not suffered in the same
way as the colored race, from the former oppression and contagious vices
of a superior race; but left alone in their mountain fastnesses, left
behind in the march of human progress, they have been a nation of
Robinson Crusoes, deteriorating and retrograding from the inevitable
nature of mankind when left to itself. Having no momentum from outside,
feeling nothing of the swing and swell of progress, hearing little and
knowing little of the outer world, they need now our help to uplift and
enthuse and save them. Schools, churches, industrial instruction, mental
and spiritual training, help for the poor and the ignorant and the
degraded is sorely needed. This is comparatively a new field of work,
and is still largely unexplored and obscure. There is much to be done,
and it should be done now. The results of a very few years of work are
encouraging. Pray, friends, pray! Give, friends, give! Help, friends,
help!

* * * * *

PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.

PROF. H.H. WRIGHT.

I call your attention to the fact that the Board of Education of the
city of Nashville have extended the course of study in the public
schools for the colored population, so that there is in existence now a
fully-fledged High School for the colored youth, having precisely the
same course of study as that of the white youth; and the members of the
school are subjected to the same written and oral tests as those of the
white school. So far as I know, this is the first instance of the kind
in the South. Most boards _graduate_ the colored children from the
eighth, or at most, the ninth year of school.

The colored High School of Nashville had public exercises in the Grand
Opera House in June, when a class of seven graduated. The Superintendent
of Public Schools, the Board of Education, and prominent citizens, white
and colored, occupied the platform and gave their approval of the
innovation by their presence.

The first class of the white High School was graduated twenty-eight
years ago and numbered seven. This class of colored graduates also
numbered seven.

A member of that first white class is now the President of the Board of
Education, and presented the diplomas to the members of this colored
class. Altogether, the occasion was auspicious for better things in the
public school system in Tennessee.

* * * * *

THOMASVILLE, GA.

One incident that