ried Miss Lizzie Smith, a
teacher in the Richmond public schools. From this happy
union three children have been born.

In October, 1895, feeling that the time had come for him to
be about his Father's business he was ordained to the
ministry.

From a child he babbled in verse, and the poetic muse
brought in 1896, "Idle Moments" and in 1898, "Weh Down
Souf." These two books established the name of Rev. Mr.
Davis as a poet and have given him front rank with his
contemporaries in verse-making.

Guadaloupe College, Seguin, Texas, recognizing the
meritorious work of Rev. Davis bestowed upon him the degree
of A. M. in 1898.

Rev. Mr. Davis is at present pastor of the Second Baptist
Church of Manchester, where he has an ideal growing church
of young folks, which work he began in 1895.

In the winter of 1900, the Central Lyceum Bureau of
Rochester, N. Y., engaged the services of Rev. Davis for a
four-weeks' reading tour, reading selections from his own
works. The whole tour was an ovation, showing that texture
of hair and color of skin cannot destroy that aristocracy of
intellect, that charmed inner circle wherein "a man is a man
for a' that."

The Lord has been good to Rev. Daniel Webster Davis,
blessing him with intellectual force, blessing him with
poetic utterance, blessing him with oratorical ability,
blessing him in domestic felicity. Not yet in his prime, yet
so richly endowed in the gifts which make men strong and
powerful, it is hoped that he may be spared many years to
work in the Master's vineyard, and many years to labor for
the uplift of his race, oppressed and downtrodden.

May he expand and grow greater, remembering that he is God's
servant, endowed for the benefit of his race, blessed, so
that he may bless his people made strong, so that he may
reach down and lift his people up, growing brighter and
better unto the present day.

To the superficial observer, it would sometimes appear that the
American Negro did not make achievements commensurate with his
opportunities, during the nineteenth century. Yet, on taking a more
comprehensive view, the student of history and sociology must decide
in the affirmative.

In deciding upon the comparative progress of a race, along the lines
of a higher civilization, care must be taken