KANSAS.—­Woman’s Home Miss.  Society, Secretary, Mrs. Addison Blanchard,
Topeka, Kan.

SOUTH DAKOTA.—­Woman’s Home Miss.  Union, Secretary, Mrs. W.E.  Thrall,
Amour, Dak.

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FOUNDATION LAYING AND HOME BUILDING IN THE SOUTH.

BY MISS JOSEPHINE KELLOGG.

The estimation in which “woman’s work for woman” is held by our more thoughtful colored students, will be shown by some extracts from an address by a graduate of Tougaloo University in Mississippi.

The effect of very unhappy experiences in early youth upon an exceedingly sensitive temperament, was to make this son of a white father and black mother cherish a feeling of intense hatred toward all white people as he was growing up; but being led, in the good providence of God, to a Christian training-school where he heard of One who suffered every indignity, and when dying in torture and ignominy prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” new thoughts and feelings came to him.

He thought there might be cruel men in the world now who know not what they do.  He was led to bow in penitence and submission at the feet of Jesus.  It is now his chief joy that since he entered upon the path of learning, he has, as a teacher, given several thousand children a start in the same path.

The little old chapel at Tougaloo having burned down in January, 1882, he graduated in the spring of that year, from our elementary normal course, in the new barn, Ayrshire Hall.  He has since passed through our higher normal and college preparatory course, and is pursuing further studies in another institution, in the intervals teaching, and going from place to place with the great desire in his heart of bringing about a better condition of feeling and living, among the people of the State.

I quote from his printed speech:  “We read of a time when ’a nation shall be born in a day.’  We have seen it come to pass, and this people is a babe yet.  ’Is not the babe a blessing in the house?  Its very helplessness is a blessing, in that it educates the finest sensibilities of humanity.’  The problem to be solved now is how to nurse this babe aright.  The thoughtful observer will be easily convinced that the careful and proper education of girls is the first step in the solution of this problem.

“The education of girls is of the most vital importance for the uplifting of the colored people of the South.  Yes, I venture to say that the whole South will depend upon their condition for its prosperity.  True progress depends upon the sacredness and sanctity of the home.  That a people or a nation may be happy or prosperous it must have enlightened and intelligent homes, and for this purpose the girls must be educated in virtue, industry and self-reliance.