Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-09-06

president hlnlSelI WrOte Sillloiu tioe
1--WE are sincerely sympathetic with
YOU. and will look for you on the
18th of this month (September)."
A FALSE FRIEND
So on the morning of the 18th,
Blount set out in wagon with his
mother and father for Wiley College,
his little trunk perched on the wagon
bed. It's modest contents were: two
quilts, two sheets, two shirts, and
underwear. Blount's only suit was
exactly where it should be-on his
back. He registered, and found some
hostility on the part Of the students
on account Of his condition, but n
nally he became orientated to the
situation and became a good student,
showing special aptitude in history.
It was then he met his pal, Bob,
who proved to be such false friend.
At this time Blount began work on
the job which seemed to fit him WELL
the business OF selling. Every after
noon he was familiar figure with
his little bag of toilet articles, can.
wasting from house to house up ana
down the dusty red hills OF Marshail,
where the college that he was al
tending is located.
"At first I carried this bag on the
hook of my arm straight down-hke
a suitcase. But it had tendency TO
pull my arm so tight that 1 had TO
hang it from the elbow by strap:
"The first three or four days sales
were no good, but finally began to
make sales, and the first day that
I sold anything I cleared $500"
During this period of gains, Bob
became more friendly than ever, Tor
obvious reasons. He would always
be ready to tell Blount interesting
Jokes and to inform him just how
much he admired him, as well as 10
accept change now and then Tor MS
cigarettes. Bob was a model class
mate!
BUMMED HIS WAY
Summer came, and Blount was
worried as to what he would do dur
ing the vacation in order to get
money enough to enter school the
next fall. Bob induced him to go
to his home (Beaumont) where Bob
was kind enough to beat him out OF
part of the summers earnings-$85.
But Blount- was plucky enough TO
bum his way to Galveston, and from
there to Houston. When school
opened again he had neat little
sum to pay to the Office to take care
of himself. His work was mostly lee
lures and demonstrations Of how he
worked his arm.
The second year in Wiley found
Blount hard at work and becoming
one of the best students. He finished
his work early and got a good start
with his summers work.
This second summer, Cliffor.: mace
his way out to California. On his
way there, he was arrested at Phoenix
for vagrancy, but the colored citizens
of the city would not stand for my
being imprisoned" At Phoenix, Cliff
ford joined a Houston train robber
and went to California in his COM
pany. only being separated from him
at Los Angeles. At. Los Angeles, Mrs.
Lula Slaughter, member OF the
Eighth and Towne Street Church,
took him into her home and kept
him, free. Blount made many friends
in various California cities, and they
gave him nice send-of when he
began his journey back to Wiley.
The next summer, while on his
way back to the Golden West, Blount
stopped over at Salt Lake City. See
ing no colored people handy Clifford
asked a Mexican to show him a de-
cent place to stay. The Mexican
showed him the courtesy Of taking
him into a dark alley and robbing
him. But after he had handed
over the money, Blount's courage
seemed to have mounted, and vicious
ly swinging his arm at the bewilder-
ed Mexican, Blount forced him to
return the cash.
TO RECEIVE MASTERS DEGREE
In similar manners Blount spent all
the summers of the years that he
stayed at Wiley, about ten in number.
His travels carried him to many
great cities in practically all the
states, even if he was in the jail at
some times. But his spirit was I'M
conquerable, and today he is an ex-
ample of roundly educated man.
His travels have given such breadth
to his liberal education at Wiley that
Blount is q well fitted man to take