AMERICAN NEGRO'S OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA.

BY WILLIAM H. HEARD.

[Illustration: W. H. Heard, D. D.]

DR. WILLIAM H. HEARD.

Dr. William H. Heard, ex-Minister Resident and Consul
General to Liberia, was born in Elbert County, Georgia, of
slave parents and therefore was a slave himself until Lee
surrendered to Grant in April, 1865. He was only fifteen
years of age at this period. He began his education at this
age, attended South Carolina University, Clark University
and Atlanta University at Atlanta, Georgia; taught school
twelve years, was elected to South Carolina Legislature from
Abbeville County in 1876, appointed railway postal clerk in
1880, but resigned this position in 1883 and entered the
ministry at Macon, Georgia. He pastored churches in Athens
and Atlanta, Georgia; Aiken and Charleston, South Carolina;
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware;
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was appointed Minister
Resident and Consul General to Liberia by President Grover
Cleveland February, 1895. He served this position with honor
to his race and to himself. He is one of the most successful
ministers in his denomination, and has served the best
appointments, both as pastor and as presiding elder. He is
now the pastor of Allen Temple, Atlanta, Georgia; has
written a book called the "Bright Side of African Life,"
which has a large circulation. He is now President of the
Colored National Emigration Association.

The Liberian government takes charge of all persons landing as
emigrants and looks after their comfort preparatory to their settling;
but if one prefers he may secure board in the best of families at a
cheap rate until settled. As the government gives each settler from
fifteen to twenty-five acres of land, and allows him to choose his own
plot, it takes a little time to settle. He must locate and survey his
land and build his hut. All new-comers build the hut, as it is cheap
and quickly built. From fifteen to fifty dollars will put up a good
thatch hut which will answer all purposes for at least three years.
The land cleared, coffee, ginger, sugar-cane, edoes, cassada, oranges,
limes, plums, bread-fruit, pawpaws, can be planted. It takes three
years for coffee to yield; five to six for oranges, limes,
bread-fruit, etc. Edoes, cassadas and such bread-stuffs yield in three