Education; and Hon. W.T.  Harris, the Commissioner of Education, advocated the higher education of the Negro.  National Aid to Education was strongly advocated by the Conference, and is emphasized in their address to the country.  That address commends itself to the thoughtful consideration of the friends of education.  The report closes with the following appeal in behalf of the institutions that have been established in the South:  “A crying need at the present hour is the making permanent of the larger and more central institutions of learning for colored youth in the South, through permanent endowments, by private contributions.  Many of them have struggled along for a quarter of a century, doing much good, it is true, but greatly hindered in their progress because of the uncertainty of their financial support.  We appeal to the wealthy and philanthropic everywhere to contribute of their means to such endowments.”

Four college Presidents were in attendance, and took part in the Conference—­Rev. Dr. Simmons, of Kentucky State University; Rev. Dr. Brackett, of Storer College, Harper’s Ferry; Rev. Dr. Bumstead, of Atlanta University and Rev. Dr. Rankin of Howard University.  Prof.  J.M.  Gregory of Howard University was elected President, and Prof.  S.G.  Atkins of Salisbury, N.C., Secretary of the Conference.  The next meeting will be held at Atlanta, Ga., January 1, 1891.

* * * * *

A PRIZE POEM.

A publishing house in North Carolina offered “a handsome prize for the best poem, not less than sixteen nor more than twenty-four lines, on any North Carolina subject.”  Twenty or more poems were received, and submitted to a committee who did not know the names of the writers; on comparison with the numbers it was found that the poem to which the prize was awarded was written by Mrs. A.W.  Curtis, of Raleigh, N.C., a missionary of this Association.  We print the poem not only for its merit, but as an honor conferred upon one of our valued workers among the colored people of the South.

NORTH CAROLINA.

BY MRS. A.W.  CURTIS.

    Thou sittest like a queen with coronal
  Of dazzling beauty on thy sunny brow;
  The glorious mountains for thy lofty throne,
  The grand old Ocean lying at thy feet;
  Thy jewels are the healing springs, that lie
  Like gleaming pearls upon thy bounteous breast. 
  From far and near, earth’s weary pilgrims come,—­
  A long procession, sad, and heavy-eyed,—­
  To win anew the priceless boon of health,
  From thy Bethesda, angel-stirred and blest. 
  Deep in the bosom of thy mighty hills,
  Dame Nature brews the elixir of life,
  And pours it lavishly through riven rocks,
  In basins carved by no weak, human hand;
  And here and there, deep down the woodland glens
  She sets her moss-rimmed chalices, where those
  Who quaff with fevered lips the cooling