The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1923-07-05
UTICA INSTITUTE
JUBILEE SINGERS
THRILL AUDIENCE
Sing at Cooper's Well and Jackson
Recently. Brandon Represented.
A. J. Finch and Katherine Nc
Beath, of This City Participate.

Inc UClCa Institute JuDllee SlhS
ers entertained the guests of Coop
erst Well, Sunday evening in tn,
lobbn of the hotel. The audi s.
consisted of men and wome =
resenting nearly every ST. the
Union. The owner of - ell ex-
tended to them ano' aviation.
But being billed OsS .ng at other
places they were no. in position to
accept this one.
On Monday evening they enter
tanned the citizens of Jackson i'll
the court house. The house was
filled to its utmost capacity. 1t
was said by those who heard them
that their equal is not to be foundI
These Plantation Melodies are
songs that were sung in the days of
slavery. They were composed en-
tirely by Negroes. Since that time
these same songs are being sung
all over the country. And it has
been wisely said that no true South
erned can listen to these songs with
out, in some way, thinking OF the
friendly relations that exists be-
tween the Southern white man and
the negro, shortly after slavery.
Such songs as the following were
sung: You Had Better Mind" !;
steal Away; You're Gonna Reap
Just What You Sow. These songs
were appreciated heartily. And it
has also been often said that ne
groes can surpass white people sing
ing these songs as they are the
originators of such.
Several classical selections were
also rendered. The one that made
the biggest hit, was a song en-
titled: Deep River, this song was
composed entirely by negro, words
and music. Harry L. Burleigh,
negro of New York City, and who
is considered one of the best music
al writer's in America.
Principal Holtzclaw spoke briefly
on the conditions that exist in the
South. Several white men respond
ed.
The student body was represent
ed fro mthe Gulf to the Great
Lakes. The soprano singer
was born and reared in this city.
She is known as Katherine McBeth,
who will lead the singers to Canada
and other points.
Graduates were asked to make
three minute speeches. A. ]. Finch
of this city made speech of three
minutes. His speech follows:
Il do not regret the fact that l
was born, reared, and educated in
the South. l am proud of Brandon,
Mississippi, for being the place of
my birth. Ny first days in school
were spent at Brandon. l remained
there until l finished the eighth
grade. After l graduated at Bran
don, | was somewhat perplexed but
not in despair. AS l had no money
with which to enter higher school.
subsequently, overheard Mrs.
5. L. McLaurin, the lady for whom
| worked, say that the Utica 1nsti-
tue was a school for negroes, where
poor but worthy young men and
women could work for their educa-
ton. This was to me the day OF
salvation. l wrote Principal HOltZ-
claw to that effect. My application
was received and accepted. But due
to my financial standing, l was
compelled to enter night school.
That is, / had to work during the
day and attend school at night.
II was at the Utica only two
years before l was induced to go
to the city of Chicago, where at one
time l felt as if 1 were doomed to
live and die in darkness and in
sin. But somebody's prayer was
answered. And by some hidden hand
/ was led serenely back to Utica.
And because of the unerring guild
ance of this hidden hand, the fates
cOnspired in vain to Overwhelm me
in labyrinth of circumstances,
which at !sundry times, threatened
to blast my hopes and Stifle my
ambitions.
1t was by the help of generous
friends of both races that enabled
me to remain at Utica until l fin
ished. This fact places upon me a
most solemn responsibility, which
l shall endeavor to discharge in he
half of the South, and in the tear
of God"
Finch left Jackson to take up
his duties as financial secretary of
his Alma Mater. All who wish to
donate a few dollars in the sake
of humanity, will do well to lend
a helping hand to the Utica Normal
and Industrial Institute.