James B. Corrothers, the poet and prose writer, is another illustration of the power of applied intellect. Corrothers will be always known for the high order as well as humor of his writings, in the United States and in England where his “Jim Crow” idea of Negro fun is still supreme. Of his “The Black Cat Club,” a prominent literary and critical magazine, says: “The Black Cat Club should be commemorated by cultivated people of color as a second Emancipation Day.”
Charles W. Chesnutt, lawyer, writer, editor, historian and novelist, easily stands as a standard to be looked up to by the members of his race.
Miss Inez C. Parker, whose flights of fancy evolved from the higher realms of thought, betray the poetic gift of her race to a singular degree of beauty. As a poetess and writer, her destiny in aiding the uplift of humanity and helping it toward the universal goal, is manifest in every outpouring of her genius.
These are only a few of many, the most prominent now before the world. There are many others coming on and they will soon appear to the astonished eyes and ears of the people who have no thought of the great future and destiny of the Colored Americans.
THE OVERGROUND RAILROAD
A Mighty Way to Progress—The Underground Railroad a Thing of the Past
The old folks revel in stories about the “Underground Railroad.” They traveled over it, and we may admit that it took them to liberty. We may even go farther than that, and say that it lifted from the shoulders of a great race, a weight that was crushing them down, and brought them into the land of “Opportunity.”
But all that is ancient history. What happened even yesterday is old, and we are too busy today working to take advantage of the things offered us today, and that will happen tomorrow, to dream about the past.
We are all working to make things turn out to our advantage, and the less we dwell about the past the closer we get to the golden fruit.
We are living in a practical age, and the man who does things prospers, while the dreamer starves or gropes about at the bottom of the ladder.
All men need things; want something done for them. It is good business policy to supply the wants and to do the things everybody wants done.