ndividually concerned, we may deal justly with the down-trodden, and I
hope we do so; but the great wrong will still remain."

I left the office of Mr. Allen, feeling that he was in the right. I went
directly to Anthony, and, with a heavy heart, reported to him the
particulars of the interview. It was a painful shock, but he bore it
with greater calmness and fortitude than I had expected. When I had
concluded the recital, he remarked sadly that he found it impossible to
say that Mr. Allen was wrong, hard as the truth seemed. He felt that
marriage was out of the question, and said that he would not have
indulged the thought of it if he had reflected upon the matter
carefully. He was not fully decided what course he would pursue. It was
too painful a subject and involved too great a change to admit of a
hasty decision; and he desired my best thoughts and counsel, which I
gave him.

After two days I returned to Whitesboro, leaving Anthony in
Philadelphia, still pondering the course he would pursue. Three weeks
later I received a letter from him, in which he announced that he had
taken the colored school.

Four months passed away. Then I received from my friend a long
communication, setting forth rather formally his experience in his new
position and unfolding to me new views which he had gained by reflection
and contact with the world. He also presented the plan of life which he
had decided upon, if I approved. I was greatly surprised at the entire
revolution in his ideas which had been effected by his observation and
his courageous mental struggles.

"My own thoughts," he wrote, "have been completely changed by reading
and reflection. There are three aspects of this subject which I wish to
make clear to you. There is first the view that every colored man has
some sort of strange, mysterious curse resting upon him by a law of his
nature. The idea is that, although the black man in any given instance
may be superior, spiritually, intellectually, and physically, to his
white neighbor, yet he cannot equal him because of this mysterious
curse. This view, sad as it is (advocated by the white race), has
settled down upon the minds of millions of colored people. It has
crushed out of them all self-reliance and independence. It fastens
tenaciously upon the quiet, sensitive spirit, destroying its hope and
self-respect and enterprise. I need not tell you how near I have come to
being shipwrecked by its influence. But it is found