance, and a
dangerous adjunct to society. Human
interests suffer from contact with
such elements, and the law abiding
are forced to feel the sting of criticism
! which their bideous conduct engen'
ders. When self-respect shall have de-
parted from individual breast, there ia
none in store for his neighbor; and
the courtesy which otherwise might
be accorded is withheld from lack of
homer 1t proves burdensome task
to correct abuses which have become
long standing; and efforts put forth
in that direction are often futile un-
dertakings. The condition of things
prevailing in this city is sufficient to
cast mantle of shame over integrity
of their household, and the faces Of all
who reverence the wish for the future
upbuilding of its inmates. Covington.
from an intellectual point of vantage.
is pre-eminent in this section among
the cities Of Its size; and few there
be If any to equal 1t in general con-
fusion, particularly among the young.
er element Of the male population.
Wofully wanting in aspiration. there
Is naught Of the finer sentiment to
which appeal may be successfully
made; and every deed performed, ap.
-parently travels toward destructive
ends. The cause for these commits.
sions does not rest, wholly. to their
beginning; nor should they be Who'll
ly blamed for many things existing;
because in many instances the unman-
ly acts which disgrace the community
and blight the future prospects Of the
coming generation are the inglorious
fruits of hideous examples. The pull
pit part of the responsibility for this
cannot be exonerated from a preva-
lence of affairs. 1t Is not to be inferred
that 1t advised or condoned 1t, but
the public has been educated to base
religion upon sentiment: and without
affecting 1t, left deeds to individual
acceptance Such teachings have Civ.
en- birth to scandal mongers, SANDER.
ers and friction breeders. among the
old: carousers, drunkards, and pro-
fessional reprobates among the young
In most instances, voluntary actions
bespeak the hearts desires; and what.
ever one accomplishes from his own
free will is the conjuring Of his
thoughts. Nothing undefiled can flow
from the source Of impurities, what
soever might be our opinions re-
speeding 1t: and 1t would be we'll to
proclaim the truth In order to remove
distractions. 1t is impossible to cor
raj the wandering sheep while the
lambs within the fold are at variance
with each other. The church Is in the
individual, not the structure In which
he worships, and whenever this les
son can be properly instilled into the
minds. and become firmly imbedded in
the conscience Of professed believers
theory will give the right Of way to
practice; and assumption, to reality.
1t very often happens that an ailment
exists, and we know the cause there
Of; but. we fail to apply the remedy,
even though we be aware that the ap-
plication would effect cure. The so
cial life Of the colored population here
is endangered by the continuous in
roads of irresponsible characters, hav-
ing nothing to lose: and before. we at
tempt to win them their errors it Is
necessary to be free, ourselves, and
live in peace with our neighbours
Metropolitan Phalaux, Atlanta.
The statistics Of agriculture for
North Carolina have just been receiv-
ed and the light thrown on the condi-
ton of negro farmers in the state is
indeed most gratifying. The negroes
Of the state own $4,000 farms with a
total valuation OF $81,425.000. There
Is also shown a clear gain during the
last ten years of $52,o0o,0Oo. In 9TH
er words, the negro possessed only
about $29,O00,000 in farm property in
1910. In order to make these figures
still more encouraging. it is to be