The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-11-18
Native African Rendered Fine
Military Service.
PROMOTED TO HIGH OFFICE
Timely Comment on Achievements Of
CoIored Men In Various Lines of EN-
ployment az Far Back az the Eight
eenth century-Sooiety For Histori-
cal Research Secures Rare Book.
By JOHN e. BRUCE GRIT"

BY JOHN e. BRUCE GRIT"
Although DR.. Bernard Dernburg, one
time secretary for the colonies for Ger
man Southwest Africa, declared some
years ago In a speech in London, 1--WE
want no educated proletariat in Afri-
ca" it is fact that thirty years ago.
IN work published in Berlin. mention
Is made Of Jan Curry, an unadulter-
ated African, who was raised to the
dignity Of cOmmandant of the Bran
denburg Fort de Crosse, Frederick
berg, situated in the Cape Of Tres For.
cas-, on the western coast of Africa, by
the German government. He must
have been a man Of some education to
have held, as he did. such an impor-
tant post.
As the officers of the German army
who passed through the department of
military history Of the general staff
were promoted, the achievements of
this Negro as military genius formed
part Of their curriculum. He was
cited as one whose military career was
worthy Of emulation. One of these
German generals has paid high COM
pliment to Jan Curry Sas military
strategist. am indebted to DR.. Kunst
Of Guatemala, great German scholar
and friend Of the race, for these facts.
DR.. Kunst wrote for the Journal
Of Negro History for October a most
interesting article on another subject
relating to the Negro.
The late Governor Russwurm Of Ii
IBERIA, some time editor Of one of the
early Negro newspapers in New York
city. while governor applied for and
obtained leave Of absence to visit the
United States to make a report to the
Colonization society. Of which he was
the duly accredited representative in
Liberia. The members of the board.
sitting In the city of Baltimore. took
advantage Of his presence in the city
1S40 to make his personal acquaint-
ance.. They gave him dinner at the
principal hotel in the city. at which
there were no absentees. and there
was not one present. says J. ii. B. Tn
trobe, who was not impressed by the
grave. courteous and dignitied bearing
OF the agent whose wise and prudent
conduct Of the society's affairs in A.
RIGA had given such satisfaction.
Zone with difficulty" says the editor
Of Maryland In Liberia" 1885. page
u, recalls nowadays the sensation
that the idea Of this dinner to a col
ored man in 1847 produced in Balti-
more. 1t was ludicrous to see the as
tonishment Of the Irish walters who
surrounded the table at Pages hotel
when they were called upon to render
he same service to u colored man that
hey were in the habit Of rendering to
many socially prominent citizens"
So we have three instances of record
where Negros have dined with distin-
,uished white men-Julius Melbourne
Is the guest Of Thomas Jefferson at
In the eighteenth century.
With many notable men of the period.
lmong them Chief Justice Marshall.
Dr.. Dexter, etc.; Governor Russwurm
It Baltimore and Booker T. Washing
on at the White House in washing
on.
How many of the present genera.
Ion know that In 1910 there existed
n the city Of Philadelphia an insur-
nee company composed Of colored
nen, with a capital Of $1,000 and with
n office located at 159 (now 500 Lom-
ard street? Its president was Joseph
randolph, Cyrus Porter treasurer and
William Coleman secretary. and its
apital was In cash. II fourished from
S11 to 1918, as stated In the city d.
ectories Of that period. In the latter
ear 1t was located at 153 Lombard
treet In the residence Of its secre-
Try. who was a schoolteacher. Some