The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-05-15
LIFE AND WORKS OF PUB
Lie SPIRITED MEN.
Mr.. Editor Dallas Express.
Dallas, Texas.
Dear Sir.

Mr. Editor Dallas Express,
Dallas, Texas.
Dear Sir:
There has been running through
the press from time to time, articles
on the life and works of some of the
public men ana women who have
served the people in Texas faith
fully for many years, and 1t has
been a source of pleasure for us
to read the acts of these servants
of the people. The paper has men
toned a list of public spirited men
and women in Dallas, who have
given splendid service to their
race, but there is one servant the
paper, thus far, has not mention
ed. refer here to Prof. N. w.
Harllee, who is one of the oldest
teachers. in point of service, we
have in the state. A sketch of this
mans life will read like a novel
and is well worth reading by those
who are Interested in the progress
of the race, as is seen in the work
of individuals who are shaping the
destiny of the race.
2 Mr.. N. w. Harllee was born in
North Carolina, where he grew up
and taught himself to read and to
write.
His primary education was di-
rected very largely by his own eff
forts famed by an mate desire to
work himself to the top of the lad
der of service for his race.
He never had a teacher in geo
graphy, and taught himself short
hand writing. His early education
was obtained through much diff
Guilty having been born in impovish-
ed circumstances.
His ambition led him to seek an
education in college and he finally
entered Biddle University, where
he graduated with honors from the
classical course of that institution.
1t is said that he was always a
bright student while in college and
always lead his classes in Latin and
in Greek 1t is said too that Prof.
]. c. Price of Livingston College
collected over $4,000 for that
school on the record made by the
student N. w. Harllee.
Positions Held.
He graduated from the Classical
Course of Biddle University, Char
lotte, N. c., with honors averaging
around SO per cent in the Greek
language with Latin, a speciality.
He was U. s. Postal Clerk in N.
c., was elected Registrar of Deeds
in Richmond County, in N. G. with
member of 1.-The Board of County
Examination of Richmond, N. G.
Texas Record.
He was thirty-five years principal
in Dallas, eleven years of which he
was principal of Dallas high school.
He has held in Dallas the fol-
lowing positions while teaching in
the public schools: Supervisor of all
Negro school. Superintendent of the
Negro department of the Dallas
Fair for fourteen years, special re-
porter of the Dallas News, popu-
lar lecturer for the race even in
white churches.
He has been president of the
Teachers State Association and has
been one of the leaders of the race
in educational matters for many
years in Texas The City of Dali
las, am sure, is ready to give hon
or to this worthy citizen who has
spent a life of good deeds among
the people Surely Dallas will do
honor to so worthy man, the
equal Of whom is hard to- find in
the state.
But dd our people do honor to
those of the race who deserve hon
or? Do our people appreciate, as
a rule, the services of a. man who
spends his life for them? Is it
the characteristic of our race to
magnify service or to minimize de-
serving service?There are many
faithful women and men of the race
who are giving their lives on the
altar of service. who find themselves
almost deserted and forsakened as
they grow old in the work and be-
gin to decline in vigor. Some OF
these old souls are even neglected
ana die in poverty and want.
The heroes Of any race should
not be forsakened in their God. 1t
may be in place to say here that
hero worship belongs to a people
advanced in education and culture.
We do not mean savage worship.
but intelligent recognition of the
service rendered by the faithful
ones of the race, Washington and
Jefferson, and Lincoln and Jeffer-
son Davis, will always be remem-
bered by this generation and many
generations to come. SO with this
race. How could we forget the de-
votion and sacrifice of Fred Doug
las, who spent his long life in
trying to prove the capability OF
the race for self Improvement? Who
can forget the services of the late
Booker T. Washington, who spent
life in trying to establish ms
race upon the plane of respectaDiilty
and independence.
Who can forget in Dallas the ser
vice Of N, w. Harllee who may be
accredited with putting Negro educa-
tion-Negro schools in Dallas, In the
lead of the procession Who would
be so base as to overlook the long
service of this son of toilY we
trust that the race may come to
the time in Texas when 'our Dogans,
our Andersons, our Hairless. our
Fraziers, our Starks, our Gipsons,
our Terrells, our Burnettss and all
our faithful and devoted Sons may
be crowned kings of service and
be given places in the hall OF fame.
3 The Dallas Negro schools will
always bear the stamp of the man
who was pioneer in education and
laid the foundation of the present