ve to publicly demonstrate what
he regards as actual service for the inspiration of his day
and generation.

TWENTIETH CENTURY NEGRO LITERATURE.

TOPIC I.

DID THE AMERICAN NEGRO MAKE, IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, ACHIEVEMENTS
ALONG THE LINES OF WEALTH, MORALITY, EDUCATION, ETC., COMMENSURATE
WITH HIS OPPORTUNITIES? IF SO, WHAT ACHIEVEMENTS DID HE MAKE?

BY MARY B. TALBERT.

[Illustration: Mrs. Mary B. Talbert.]

MRS. MARY B. TALBERT.

Mary Burnett Talbert was born at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1866, her
father's family having gone there from Chapel Hill, N. C.
She is descended on her maternal side from Richard Nichols,
who compelled Peter Stuyvesant to surrender New Amsterdam
and who for a short while was Governor of the State of New
York.

She graduated at the early age of sixteen from the Oberlin
High School, and through the generosity of Ex-President
James H. Fairchild was enabled to attend Oberlin College.

When applying for admission to the class in trigonometry,
the instructor doubtfully admitted her, as so many of the
High School pupils had found the subject very hard and
preferred a review of other mathematics. She entered the
class, however, on trial, and made a term's record of 5 per
cent, with an examination of 5.5 per cent, 6 per cent being
the highest mark for lessons in college.

During the next term she entered the class of mechanics, and
made a perfect record for term's work and examination.

While attending school she was well liked by her classmates,
being made Treasurer of Aeolian, one of the two college
societies for young women, and was also one of six
representatives chosen for Class Day Exercises. She was
given the place of honor upon the programme, and recited an
original poem, "The Lament of the Old College Bell, Once
First, Now Second."

Mrs. Talbert graduated from Oberlin at the early age of
nineteen, being the only colored member of her class after
the withdrawal of the late Lieutenant John Alexander.

She started out in life equipped not only with a great love
of learning but with all the encouragement which made it
possible for her to follow the inclinations of her mind.

In 1886 she accepted a position in Bethel University, Little
Rock, Ark.

Some women make themselves