Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-03
AS ONE WOMAN SEES IT
Words OF the White Queen to Alice
In Wonderland Have Pertinence for
Negroes Who Wish to Succeed
BY SARAH ID. IOWRIE


IN the right direction of independence for
race that has sometimes lost out in the
march of progress by failing to take the
initiative for itself.
So long as any one Is content to he third
best or fourth best in any line Of Cndeacor
he is hound TO be iostlcd and pushed aside
by the hustlcrs who want TO pass him. There
are many occupations that the colorcd man
Is lostlcd out of because he has not tried for
hrst place. but has been lazily content with
fourth or fifth But where he has made him
self an expert he is neither jostled nor
pushed aside
In this city Of good food. colorcd caterers
have gained and have kept a first place. and
deserved - keep il, else they would not have
stayed put There is no race prejudice
against caterers either in the price they
receive or the position they hold whilc about
their business. They have had to compete
with chefs and stewards Of every race from
French to japanese; thcy come into houses
organized and in hutter, yet they put
through their delicate and difficult business
OF providing an entertainment and serving 1t
with dignity and finish that command
respect and leave behind harmony and order.
TN THE art Of shopping for dressmaking
L firms they excel. oven comparative chill
Grcn having what one woman who employs
them calls "a matching eye.
lhcy arc excellent and quick packers and
nave an instinct for fittiug things in dcftly
and safely. They play dance music. cspc-
"ially the modern sort, with a verve and
rhythm that in natural skill is almost equal
70 that OF the Hungarian bands that play.
u VIII be remembered, without written music
the most difficult and subtle hnrmonrs with
q syncopation that is more difficult even than
jazz. l am told that in their theatre here
and in other towns they are creating new
school of acting and of stage setting.
Now If in all these directions they are
setting themselves not to initiate but to
excel. It looks as though the intelligent
among them were on the right track
n bill of rights that will make It fiuable
ofcnsc not to admit them wherever they
choose to apply will give them what they
have, theoretically at least, in New York
and in New Jersey: but their own superi.
orty of accomplishment in whatever they
set out to do will give them the only stand
ing worth having.
7 REMEMBER Booker Washington re-
L marking once that his race had mo.
nopoly OF the barber's trade when he was n
boy. and lost il through sheer Carelcssnpss
At the time of the first agitation for hygienic
shaving and ha ir-cutting they failed TO
change with the changing demands. and were
jostled out by Germans and Latns.
They might have had the fruit trade; il
went to race of immigrants who were as
illtcratc and humble Of origin as any plan
tation field hand. The very best market
vcnder of foodstuffs I've ever dealt with Is a
colored man by the name Of Andy, and the
most honest He has very large and rich
tb;nl - "insti;no h;n,t' ~ J"t M'l."
verdict on chfcknn onr auL I,, ,uh' ~
ornlover's. !, fant bo -; uas nooNe .lls
green grocers and could have had a flourish
ing business of his own. His race would
Nv
r,,xc
- a. great deal Of German propaganda
nsr9 IN the rolored newspapers to stir up
iieenng or .Wrath Tor wrongs there is still
mere IN ih,adelphia a klnd OF nndcrcurrent
OF raGe lhulShatioh tnat almost amounts &c
sulIen opsession;
onr OF ,helr leaders said publicly not long
ego tlaI unarr certain circumstances that
had 10 40 WIN IN" 6ill OF rights failing to
u''o'Il' i"W ne 'oulu not be answcrablc for
the rae" outbreak that might follow.
lncse Wrrc very tool'Sh words for leader.
y race ncrnan; Italian chinese.
this country. and Negro outbreak no less
so. This country was split into two angry
camps over the fate of the Negro race. but
had that race risen to do its own fighting
the country would have united in month
II the leaders of the colored race would
raise great discomfort in the breasts of the
Colorcd citizens of this city over the whole
sale selling OF coIored votes. that would be
lawful race outbreak worth while. and
might accomplish all the political power
needed TO pass any just piece of legislation.
The votes of 200 600 persons shifted to
honest and enlightened candidates. with no
deal that could not be shouted from the
housetops would do more for the race than
any sulen wrath for wrongs can effect
The whole point of the difficult matter lies
in what means shall be employed to bring
about an end desired by all persons who
wish justice done.
TNHE pilgrims who landed on these shores,
l. the Quakers, the Hugucnots. the Scotch
and the Irish. all had 10 struggle for what
they got They conquered BY being more
civilized than the natives, not less: more
INDUSTRIOUS more expert and inventive.
This is not a country where any one can
rise who does not work who is not far
seeing and inventive and keen to ncrfect what
he has and is.
As the White Queen remarked to Alice
"You have to run to keen IN the same
plnce."
I Nf'Nl tn" other day to soc woman
M The NUMBER m it was marked % ON an arnhwny r~'hV y