like this, in
which the Negro is taught to be law-abiding and to live a moral life,
administered as this one is with such good sense and wisdom, are
doing far more than any sentimental influences of the war to bring
races and sections to mutual good understanding." On Sunday, at the
big Chautauqua building, during the baccalaureate sermon, two white
citizens were standing at the door watching the quiet, orderly
audience of perhaps fifteen hundred colored people. One of them has
not been distinguished for earnestness of desire to see the Negro
educated. Said the other, "It looks like the niggers are coming up in
spite of h--," to which the response, though possibly reluctant, was
clearly affirmative.

Those who have been toiling all the year long, unable to appreciate
the work in its perspective, discouraged sometimes because results
hoped for do not immediately appear, are cheered by such testimony to
the efficiency and value of the work, even if it is not always given
in elegant and reverent form. And there was other testimony of the
same kind from all sorts and conditions of visitors. Expressions of
pleasure and approval came constantly from alumni, from teachers in
other schools, from citizens both white and black.

Not as large a graduating class was sent out as usual, there being
only nine in all--three young men from the college department, and
six from the normal school, all young women but one. The parents of
none of these students have graduated from Talladega. All of them
were slaves, though most were so young at the time of emancipation as
not to remember much of slavery days. The father of one of the
college men, however, was, it is said, made by his master to run
regularly before the bloodhounds to keep them in training. Sometimes
it was hard running, and sometimes he had to take refuge in a tree to
escape harm when the dogs had caught up with him. This young man, who
carried off the A.B. degree, is planning to go to Yale for further
study, and after a year or two to enter a Northern law-school.

Another of the same department is in some ways an accomplished
fellow. He has read widely and remembers what he has read; he plays
the violin; he is an excellent pianist, and he is a member of the
college male quartet, which is to spend the summer in the North,
endeavoring to raise money for new buildings greatly needed at
Talladega. After this summer campaign he also hopes to begin the
study of law at Columbi