The Colorado statesman., 1920-11-13
DENVER, COLORADO, SATURDAY. NOVEMBER / 3 1920

islature has given the colored state
normal school mt Orangeburg SlOOOOo
out of tax funds. Superintendent
Swearingen wants every child to have
IL fair educational opportunity.
"The basis of progress Is the in
crease and the spread of knowledge.
Men must learn how to do better
work, think better, pray better, and
live better lives. Religion must be an
intelligent religion, if it is to be the
kind of religion that Christ would
have"
DR.. billiard, in his brief closing ad-
dress, said: 1--WE have all had u good
week. We all want to grow. What
we really are, after all, is what counts
for most Righteous living can best
be shown by our daily lives. Our bust
ness is to apply faith, hope, and char
ity here and now. God is on the side
of right. Hope gives us courage. Go
on in the struggle for good homes,
good schools, and good churches-for
all the people"
"Honor to Whom Honor"
The present constructive work,
which is rapidly going on throughout
the South, especially in the kindred
fields of education and religion, is
closely linked to the past and, indeed,
is given added Significance by the vi
talizing presence of small but in
teresting group of aged Negroes-men
and women of real wisdom, born OF
wide experience in the ways of the
world and of strong Christian faith,
born of severe trials. These aged,
wise Negroes, with their eyes SET
clearly toward the better world as
they delight to repeat, know well the
terrible struggles and bitter disap-
pointments through which white and
black people alike have come in the
South during the past fifty or sixty
years. At the Bettis Academy lnsu-
tute there were present two such ven
erable Negroes-Solomon Simmons and
and Michael Morgan.
When Freedom Came.
Solomon Simmons, who wGs born in
1897, was owned by Frank Pickens,
war governor of South Carolina and
very wealthy planter, and was given
as deed of trust to the governors
eldest grandson. Simmons went into
the war with James LipScomb of New
berry, S. c., and played the role OF
faithful body servant. Finally Mrs.
Lipscomb wrote urgently for the re-
turn of Simmons to take care OF her
and the LipScomb children, offering to
send to the war another faithful sefV-
ant, if only trustworthy ana ettlcleht
Simmons, beloved of white and colored
people, could be released to help care
for the home folks and their pressing
needs.
When freedom came, Lipscomb OF
fered Simmons several choices. SIM
mons, after visiting his mother, VINO
lived twenty-five miles away, decldeu
to remain on the home plantation 1or
n wear and cultivate a small plot OF
corn, for which service he received
small amount of ready cash. Referring
TO his dealings with Governor Pickens'
grandson, Simmons said with pride
'He kept his word, and l kept mine"
Today Solomon Simmons, at the age
of SO, is living with his nephew on
farm which his mother had bought
during the second year of freedom. lie
plows and hoes - and occasionally
breaches when called" He reJoices
in his ability to cultivate corn ana
cotton-or, as he prefers to say, COT
TON-and corn''-for to him cotton
still is king. Simmons nephew Is an
outstanding Negro of 40, who is
farmer and teacher, u graduate OF
Bettis Academy. The relations be-
tween uncle and nephew show the re-
SDecC OF U1le Olu NeSlO loi tiic i'ihN
and of the so-called new Negro for
land, work, and education.
Looking Backward.
Michael Morgan, who was 80 years
old in April, 1920, still breaches and
farms. "While some old fellows are
put on the trash heap, l mean to keep
at work." said Morgan, who was also
one of Pickens' house servants. =.
governor Pickens," he said, mad
so many slaves he didn't even know
them when he met them on the road.
He decided he would mark his slaves
wish strange hats - hats that were
short before and long behind. He made
his slaves, when they were dressed
up. wear short coats with big brass
buttons. He had three plantations be-
low Saluda, three at Edgefield, and
some others, too. He didn't object to
his slaves learning to read and write.
He was good to colored people and
didn't allow the overseers to abuse col
ored women"
What did the Negro rural ministers
and teachers think of the Belts Acad- |