Franklin's paper the statesman., August 07, 1909, Page PAGE 10, Image 10

About Franklin's paper the statesman. (Denver, Colo.) 1906-1912

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New Honor For
Miss Johnson.
Story of the Rise of an Orphan Girt From
Obscurity to Prominence as a Religious
and Literary Worker, Governess
and Assistant In Public
Library.
By N. B. DODSON.
Miss Violet A. Johnson, who was
recently appointed assistant in the
Cotuit Public library at Summit, N.
J.. is a native of Wilmington. N. C., in
which city she received her early edu
cation. Being left motherless when
quite young, she was thrown upon her
own resources at a time when the
care and protection of parents are
most needed. But, being possessed of
strong will power and high aspira
tions, she made her way up through
difficulties and many vicissitudes until
she grew to womanhood. About the
first position which .Miss Johnson held
requiring both tact and education was
that of assistant teacher in oue of the
mission schools of the Woman's Mis
sionary society of Chicago, which was
directed by Miss M. K. Dofflns of
Pittsburg. Pa. She remained In the
employ of the society for eight years.
Her work gave general satisfaction,
and Iter salary, which at the begin
ning was only SIU per month, was In
creased from time to time as the work
MISS VIOLET A. JOHNSON.
Strew nnd became more responsible.
When tbe society held Its annual ses
ilon in Boston a fen years ago .Miss
M. <J. Burdett. the president, appoint
ed Miss Johnson on the program to
speak, she being the only Af ns A merl
es n woman to address thousands
which gathered In Tremont temple on
that occasion. Miss Johnson also
worked a portion of the eight years
of her employ with tbe society In Brook
lyn. N. Y. While there sbe joined the
Concord Baptist Church of Christ and
was subsequently appointed as a
teacher In tbe Sunday school, and as
■neb she was one of the most faithful
■nd efficient. Sbe was one of tbs
founders of the Yonng Woman's Cul- j
tore dnb of Brooklyn, which for a !
number of rears met resrularlr for tbe
THE STATESMAN, DENVER, COLORADO.
study tiud discussion of pi'oui Incut .
American and English authors. While !
in Brooklyn .Miss Johnson accepted
tin* position of governess and house- i
keeper In the family of Mrs. .1 H. Eg
gers at Summit, N. J.. which she has
held for a number of years.
When Miss Johnson went to Sum
mit there was no church for our people
in that aristocratic little town. Seeing
the need of a place of worship for the
many persons of our race residing
there, she made it possible for the
starting of a little Baptist mission,
which, guided by her fostering care
and most the time personal support,
has grown Into a regular Baptist
church, recognized by and a member of
the New England Baptist missionary
convention. Having a genial dlsposl
tlon. willing and obliging. Miss John I
son lias won for herself a host of j
friends who lavish upon her their love
and confidence. She Is both worthy
and deserving of the new honor which
has come to her at the hands of her
Caucasian friends at Summit, who
feel that she has merited the position
When B. T. Washington Die*.
The only statue in New York city of
a colored man Is a figure of St. Bene
dict the Moor over the entrance of St
Benedict's church In Fifty-third street.
Strictly It Is not a statue, but a figure
A prominent Negro of New York said
when his attention was called to this:
"The question of erecting a statue to
one of our race would have been set
tled long ago If Booker Washington
had not come up when he did. There
was a movement on foot to erect one
to Frederick Douglass,but when Booker
Washington began doing so much for
the race It was thought liest to defer
I he statue, for when Washington dies
and may that time lie far off. he will
have a memorial worthy of his work,
end It will be put where everybody In
this great city can see It."
GRAND MUSICAL RECITAL.
Brilliant Coterie of Young Artiste De
light Ansonia Audience.
The recital given by Miss Pearl
Elise Tatten. soprano, at the City Hall
Auditorium, Ansouia, Conn., recently
was attended by au audience of 240
persons, one of the largest that ever
gathered at an affair of the kind in
that assembly room. Miss Tatten was
very ably assisted by Mrs. Elijah But
ler of New Haven, elocutionist: Ralph
Howard of Boston, violinist, \V. Rob
inson Tatteu of Bridgeport basso; F. 1
Lathrop Tatteu. tenor, and Miss V.
Josephine Muse, pianist.
Miss Tatten is possessed of a re
markably sweet soprano voice, which
has often delighted local audiences'
and congregations of the First Baptist
church, where Miss Tatten is a soloist.
She received many encomiums, and
her audience manifested its pleasure
by awarding her enthusiastic ap
plause.
Mrs. Butler in her elocutionary work
was excellent, and the applause she
received was well merited She was
down on the program for two num
bers. "The Face on the Floor*' and
"Sandy's Romance." It was Mr. How
ard's first appearance In Ansonia. and
he proved himself to be a skillful per
former on the violin. He played with
expression, and bis technique left noth
Ing to be desired. He bus had the ad
vantage of a training tn bis art at the,
New England Conservatory of Music.
The Misses Tatten were In excellent
voice, and their numbers were well
sung. Miss Muse, both as accompa- j
nlst and in bar solo and duet work•
with Mias Tartan, deserved the ap I
Olapse she received
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.
Afro-Americans Preparing For Future
Self Help—Miss Holsey an Example.
No more encouraging sign of the
great educational awakening which is
being manifested among the young
men and women of the race than the
large number which was enrolled In
the Industrial, technical and special
classes In the various schools during
the past year. We are glad to see that
they nre breaking away from the old
mistaken idea of seeking the position
first and prepnrlug to till it after se
curing it. The young Afro-American
of the present time has many rare op
portunities open to him for study and
self help which were formerly with
held from him. Within the past ten
years there has been a steady Increase
MISS DAISY M. HOLSKY.
lu educntlounl facilities for all classes,
and the Afro-Amerlcau Ims not l>een ;
slow to fall in line and take his share.
Young men and young women’s Chris
tian associations with their Industrial
and educational courses Imre been
and are a blessing to our people. The
night schools conducted by the bonrd
of education In the large cities have
also been a grent factor In helping
those who could not attend the day
classes. Miss Daisy M. llolsey. an
ambitious young woman of engaging
manners, has been studying elocution
at the Lexington avenue brand) of the
Brooklyn (N. Y.) Young Women’s
Christian association for the post two
years. Under the careful tutorship
of Miss Helen Murphy, who Is a read
er of known ability. Miss llolsey has
made rapid progress In her chosen
line. She ex|>ectH to enter the profes
sional class this fall, where she will 1
take advanced studies in elocution be
fore making her debut ns n profes
sional reader.—Dodson.
Similarity of Racial Conditions. *
A noted writer on economic and po
Utica I questions at De Aar. South Af
rica. writing to the Review of Reviews
of Australia on the native question In
8outb Africa recently, said among
other things: “That which applies to
conditions in the southern states of
America will also apply with equal i
force to conditions here. Only a abort
time ago when the question of the
white and black races was being dis
cussed by one of the leading legislators
with a Bantu the latter said. 'When
you do well to ua. you do well to your
••lrea.’ This sum* up the philosophy
of the whole matter.”
PAGE 10
HARRIET TUBMAN HOUSE.
Maintained by Voluntary Contributions
and Managed by 3oston Women.
By Mrs. M. C. SIMPSON.
The Harriet Tubinan House at Bos
ton has moved into new quarters at
25H01 y o k e
street, which hn9
been recently fit
ted up nnd fur
nished by the
inn miners as their
o w u property.
The house was
established by a
number of nota
ble Afro-Amer
ican w o m en,
members of the
Women's Chris
tian Temperance
union, who have
made many sac
rifices for Its
maintenance dMr-
Ing the past five
years. The house
is designed us a
MUM. CORNELIA HOD
IN SON.
borne for the ninny young women
who go to Boston an stranger* from
various parts of the United State*. It
I* the only home of It* kind In the
city which I* Incorporated under the
laws of the state. The work I* car
ried on by voluntary contribution*, and
It Is not under the management of
any particular religious denomination.
The manager* expect to open classes
In the various domestic lines, such a*
cooking, sewing, laundering, etc., n*
soon as sufficient funds are In hand
to carry on the work. Ten thousand
dollars will pay off the balance due
on the building nnd furnish the bouse
completely. All donations will lie a
source of encouragement to the board
of managers nnd a blessing to many
homeless nnd often friendless girls of
the race.
The matron. Mrs. Cornelia Robinson.
Is most efficient and much tieloved by
nil the girls. The treasurer Is Mr*. M.
FI A. Gleason, president of the Suf
folk County \V. C. T. U . whose num
ber I* f2 Ruthven *tn*et, Roxbury.
who I* ever ready to receive and ac
knowledge contributions In t>ehnlf of
the Iw.nrd. which Is comiiosed of the
following members; Mrs. Julin <) Hen
son, president; Mrs. M. Crgvath Simp
son. secretary; Mrs. Cornelia Robin
son. matron; E. II. Clement of the
Boston Transcript. W. 1. Cole of the
South End House. Charles Alexander
editor of Alexanders Magazine, and
Dr C. N Garland
North Carolina Delegates.
The interdenominational Sunday
school cott vent Ion of North Carolina,
which recently held Its annunl meeting
at Durham, appointed Dr A. G. Davis
of Washington. N. C., Dr. Wyche of
Charlotte and Professor J. D. Martin,
of Biddle university delegates to the
world's Sunday school convention,
which meets In Washington, D. C.. In
August. IP 10. With these able Chris
tian men nt the helm. Afro-Americans
need have no fears about their Inter
ests lielng properly looked after In this
great convention. North Carolina Is
on time.
Brooklynites Proud of Miss Lss.
Miss Vera Lee. who was the only
Afro-American In the June. ’00. grad
uating class at the girls’ high school
in Brooklyn. N. Y.. Is destined to be
come a factor In the educational work
of the public schools of Brooklyn
Miss Lee has already been appointed
aa vocation kindergarten teacher In
public school So. 12. and is making •
record of which we ore proud