The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 06, June, 1888 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 62 pages of information about The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 06, June, 1888.

The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 06, June, 1888 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 62 pages of information about The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 06, June, 1888.

In one of the hotels in Columbia, South Carolina, among the collections of an excellent library, is a book which bears the seal of the State of South Carolina, giving much statistical information as to the geological character of the State, its agricultural resources, its mineral products and the peculiarities of its population.  From its pages, the following extract is taken, which is reproduced here for its suggestiveness.  It seems incredible, and yet the authority is wholly Southern and has the imprint of the State.  It is as follows: 

“No effort adequate to even an approximate determination statistically of the intermixture of the White and Negro races has as yet been undertaken.  Mr. Patterson, quoted in an authoritative work upon ‘The Resources and Population of South Carolina,’ and published by the State Board of Agriculture in 1883, as one who has given much attention to the subject, says, even now there are no longer Negroes.  One-third has a large infusion of white blood, another third has less, but still some, and of the other third it would be difficult to find an assured specimen of pure African blood.  This, continues the report, is a startling statement; but in the absence of statistics, whoever puts it to the test among his Negro acquaintance will be surprised at the degree in which it conforms to the facts.  If the lineage of those Negroes whose color and features seem most unmistakably to mark them as of purely African descent, be traced, indubitable evidence may often be obtained of white parentage more or less remote.”

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MISAPPLIED BENEFACTIONS.

The judicious placing of benefaction is a large part of the good of it.  Is it wisely located?  Will it be permanent?  Will it be reproductive?  Will it be in the hands of persons suitably responsible for the administration of it?  Will it be under a fitting supervision?  The cause appeals to sympathy; does it also carry the mark of good judgment?  For lack of this double endorsement, not a little of generous giving is thrown away.  It is a fine piece of romance; does it proffer a sufficient security upon the proffered investment of the Lord’s money?

A worthy Christian woman brings the scheme.  It is laid upon the mountains of East Tennessee, thrust up into notoriety by the writing of Charles Egbert Craddock.  A lady of faith and hope and energy, {153} proposes to build up an industrial farm-school of high quality for the neglected girls of that mountain district.  She has already been teaching a common-school among them.  She comes up to a city of New England.  She lays her plan before some of the noble women there.  They take it up without further inquiry as to the feasibility of the undertaking.  With their first contributions an old worn-out farm is bought in the lady’s name, and in the cheap farm-house a small school is opened.  The location is in an out-of-the-way

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The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 06, June, 1888 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.