The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-02-08
By Mrs. w. T. Osborne.

Dear Editor:
Please allow us space in your val
liable paper 20 say that we are very
grateful and appreciative of the many
words of praise and congratulations
for the part we played in the great
Booth Anniversary of the Landing of
the First Negroes in America at Con.
%vention Hall, January Goth. While
the time was indeed too short to just
ly present a demonstration commend
able to the Negro after so long a time,
yet having been given full latitude by
the committee, with Prof. T. B. Stew
ard as spokesman, we got together
the women of the different churches,
Federated and City Clubs, profession
al men and laymen of the two Kan
a Citys and Kansas City's broadcast
race mar and educator, Prof. ]. r. E.
Lee, and a number of his faculty,
presented them cur minute plan upon
which they passed and pronounced as
good; nor did they cease to loan aid
in every way until Liberty the
most impressive and of great signif-
icance, the last float Of the parade,
made its exit, and it is those women
and those men with whom l desire to
share the ~smothering congratulations.
Too much cannot be said of the racial
demonstration made by the Shriners
in full uniform, who looked the part
of noblemen, and while seating con-
ditions were very much unsatisfac-
tory, al per understanding, and caus-
ed much humiliation, yet these noble
men, because of the occasion, accept
ed the conditions with their presence
of more than one hundred fifty, in
Guiding the Daughters of Isis, and re-
NAMED throughout the program, and
in like name did the Patriarchs, a
well drilled, intelligent body of men,
wearing a full regalia that was in
itself beautiful. The Knights of
Friendship, in beautiful, attractive
dress, with a step that proved they
were a drill team of noted reputation,
followed by Queen Beatrice Temple
No. 50, held up the banner Of the
U. B. F.'s and S. NJ. It's, lead by the
! greatest band in the west, the
knights of Pythias, and the X. P.
Band, followed by the B. L. I. P. N.
of America, headed a pageant that
showed marked progress for the race.
Special mention should be given the
gro Constitutional League of Amer
lea, w. c.. T, u, Reconstruction and
the Hospital demonstrations.
Just a few weeks ago, comparative
ly speaking Negro Red Cross Nurses
were unknown; the same can be said
of the skilled nurses and doctors of
the Old City Hospital and Douglass
Hospital, as was shown in the pag-
cant. These floats were cheered by
Major N. Clark Smith and his High
School Cadet Band in uniform. Ne.
gro Boy Scouts was an interesting
feature both in the parade and the
exhibit. The Woman's Self Improve
ment Club, Atheneaum, Poro, Inter
City Lawyers Club, Bethel and Sec
ond Baptist Churches were among
those who presented the historical
display. We wish for space to men,
ton every individual who shared in
this grea texhibit and pageant, but it
is impossible, hence we thank and
praise all collectively. Special men
ton, however, should be made of Mrs.
Alice Mason, who not only took
charge of the Federated Club exhibit,
but was with us in every effort CIV
ing suggestions and aid in every way
she possibly could, Also Nine. Ida
NJ. Becks, Mesdames Lutte Sewell,
Bessie Mason and Anna Williams.
They worked hard and their interest
ing exhibits justified their labors.
Special mention could be given the
two very large and most beautiful
and perfect individual needle work by
Mrs. Minnie Adams and Mrs. Robin
son. The unsurpassed exhibits from
Western University, Lincoln Insti-
tute, Lincoln High School, Attacks,
Douglass, ". w. Yates and Garrison
schools. The First A. NJ. E. Church,
Kansas City, Kas.; Second Christian
Church, Ebeneker A. M. E., Allen
Chapel, st. John A. NJ. E., and Bethel.
Mr.. Wilson, the jeweler, and all of
the individual and business enter
prises, which yer many, were on
display. Nine. Blanche Page, Kansas
City's most successful Beauty Parlor
operator, demonstrated during the
day. The Improvement Board and
United-We-Stand Clubs Of Ebenezer
agreeably surprised the committee by
filling their booths with eatables,
which ran out far too quickly, al
though they had a large supply. To
all these individuals and organiza-
tions do we owe many words of
praises and congratulations and we
personally thank you for your hearty
cooperation. My life is n Of ser
vice. If at any time l can in turn
serve any of you individually or col
l~ectively, call upon me.
Yours for lifting as we climb"