Show centennial ECHOES pro prof eugene harris of fisk university writes of this great state affair I 1 ii 11 dr georgia L patton pattern a graduate of the medical department of the college and for some years a self supporting missionary in africa sent a large number of african curios cunos insects abid which had bee been n captured capture d and prepared by herself the most representative exhibit under the american missionary association was made by bv fisk university I 1 this institution stands pre eminently for the higher education it made a large and varied display in african ethnology its scientific appliances and its apparatus for teaching the higher mathematics cannot b be e excelled by any school of its kind its surveying plots made by students who have become perfectly familiar in field work with the transit and the for beauty and for accuracy could not be surpassed there were numerous examination in logic psychology rhetoric greek etc besides several published works of some note written by alumni of the school among these were dr du bois suppression of the african slave trade Ous Ou leya translation of the gospels into the Sheet swa language and a book prepared for the blind there were also several of horaces odes translated into english scores by members of the sophomore class A very pleasant feature furnished by fisk university was an occasional concert given in in the nero ne negro ro building by the glee club or the jubilee club of that school the large pipe organ used in the auditorium of the centennial is the property of the university there were represented in all under the Freed mens aid society four central tennessee Tenn epee college claflin and dark clark universities and gammon theological seminary under the american missionary association five chartered colleges and eleven normal schools the industrial schools of tuskegee and normal alabama had both a large and magnificent exhibit in the way of woodwork household furniture tum iture tools and machinery normal put on an exhibition a very fine collection of african curios given by madam french sheldon in the basement of the negro building was the th e cafe conducted by two young colored men this restaurant was as popular as any upon the grounds no color line was known whatever and not occasional but large laree numbers of w white bite peo pie ale patronized it without hesitation on the big days this restaurant was crowded with white patrons who took no offense at the colored people being served in the same room the gallery on the second floor was devoted mainly to the work of the public schools but special mention should be made of the exhibits from knoxville tenn and st paul minn knoxville exhibited a large wagon built by cansler son sona a beautiful and accurate cura hand made clock enclosed in a glass case hard wood mantles and blumers pl omers umers outfit in marble cat carve carved d and polished by col colored orect workmen en the e exhibit abit from st paul minn 0 was mostly in the way of fine art for untaught artisti 3 who have not lad had the advantage of correct training added addea to inear native gifts the entire jufim art 1 exhibit exhibiting ia inc the negro department aaboe mr aw win L A hazel 0 of f st ganv pa it aen seo is air stained 9 nei iiii glass assigns 1 tl I 1 hi a zia ail A might ts ight be nv y tr hit y jesus ema ne faith hope and Ev lingel bats U WM bereau we reaU f f JU arthem t h remarkable for thear r r UW antt y ayaay er 3 jhb wana is r allx s ii iiii afsa ft ae rt a ar i pip W afi ule jaw FV ys 0 icy i cy BA atis tt t gsg that colored people W ang wn without training in artand art and bythe by the gift of imitation alone could do such work as was seen on the walls A basket ot peaches overturned on the floor was executed by mrs airs julius P F taylor of salt lake city utah with such delicacy and minute attention to detail as almost to lead one to believe that it was the genuine fruit on the lake in front of the negro building was a small boat built and run by a colored mechanic this boat plied up and i down the lake carr carrying ying passengers of both races and from all sections of the countr country y excellent as was the exhibit in the negro building in n its moral lesson was better chief hill in collecting such an exhibit has been a public benefactor and educator probably y nothing occurring since the war hat has done so much to awaken among the people of tennessee profound sympathy and ana genuine respect for the negroes in their midst as has this glorious success achieved by richard hill in spite of much opposition he collected the best works of the best brains and the most skillful hands among the negroes of 0 i f the country and he set up before the thousands of visitors from all sections of the land an object lesson which they will not soon forget mr hill without directly and avowedly attempting it has done much to soften prejudice and wipe out ram race distinctions race lines observed in the cit city y of nashville were not known un on the centennial grounds and chief hill succeeded in awakening interest and even genuine admiration on the part of many white visitors that were attracted to the negro building from comparative obscurity mr hill has now come into national notice and from this time 0 on n he will be a prominent character in public affairs deservedly honored by both white and black EUGENE HARRIS colored american |