Pocahontas star herald., 1922-04-07

cob webs of error and prejudice
which have been forblddiug them to
zee sometimes the blessings and the
beauties of Arkansas ana her people
rather than TO always behold the
spavins and the riDgbones upon her
legs. Perhaps later may write more
at length regarding the material
wealth Of Arkansas-of her wonder
full forests, her fertile valleys, but
for this present let 1t suffice to en-
deavor TO remove from the average
Northern mind just one more griev
ous error, and that shall be with re-
ference to the race problem. Often |
have heard our Northern women
speak of the race troubles in
the South, and particularly in Ark
ansss. The belief maintains in many
Northern locslities that every white
woman In Arkansas walks always In
the shadow of q great fear--fear OF
attack by black brute. Absurd!
Yes, there are plenty OF Negroes in
Arkansas, but the record will show
more assaults upon white women by
the blacks in Omaha, Nebraska,
during the year 1918 than were com.
mitted during that same year by
Arkansas blacks IN one half the
counties IN this state. Fact is there
are several counties In Arkansas
wholly devoid OF Negroes. In Rog-
ers, a fine little city of six thousand
people, no Negro ever remains over
night. In that little city the day.
light hours give welcome to the col
ored brother, and the whites treat
him kindly, but somehow when the
shades of night are talling-well,
mysterious voices seem to call the
brother of color bidding him hasten
hurrledly from that zone and always
ne answers the call of the voices.
Aud a remarkable fact regarding
this ''niggerless" city of Rogers Is
the fact that fully fifty per cent of
the population of that vigorous and
progressive city are northern born.
A further remarkable fact regarding
Rogers Is the fact that there are
more publioans to the square mile
IN Rogers than in any other locality
in Arkansas-no enough to do
them much harm-not enough to
ever ELF GU a republican TO public
Office but propor;ionately more than
elsew here in Arkansas.
While am happy IN knowledge
of the tact that most of the evils of
Arkansas do not exist, still have
been just a little disappointed at
failure to find some of the blessings
of Arkansas blessings regarding
which / had been entertaining fond
anticipation have not felt my
feet or nv 6pgers atingle In re-
sponse 10 The music of a coon dogs
cry. To my olfaciory sense has
hot fet aPptdieu the aioha W JUS
sum and sweet potatoes But l am
hopeful. Night before last mock
ing bird came to tree nearthe WIN
dow In the house where was sleep
ing and he talked to me long
and lovingly. MANY long years
have parsed since | knew and under
stoOdlhe voices OF the night singers
of the south, and al first | could not
altogether understand, but soon,
when the songsler began bearing TO
me some of the most fragrant flo wers
from my conservatory of memory
began hearing me face to face with
the rsptures of the years long dead
well, l began to understand in
part, and then / was thankful that
my decades of residence in the cold
country had not divested me of sbil
ity TO dream the dreams and TO live
true to the memory Of mother
who loved her dear Virginia as
faithfully as she loved and served
her God and her children"