University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-01-10
The NEGRO IN COLUMBIA
Black Population Is at Standstill, the Death
Rate Being Two and Half Times
That of White People.

h1te People.
for refreshments were served after
wards and then all enjoyed a taffy
pull. This program probably ac-
counts for the large attendance at the
services.
There are several secret and social
organizations among the black folk
They have a chapter of their Masonic
order. The Crispus Attucks, n. B. F.
No. 62, is another of their secret
clubs. This society gives two festi-
walls a year with music, readings and
recitations. There are always re-
freshments. Besides these they have
their annual banquet and two picnics
year at the fair grounds. The Young
Mems ~ b. F. No. l75 has the same
program of social activities. The In
ternational Order of the Twelve is an
amusement club, but the members
keep secret what they do. The Afri-
cO-American Oriole Order has recep-
tions. parties and lawn parties each
year. The better element of negroes
are found in the Bachelors Club.
tt is club gives regular dances. They
als) have a aseball team whose
schedule included fifteen games last
/ yea
/ Thr enrolment at the Fred Doug
lass school. which is the grade and
high school combined for the negro
children, was 43O last year. The av-
erage attendance was 91.6 per cent
while the average attendance for the
white school children was $50.
They Play Football.
There are two football teams at the
negro high school. and these played
three match games with other high
schools last year. The negroes are
now planning a tennis club for the
girls. A play was given by the SEN
iors in their high school last April for
the benefit of the girls athletic as
sOciation. During the high school
commencement. three nights were CIV
en- to plays at the Airdome.
The problem of the negro in Colum-
bia is to get him to do something for
keep at it, The school is training
along the right line, but many of the
negro children are reared in such
surroundings and under such influ-
ences that they cannot or do not break
away from the shiftlessness and care
lessness of their parents.
The Charity Organization Society
has many calls for help from the ne
grOes, but does not help as many ne
gro families as white because so
many of the requests are from fami-
lies who do not really need help.
A representative of the Charity Or
ganiZatiOn Society had called at a
room in Blue Row two or three times
to investigate a case where it was
claimed that the husband could not
work. He did not find the man at
home and inquired of the negress
where her husband was.
"Oh. he's just stepped into the
neighbor's. He can't get around
much. He's got the rheumatism"
'Rheumatiz' Had Him.
The Charity man looked around the
room-he said he was afraid to touch
anything saw black foot
sticking out from a tangled mass of
bedclothes on the bed. When a point
ed question was asked, woody, black
head emerged from under the pillow.
Use sick boss it said.
What's the matter"
Use got the rheumatic. | has"
well. we have to have a doctors
report before we can help you. Have
you had a doctor?"
"No, boss, | aint got no money to
buy DOCTOR"
"Well. we will have to send one"
''All right, boss, I'll use any doctor
you send"
But the charity man believed that
one deception was pretty sure proof
of more duplicity and marked that
family down as unworthy of aid.
At another time a representative
of the society got a report of a case of
tuberculosis which needed assistance
The hard luck story that rightfully
belonged to the man downstairs was
worked on him by the man upstairs,
and the we'll man got the assistance
intended for the sick man. c. VI. E.