The bulletin of Atlanta University, 1907 no. 173

              Number 173                                      Atlanta, Georgia                                          May, 1907 Program for Commencement Week Friday, May 24. 9:00 to 11:00 A. M. Public Day at the Oglethorpe School. 8:00 P. M.   Anniversary of the Phi Kappa Society.   Address by   Rev. I. N. Ross, D. D. Sunday, May 26. 11:00  A. M.     Baccalaureate   Sermon, by Rev. Edward  P.  Sanderson, D. D., of Providence, R. I. Monday, May 27. 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Regular School Work. 8:00 P. M.   Class Night Exercises. Tuesday, May 28.   Twelfth Annual Conference. Subject: Co-operative Business Among Negro Americans. 10 :00 A. M. Business as a Career. Mr. J. P. Seabrooke, Mr. R. P. Sims. 11:30 A.M. Health and Business (a talk to boys).   Dr. L. B. Palmer. 3:00 P. M. Annual Mothers' Meeting, in charge of Gate City Free Kindergarten Association. 8:00 P.  M.    Co-operative   Business.    Mr. N. O. Nelson, Mr. Geo. Crawford, Rev. Byron Gunner. Wednesday, May 29. 10:30 A. M. Inspection of Industrial Work. 2:30 P. M.   Annual Meeting of Trustees. 7:30 P. M.   Alumni Business Meeting, followed by Banquet at 9:30. Thursday, May 30. 11:00 A. M. Commencement Exercises. Commencement Address by Rev. Quincy Ewing, of Napoleonville, La. 8:00 P.M.   President's Reception. Health and Physique of the Negro American This is the subject of the social study made under the direction of Atlanta University by the Eleventh Atlanta Conference last May. The report, edited by Dr. DuBois, has just appeared from the Atlanta University press in the form of an attractive book of 112 pages. This publication marks the beginning of a second cycle of study, taking up again the subject considered by the Conference ten years previously. In this study there is not only an investigation of Negro mortality, but other kindred subjects are taken into consideration. There is, for instance, an attempt to gain some accurate information regarding the perplexing question of the effects of race mixture upon the physical and intellectual capacity of the offspring. To assist in this the re- port is illustrated by forty-eight cuts, representing the types discussed. In commenting on the question Dr. DuBois says truly, "Comparisons will inevitably arise between the blacks and the mixed bloods. In regard to the latter much friction aud prejudice must be cleared away: today one hears, on the one hand, that mulattoes are practically all degenerates, ranking below the parent races; and, on the other, that only the mixed blood Negroes amount to much, and this by reason of their white blood." The present tendency is away from rather than toward amalgamation, he concludes, but for reasons that are not always noted. "It is not then caste or race prejudice that stops it—they rather encourage it on its more dangerous side. . . The real bar to race amalgamation at present in the United States is the spreading and strengthening determination of the rising educated classes of blacks to accept no amalgamation except through open legal marriage. This means practically no amalgamation in the near future." This report contains much valuable and interesting information which will be of value to all students of the subject, whether they agree with the conclusions of the editor or not. Upon the question of Negro mortality, the comparison of the recent investigation with that of ten years previous shows that the general death rate is lower, the infant mortality has markedly decreased, and the number of deaths from consumption is lessening. These facts are most encouraging, but conditions are still very bad, and the report makes timely recommendations for improvement. Dr. Adams, Dean of the Faculty, has twice been invited to speak before audiences in the city upon the subject, Compulsory Education for the Negro in Georgia; first on February 18th before the Georgia Branch of the Southern Association of College Women, and again on March 28th before the Atlanta Sociological Society. Suit Education to Needs In another column we print Professor Webster's account of the remarkable work of Mr. William E. Benson at Kow-aliga. Mr. Benson is the product of higher education. He has studied at Fisk University. He is a graduate of Howard University. He is a man of ability, of ambition and of high ideals. What he has accomplished has been in the face of obstacles which would never have confronted a white man. He has more than once been obliged to take action to maintain the integrity and purity of his community which at the time seemed detrimental to his business enterprise. Yet he did it. There are things more important than large dividends. Mr. Benson would doubtless have made a good carpenter if he had chosen that trade. He would have made a good farmer. In either capacity he would have been a good man. But he had in him the stuff of which leaders are made, and the opportunity for higher education brought it out. Such education is doubtless not good for all men ; but it is good for men like this one. Such men there are in the Negro race— large men, who must not be cramped, before whom no obstacle must be placed. We must discover them, we must give them room, opportunity, encouragement. That is what institutions of higher education are for. The race needs men of intellectual ability, resource, tact, moral courage, determination, power; and such men need higher education. Our teachers appreciated the invitation of Miss Giles to meet her, the teachers of Spelman Seminary, and also those of other institutions in Atlanta, April 20th.____________________ Saturday evening, May 4th, we had an unexpected treat in an impromptu concert given by Mr. Clarence White, of Washington, D. C., in Ware Memorial Chapel. Mr. White plays the violin with exceptional ability. Among the selections he rendered were the Fantasia Appassionata by Vieux Temp and an African Dance by Coleridge-Taylor. The Atlanta University Quartet sang several pieces which were much enjoyed.