of brain among us which can and should be utilized in other directions than teaching school or seeking for clerkships.  Mr. Clarkson had a very intelligent daughter whom he wished to fit for some other employment than that of a school teacher.  He had her trained for a physician.  She went to B., studied faithfully, graduated at the head of her class and received the highest medal for her attainments, thus proving herself a living argument of the capability in her race.  Her friend, Miss Young, had artistic talent, and learned wood carving.  She developed exquisite taste and has become a fine artist in that branch of industry.  A female school teacher’s work in the public schools is apt to be limited to her single life, but a woman who becomes proficient in a useful trade or business, builds up for herself a wall of defense against the invasions of want and privation whether she is married or single.  I think that every woman, and man too, should be prepared for the reverses of fortune by being taught how to do some one thing thoroughly so as to be able to be a worker in the world’s service, and not a pensioner upon its bounty.  And for this end it does not become us as a race to despise any honest labor which lifts us above pauperism and dependence.  I am pleased to see our people having industrial fairs.  I believe in giving due honor to all honest labor, in covering idleness with shame, and crowning labor with respect.”

Chapter VI

For awhile Mrs. Harcourt was busy in preparing the supper, to which they all did ample justice.  In her white apron, faultless neck handkerchief and nicely fitting, but plain dress, Mrs. Harcourt looked the impersonation of contented happiness.  Sorrow had left deep furrows upon her kindly face, but for awhile the shadows seemed to have been lifted from her life and she was the pleasant hostess, forgetting her own sorrows in contributing to the enjoyment of others.  Supper being over, her guests resumed their conversation.

“You do not look upon the mixing of the schools as being necessarily disadvantageous to our people,” said the minister.

“That,” said Mr. Thomas, “is just in accordance to the way we adapt ourselves to the change.  If we are to remain in this country as a component part of the nation, I cannot fail to regard with interest any step which tends toward our unification with all the other branches of the human race in this Western Hemisphere.”

“Although,” said Mrs. Lasette, “I have been educating my daughter and have felt very sorry when I have witnessed the disappointment of parents who have fitted their children for teachers and have seen door after door closed against them, I cannot help regarding the mixing of the schools as at least one step in a right direction.”

“But Mrs. Lasette,” said the minister, “as we are educated by other means than school books and blackboards, such as the stimulus of hope, the incentives of self-respect and the consensus of public opinion, will it not add to the depression of the race if our children are made to feel that, however well educated they may be or exemplary as pupils, the color of their skin must debar them from entering avenues which are freely opened to the young girls of every other nationality.”