congenial and won special distinction in using the phonetic
method of teaching primary pupils, that system being newly
introduced there then.

Having a turn for political contests he vigorously entered
local political campaigns, generally on the winning side,
and won some distinction as a campaign orator.

Mr. Lewis came to Florida in 1890, as corresponding
secretary of the Afro-American Chautauqua Association, whose
president was the lamented Dr. J. C. Price.

The failure of that enterprise was a withering blow to Mr.
Lewis.

After remaining in Florida for nearly a year, at
Tallahassee, Mr. Lewis became field correspondent and agent
for the Florida Sentinel, then published in Gainesville.

In 1892, Mr. Lewis got a position as city editor on the
Labor Union Recorder of Savannah. For a time his activity
seemed to be equal to the task of redeeming that paper, but,
the entailments of indebtedness were too great. It went
under.

He was urged to go to Jacksonville to enter the office of
the Jacksonville "Advocate"; the inducements being
flattering he went. He served the "Advocate" until the
"Daily American" was established. He was on the "Daily
American" as its city editor, and was on deck when that
sheet went down.

In the winter of 1895-96, necessity demanded a better daily
news for the colored people of Jacksonville. This was
secured at the office of the "Metropolis," one of the most
successful afternoon papers that is published in the whole
South.

Mr. Lewis was put on as reporter for his race, on the staff
of the "Metropolis," and has held this place continuously
ever since.

He is a firm believer in the survival of the fittest in all
things, and declares this is the key to the solution of the
race problem.

On the stage, on the platform, in the pulpit and in conversation, the
Negro has demonstrated a power in the use of speech that has well won
him a merited distinction. This fluency and force of language, so
often found in striking disparity to his other attainments, has armed
critics and students of his racial peculiarities with the opinion that
talking is his peculiar forte.

Such an opinion does not obtain, however, in the face of noble
examples of this race who have the art of forcibly and correctly
writing great thoug