Chapter VIII: Part 8

During the early eighties Madame Selika better known as “Black Patti”, went to Europe and completely captivated the friendship of music lovers in the “Old Country” by her marvelous birdlike thrills and matchless renditions of her famous “Echo Song.” The great range and sweetness of her voice was a delightful mystery to all who heard her.

It was as far back as 1851, at the time the world-famed Jenny Lind (white) was enjoying her greatest fame, that Elizabeth T. Greenfield a Colored woman came into prominence as a noted singer. She was often called the “Black Jenny Lind” and won fame in America and Europe where she was given the pet name of “The Black Swan.”

In the minds of many people still living there are yet fond recollections of that human song bird, Flora Batson, (Mrs. Bergen) who was born in Providence, R. I.. The music people in America, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand considered it a rare treat to hear her touching and pathetic voice that had such bell-like tones and clarity of enunciation. For ninety-one continuous nights at a revival in New York City her voice held vast crowds spellbound as they tearfully listened to her soul-touching voice sing “Six Feet of Earth Make Us All One Size.” And hundreds of curious and prejudiced white people who first went to those meetings to jeer and make fun had their set minds suddenly converted by listening to the truth and full meaning of that song and had their frozen hearts completely melted by the soulful shocks of that great singer’s voice. (Ref. Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, pgs. 326-7-8).

Anna and Emma Hyers, soprano and contralto; Wallace Kine, tenor; John Lucca and Frederick Louidin, Bassos, of the Old School, were among the foremost singers of their times and proved vocal marvels to all who heard them sing in America and Europe. For years the well trained and talented quartettes of Fisk University, Hampton and Tuskegee Institutes have been winning fame throughout America and even in Europe as unsurpassed singers of Negro plantation songs.

Below are the names of just a few human Colored song-birds of today whom the writer was able to discover among the many flocks that, although now perched very high, are constantly flitting up and up toward the top branches of solo-song trees.

Marion Anderson, Phila., Pa., Martha B. Anderson, sopranos; E. H. Boatner, baritone, Boston, Mass.; Minnie Brown, soprano, N. Y.; Edmonia H. Brown, soprano, Kansas City, Mo.; Arthur Brown, baritone, Mayme C. Byron, soprano, T. Bryant, tenor, Grace Campbell, soprano, Chicago, Ill.; C. Carroll Clark, baritone, New York City; Dessa Clements, soprano, H. Delmore, tenor, Boston, Mass.; L. B. Duppe, baritone, Springfield, Mass.; Isabelle Givens, soprano, Cincinnati, O.; Leroy Goodman, tenor, Columbus, O.; Mrs. H. L. Grant, soprano, Washington, D.C.; C. J. Harbour, tenor, Okmulgee, Okla.; Blanche D. Harris, soprano, New York City; S. Hilliard, tenor, Chicago, Ill.; Revella Hughes, soprano, New York City; Mrs. H. Hunter, soprano, Durham, N. C.; Alfred H. Johnson, baritone, C. L. Johnson, tenor New York City; Marie P. Johnson, soprano, Ella F. Jones, soprano, Lulu R. Jones, soprano, Mary Jones, soprano, Chicago Ill.; Josephine A. Junius, contralto; Paige I. Lancaster, baritone, John T. Lattimore, tenor, Hampton, Va.,; Jennie C. Lee, soprano, Tuskegee, Ala.; Annie H. Lee, soprano, Baltimore, Md., Lawrence Lomax, tenor, C. A. Marshall, baritone, Junious Maxwell, tenor, Lydia McClain, soprano, Phila., Pa.; B. D. McCorkel, tenor, Carolyn Montgomery, contralto; J. A. Myers, tenor, Nashville, Tenn.; W. P. Norcum, baritone, Portsmouth, Va.; Alice M. Pettijohn, soprano, Amherst, Mass.; Mrs. C. Rechley, soprano, Baltimore, Md.; Wm. Simmons, basso, Chicago, Ill.; Maud J. Roberts, soprano, Chicago, Ill.; W. Ryder, basso, Cincinnati, O.; N. Clark Smith, tenor, Kansas City, Mo.; Innis Simpson, tenor, Leon Simpson, soprano, Princeton, N. J.; Luela D. Smith, soprano, Daisey Tapley, contralto, Grace W. Thompson, soprano, Lillian E. Tibbs, soprano, Washington D.C.; S. A. Thomas, basso, Newport News, Va.; Mabel O. Story, soprano, St. Louis, Mo.; Emlyne J. Tindley, contralto, Phila., Pa; Clarence Tisdale, tenor, Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. F. K. Watkins, soprano, Durham, N. C.; Junius Williams, basso, New York City; Mrs. L. Wilson, soprano, Baltimore, Md.; Sidney Woodward tenor, New York City; Mary Stafford, soprano, New York.

Having as its object, “To foster Negro talent; labor for economic and educational betterment”, The National Association of Negro Musicians, under the wise leadership of Henry L. Grant, is wielding a musical influence for good that is being felt and appreciated not only by American Colored and white musicians but by music lovers of both races even abroad. Other nationally known musicians, who, as officers in this organization, are ably assisting their president in furthering the inspirational and elevating work of this organ are; Melville Charleton, R. Nathaniel Dett, Carl Diton, Kemper Herreld, Nora Douglass Holt, Deacon Johnson, H. P. B. Johnson, R. Agustus Lawson, W. H. Loving, Harriet G. Marshall, James A. Mundy, Alice Carter Simmons, T. Theo. Taylor, Clarence C. White and Fred J. Work.

If there be Colored youths who, after reading these inspirational pages, still lack ambition and courage to develop musical talents they possess, because of their race and color, such youths should remember that:--

The most popular and sweetest singing bird in the world (the canary) is Colored. But if hundreds of years ago that bird had ruined his God-gifted voice with discouraged croakings about its yellow feathers, the canary bird of today would be not able to sing so sweetly as to cause its listeners to completely forget it is a bird with a colored complexion. Its singing is so sweet and beautiful that people learn to see beauty and loveliness in its yellow coat that Nature has given it.

IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

MUSIC’S POWER.

From cradle down unto the grave
Does mankind ever sweet sounds crave;
And like the beasts that roar and rave
His passions bow as music’s slave.
--_Harrison._

“The Negro race has produced two violinists who have attracted national attention as artists, Clarence Cameron White and Joseph H. Douglass. They occupy first rank among American musicians and the race is justly proud of them.” The above quotation that originally appeared in the American artists Review, is an extract from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, p. 329.

Mr. White, whose home is in Boston, has spent many years of hard studying in both America and Europe, and aside from being a violinist of the first rank, he is also a noted composer. One of his greatest compositions “The Cradle Song” is written for either the violin or piano and has brought praises from all critics who have heard it. “A New System of One Octave Scale Studies for the Violin”, of which Mr. White is the author, is a book that is being used extensively in music schools.

Joseph Henry Douglass, grandson of the great Frederick Douglass, is a native of Washington, D.C. The foundation of his superb playing of today was laid in the New England Conservatory of Music, the New York Conservatory of Music and some of the best music schools in London. During the score or more years he has made annual recitals throughout the country, he, the same as Mr. White, has played before presidents of the United States. Mr. Douglass fills the responsible position of Instructor in Instrumental Music at Howard University, Washington, D.C.

A few of some other violinists of the first order are; Wm. Butler, Walter Craig, Brooklyn, N.Y., Harrison Farrell, Harrison Emanuel, Chicago, Ill., Kemper Herreld, Atlanta, Ga., Edwin F. Hill, Philadelphia., Pa., Louisa V. Jones, New York, Leonard Jeter, New York Hall, Johnson, H. Kerr, Baltimore, Md., David L. Martin, New York, Eugene Mars Martin, New York, A. W. Ross, New York, Prof. Tenyck, Brooklyn, N.Y., Harrison Watts, Baltimore, Md.

Maud Cuney Hare of Boston, Mass., has for years been recognized as one of the leading pianists in America. She is nationally and internationally known and her playing has met the stamped approval of the most critical of critics. She is a member of the Music and Lecture Guild of New England (a white organization) and is also music critic for the Crisis Magazine.

As an accomplished musician, Hazel Harrison is one of the best among the best Colored or white pianists in America. Although a musical prodigy from early childhood, her youthful life has been one constant grind of theory, study and practical application under such world-known pianists and teachers as Busoni, Egan, Petri and Victor Heinne. And still she improves.

Helen Hagan is another pianist who is recognized as being among the foremost musicians in the United States, as the result of her strenuous studies under such noted French masters as Saint-Saens, Vincent D’Indy, Claude Debussy and her playing under the severe criticisms of Gabriel Faure, Paul Dukas, Chaussons and Severac. As one of the associate editors on the staff of Music and Poetry, she is doing great inspirational work in its piano department.

Carl Diton’s transcription of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” for the organ has been published by G. Schirmer Co., one of the largest white music publishers in America. This composition has a melody of remarkable sweetness and is one of the few pieces that brings into full play all parts of the organ. Mr. Diton has studied in Europe as well as in America and today is recognized as one of the leading pianists, organists and composers in this country.

Melville Charlton of Brooklyn, N. Y., is estimated by knowing critics as being one of the most talented and efficient pipe organist among Colored people in America. He is an unquestioned authority on this instrument that has taken up many of his years in theory study and practical application. The following named are a few mentioned from among the hundreds of other exceptionally trained organists in different parts of the country: Rudolph Grant, New York, William King, Phila., Pa., George Ruffin and Fred White, Boston, Mass., Mrs. Corinne Wilson, Chicago, Ill.

“It Takes Love to Cure the Heart’s Disease”, “Loveless Love” and “Caroline Shout” were among the first player-piano rolls that were recorded by Jas. P. Johnson, a Colored pianist, who has signed a contract to make recordings for the Q. R. S. Music Company, which is the largest player-piano roll manufacturers in the world.

One of the greatest musical wonders, Colored or white, America has ever produced was Thomas G. Bethune, who was born a blind slave at Columbus, Ga., He became known throughout the world as “Blind Tom”. He played difficult pieces on the piano when only four years old and began giving concerts when eight years old. Although he had never received any instructions he could correctly imitate the most difficult piece after hearing it played but once. He was taken to Europe where he won fame and honors playing before the crowned heads in all of the important countries. His audiences would sit spellbound and entranced as he imitated on the piano nearly every imaginable sound. Especially were they moved and seemed to feel they were going through the actual experience when he played “The Shipwreck.” At such times his magic fingers drew from the ivory keys the far and low rumblings of fast coming storms; the clanking of rattling chains among hastening crews; the weird moans of increasing winds; the blood-curdling shrieks of swooping sea-gulls; the distant booms of beach-breaking waves; the flapping slaps of wind-whipped sails; the creaking timbers of tossed-about ships; the soft murmurs of praying voices; the sudden crashes of lightning bolts; loud rolling peals of overhead thunder and the splashing sounds of down-pouring rains.

Another piano prodigy of the race is J. W. Boone of Columbia, Mo., who became blind in his infancy. He is known as “Blind Boone” and although he has been touring the country for forty years, he is still giving piano recitals that hold his audiences in wonder and awe. He has such a wonderful memory for musical details and such a delicate ear for detecting musical sounds that he frequently listens to the playing of a recognized pianist who has the sight of both eyes, and when that person has finished, “Blind Boone” will go to the piano and amuse the audience by showing the mistakes made by the other player and then presenting the piece correctly. By many critics he is considered today as the equal if not the superior of the famous “Blind Tom”. (Ref. Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, pgs. 327-28-29).

Named below are a few of the many Colored pianists in America today, many of them having studied under some of the best masters in Europe as well as in America, and all of them being finished musicians, and several of them of national renown.

Nettie C. Asberry, Tocoma, Wash., S. N. Arter, Neola Bailey, Hampton, Va., Bertha Beaumann, Boston, Mass., “Eubie” Blake, Lawrence Brown, Boston, Mass., J. H. Buchanan, Durham, N. C., Mrs. L. E. Cain, Princeton, N. J., Mae Clements, Mrs. R. N. Dett, Hampton, Va., Cleo M. Dickerson, Chicago, Ill., N. Doxey, Eva Dykes, Washington, D.C., J. H. Hebron, Phila., Pa., Mary Gibson, Washington, D.C., Clyde Glass, Wilhelmina Harrison, and Mildren B. Jones of Chicago, Ill., E. Aldama Jackson, N. Y., William King, Phila., Pa., Mrs. E. Lambert, Princeton, N. J., Wm. S. Lawrence, Boston, Mass., Andradas Lindsay, A. Matthews, Cincinnati, Ohio, Susie McDonald, Newark, N. J., Martha Mitchell, Nellie M. Mundy, N. Y., Josephine Muse, Washington, D.C., Portia W. Pittman, Maud Powell, A. W. Quarles, Cincinnati, Ohio., Helen H. Price, Brooklyn, N. Y., C. Luckeyth Roberts, N. Y., Arthur W. Ross, Ruth Rowan, Durham, N. C., Amy Steffens, Milwaukee, Wis., Samuel Stewart, Columbus, Ohio, T. T. Taylor, Chicago, Ill., Roy Tibbs, Washington, D.C., Hazel D. Thomas, E. Torney, Baltimore, Md.

The Pace Phonograph Corporation, New York City, is the first of its kind in the world to be composed only of Colored people. It is presided over by Harry H. Pace, a Colored man who founded it, and it is turning out records reproducing only Negro music sung or played only by Colored musicians. All of its officials and employees are Colored, and its chief purpose is to preserve in vocal form such as are left of the slave-songs of America. Its records are known as the “Black Swan Records,” that are already in much demand and finding large sales.

Today the original and unique, singing of Perry Bradford’s “blues” by Mamie Smith, is attracting admiration and endless praise on both sides of the ocean. Her successful singing for the reproduction of her voice on the records of the Okeh Phonograph Co., has made her the first Colored female singer to so suddenly achieve world fame along that line. It is said that the royalties from her records amount to such a sum that it would gladden and look big in the eyes of even prima donna singers in the operatic world. The records containing her voice are in such demand by the public that the manufacturers turning out the disc have to put on night shifts in conjunction with day shifts in order to fill the orders piled up on their desks. In the fall of 1920 Miss Smith’s stage singing had become so popular that she had to table engagements from Paris and London in order to fill a thirty week touring engagement in the United States.

Band Musicians throughout the world heard of and learned to admire the late James Reese Europe, who was one of the greatest “jazz” musicians the world has ever heard. Of the four best bands overseas during the World War and representing the four greatest nations, James Europe’s American Colored bandmen were in demand more than any of the others, especially in England and France.

At the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904 and at the Panama Exposition held at San Francisco, Cal., in 1915, Major W. H. Loving, as conductor of the famous Philippine Band, was among those who were awarded the highest band honors for being among the greatest bandmasters of the world. Other Colored musicians who have achieved success and recognition as band leaders are quite numerous in America, and a few of them are mentioned herewith; Lieut. Tim Bryan, F. L. Drye, W. H. Howard, W. L. Jackson, C. Wesley Johnson, N. Clarke Smith, A. J. Thomas, W. H. Vodery, and P. G. Lowery who has developed such a great band that yearly throughout the seasons it is to be found with the Ringling Bro. Show as one of its most important bands. W. H. Graham, as well as a great band leader is a talented composer of band music. His home is in Denver, Colorado.

According to the determinations of one of America’s nationally recognized authorities and critics on Negro music composition, the following ten named Colored composers are among the foremost in the United States:

Harry T. Burleigh, whose “Deep River”, “Jean” and “The Soldier”
are three of his voice compositions that are among his numerous
spirituals and art-songs published by Ricordi & Co., New York City.
For his work as a singer and composer, Mr. Burleigh was awarded the
1917 Spingarn Medal.

Melville Charlton, whose piano production: Poeme Crotique is
published by Schirmer & Co., New York City.

Will Marion Cook, whose “The Bandanna Land”, “The Casino Girl”,
and “The Rain Song” are among his popular choruses in Negro style
that are published by Schirmer & Co., New York City. As director
of The New York Syncopated Orchestra and the celebrated Clef Club
Orchestra, Mr. Cook has won himself a place among the first-place
orchestra leaders in America and Europe.

R. Nathaniel Dett, whose chorals: “Chariot Jubilee”, “Listen To The
Lambs” and “I’m So Glad Trouble Don’t Last Alway” are among his
voice spirituals published by John Church Co., New York City; his
piano composition “Magnolia” which is one among others published
by Summy & Co., Chicago. A white publication, Musical America of
December 17, 1919, said, “If R. Nathaniel Dett had written no other
work, his “Chariot Jubilee” would suffice to make his name.” Mr.
Dett is also a noted pianist.

Carl Diton, whose pipe Organ production; “Swing Low Sweet, Chariot”
is published by Schirmer & Co., New York City, and whose voice
composition; “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” is published by Presser &
Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

Helen Hagan, who has composed for the piano; Concerto with
orchestral accompaniment (manuscript).

J. Harvey Hebron, who has produced for the voice splendid
semi-classic ballads (American Magazine Co., 1514 South St.,
Phila., Pa.,) and for the violin and piano: Sonata in E
(manuscript).

J. Rosamond Johnson, whose classic ballads and light operas have
been written for the white company, Klaw & Erlanger and such noted
white actresses as Lillian Russell. In the production of many of
his pieces, J. Rosamond was ably assisted by his brother James
Weldon Johnson who also was the translator for the English libretto
of “Goyescas” the Spanish grand opera produced by the Metropolitan
Opera Company in 1915. James W. also has several French music
translations to his credit. The works of J. Rosamond Johnson are
published by Ditson & Co., Boston, Mass.

Gerald Tyler, who has composed for the voice, Art-songs that are
published by Schirmer & Co., New York City.

Clarence Cameron White, whose violin Spirituals are published by
Carl Fisher & Co., New York.

The “blue song” compositions of W. C. Handy are known and sung all over the world. He is president of the Handy Music Co., of New York City, which is the leading firm of its kind among Colored people in the world. Perry Bradford is composer of the “Crazy Blues” that have made himself, Mamie Smith and the Okeh phonograph records nationally and internationally famous.

N. Clark Smith is second to none among American Colored musicians as a composer of instrumental, especially, band music. For several years he was band leader of the Tuskegee Institute expert band and also served for a long period as bandmaster of the famous Old Illinois 8th Regiment. Today he is Director of Music at the Lincoln High School, Kansas City, Mo.

The following list contains the names of some of the leading musicians who are foremost composers of different lines of music: Mrs. B. Consuelo Cook, J. E. Dowell, E. Edmonds, W. H. Farrell, Harry Freeman, Jessie L. Gaynor, A. P. Grant, H. P. Gilbert, L. Godfrey, Nora Douglass Holt, Edwin F. Hill, E. A. Jackson, Scott Jolpin, E. T. Jenkins, Joe. Jordan, Turner Layton, Therwold Otterstrom, Dave Payton, J. S. Pollen, Alex Rogers, H. E. Stewart, Dekiven Thompson, Clarence Williams, Spencer Williams, Geo. Hoff.

IN ATHLETICS

SOME MAN.

When a white star fames in football fray,
Three rivals at most against him play;
And he gets the cheers of every fan
For they feel for him no racial ban;
But when Colored star in white games set
Eleven “cave men” play him “to get”;
And when thro it all they can’t him “can”
He sure must be what is called “SOME MAN”.
--_Harrison._

The main thing every boy and girl should have or begin to acquire in early life, and then continue to keep during his manhood or her womanhood, is a clean, healthy, supple and well-developed muscular body that is guided and governed by a pure thinking and self-controlling mind. And such a body is mainly built up and preserved by taking plenty of out-door playful exercises in early childhood; by taking frequent parts in athletics games played in a fair and honest way against friendly rivals while in young manhood and womanhood; and by regularly and systematically going through a good drill of setting-up exercises, gymnastics or calisthenics throughout both middle and old age. These same childhood games and youthful athletic sports have their good effects upon the young and tender minds by early teaching them courage in times of facing big odds and developing self-control during the angry moments of an exciting game when temptations so often come up to strike an unfair blow or say some mean and rude thing. And these same out-door activities have their purifying results upon those minds in that they are nearer to Nature and thereby prompt more Godly thoughts, words and deeds among such minds than do certain in-door pastimes that are not so wholesome. No country in the world surpasses America in the general suppleness in movement, gracefulness of carriage and all-round muscular development and physical prowess of the bodies belonging to its people. And the following named records show that American Colored youths have played large and valuable parts in helping to build up the physical reputation of the United States that is today recognized as the leading country in international athletic sports.

In Football

W. H. Lewis (one of the ablest Colored lawyers in America today) before graduating from Harvard proved to be the greatest football center, Colored or white, in his college and of his time. Every fall when Harvard now faces her, Brown University heaves a loud sigh of regret that Fritz Pollard, a Colored All-American Half-back, is not on her football team to again and mostly alone carry the brown and white pennant to a crushing victory over the almost unbeatable crimson and white colors. Williams has since made such a football record at Brown that he was given a place on an All-American team by the New York World. It was Johnny Shelbourne, All-American Fullback, who was one of the four stars on Dartmouth football team that so smoothly steam-rollered the team of the University of Pa., with a score of 44 to 7 on Franklin Field, at Philadelphia, Pa., November 13, 1920. Shelbourne is also such a sprinter that he is able to “fade-away” over a 40 yard stretch in 4 4-5 seconds. Calloway not only made the Varsity team of Columbia but has proved one of its most valuable men. All football teams that have recently played against Northwestern University have felt the brawn and held the weight of “Buddy” Turner. Washington & Jefferson in their latest football games have fully relied upon the punting toe of their Colored player, West. Athletic writers and critics on the staffs of both the Chicago Tribune and Colliers Weekly have given Duke Slater, the Iowa tackle, a place on an All-Western football team. Leon Taylor was made All-Ohio Conferee fullback at Oberlin, Ohio. Smith’s tricks of going completely wild when turned loose on the gridiron of Michigan Agr. College caused them to put him on an All-American team for safe keeping. When knocking men right and left on the field of Minnesota University, Marshall acted so much like a Minnesota Indian on the war path that they had to do something to sort of tame him down, so they put him on an All-American team. Beside winning his letters in baseball, basketball and track athletics, A. Hamblin of Knox College was made captain of his 1918 football team. M. Richmond, on account of his excellent defensive and offensive playings was made captain of the Des Moines College 1917 football team. Sol Butler, when playing on the Dubuque College football team, came in such close contact with and made such lasting impressions on his opponents that they will until their dying days remember having met a Sol Butler at some time and at some place. W. E. Morrison and W. Brown were two of the outstanding stars who played on the Tuft College varsity eleven at the times it beat Harvard and gave Princeton one of the toughest battles and one of the worse heart-stop-beating scares it has ever had on a football field. In New England, the names and pigskin deeds of those two charging warriors, especially that of Morrison are still fondly remembered and always referred to with admiration and pride. Paul Robeson of Rutgers College was made an All-American End. Walter Camp (white) of Yale University in selecting his All-American Football Team of 1918 said, “There never was a more serviceable end, both in attack and defense than Robeson--the 200 pound giant of Rutgers. Defensively this team is remarkably strong with Robeson and Alexander backing up the line as secondary defense; Taking turns at this they would be employed in a line of work to which they are thoroughly accustomed and in which they have had no peers in many years.” (quotation from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, page 44). Other Colored youths who have won distinction as football players in white universities and colleges are; Taylor at the University of Pa., Bullock at Dartmouth, Gray and Pinkett at Amherst, Ayler at Brown, Chadwell at Williams, Craighead at Massachusetts Agri. College, Jones at Harvard, Ransom at Belout, Young and Wheeler at Illinois, Johnson and Ross at Nebraska, Tibbs at Syracuse, Green at Western Reserve and Roberts at Colorado Reserve, Niles at Colby.

On The Track and Field

Howard P. Drew, the present holder of the Official A. A. U. world record of 9 3-5 seconds for 100 yds, was selected in 1918 as a member of the All-American Athletic Team and in 1919 as a member of the All-American Track Team. In writing of Drew in the Philadelphia North American of July 17, 1920, Lawson Roberston (white) Coach of Athletics at the University of Pa., said: “Just before Drew broke down eight years ago in Stockholm he showed enough speed in his trial heat to warrant the belief that he could beat any man in the final by 3 yards. In the semifinal heat he “pulled” his tendon when he had covered about 80 yards and limped in the remainder of the distance. Even at that he won his semi-final heat by about eight yards from Thomas of Princeton, the 1912 intercollegiate champion.” The following quotation on Drew is extracted from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919, page 44: “At the 1918 Western Conference College Outdoor Track and Field Championship Events, Howard Drew, the world’s famous sprinter staged a comeback by winning against a very fast field the 100 and 220 yard dashes. A comment on Drews’ performance said: “By winning the 100 and 220 yard dashes from the fastest fields that the middle western colleges could boast, Drew demonstrated that his victories were not due to accident or lack of formidable opponents. If any further proof were needed, the time would amply attest the high standard of Drew’s sprinting as he ran the 100 in 10 seconds. When it is taken into consideration that Drew is 28 years of age and has been competing for thirteen years, during which time he has won numerous victories and equalled the world’s record time in both of these events, it can be seen that his latest triumphs are little short of athletic marvels.”

Beside being one of its best football players, Sol Butler was also one of the best all-round athletes Dubuque College ever turned out, and was holder of the American A. A. U. broad jump record of twenty-four feet and eight inches. In July 1919 Butler (now of Drake College) won the broad jump in the Inter-Allied Games at Pershing Stadium, France. He was one of the athletes selected to represent the United States in those games. Butler also won the broad jump event at the Relay Carnival of the University of Pa., by leaping 23 feet 5 3-4 inches. Even in his youngster frolics while attending the Hutchinson, Kan. High School, Butler showed his unusual speed by getting loose at Evanston, Ill., on March 28, 1914, and pushing 60 yards of air out of the way in 6 2-5 seconds. When he finally slowed down at the end of that affair and kept still long enough to listen he learned those boyhood runaway wild steps had established the best United States Inter-Scholastic Track Record for that event.

Edward Orval Gourdin

The field sensation among the white colleges during the past two years has been E. O. Gourdin, the Harvard all-round star athlete. This Colored athlete is at this writing unquestionably the backbone and mainstay of the Harvard track team, and throughout their competitions with other colleges, Gourdin has been in the majority of cases the highest individual point scorer for his college. And yet, his victories have been under the most trying conditions and circumstances. Being a star in many events and the chief one upon whom Harvard depended, in numerous meets he has repeatedly been called upon to skip from one event to another and back again without stopping to catch his breath or get a rest: even fates, especially during the spring of 1921 seeming to be against him, for it usually rained the day before or the day he had to perform. As his best work is done on dry ground, and he fully knows it, his wet, muddy and slippery events were of course entered with a certain amount of mental depression, but his courage never faltered nor his willingness halted. During the spring of 1921 when Harvard and Yale met in their annual track meet, the track was soaked from a former rain; yet, Gourdin won the 100 yard dash from Yale in 10 2-5 seconds. Although the runway was uncertain from dampness, the take-off risky for the same reason and the pit wet from holding rain, he won the broad jump from Yale by hurling himself through the air 24 feet and 4 inches. In the shot-put under favorable conditions he clears 41 feet and in the 220 yard dash he hugs 22 seconds so tight that it can’t get away from him.

Extra! Extra! Extra! Special Delivery Red Rush Telegram!

At last, fates and the atmospheric elements smiled down upon the Colored athletic world wonder and marvel, “Ned” Gourdin, by giving him “A Perfect Day” (no drizzling rains, no wet slippery grounds, no damp heavy airs) on July 23, 1921. On this date, that hilariously kissed the sun “good night” and joyously embraced the moon “good morning”, was held a dual track meet between the Harvard-Yale teams and the Oxford-Cambridge teams of England, at the Harvard Stadium. Regarding the results of that meet, the writer quotes the following extracts as part of an article that, according to the Chicago Defender of July 30, 1921, appeared in the July 25, 1921 issue of the Boston Daily Post:

“By Wilton Vaugh”

“Edward Orval Gourdin now goes down in the Harvard annals as the greatest track athlete ever to represent the Crimson.

“His record-breaking jump of 25 feet 3 inches in the running broad jump last Saturday at the stadium international college meet was just a climax to his amazing achievements on the cinders.

“Amazing Record”

“But that particular feat alone would have been enough to rank “Ned” with the elite of Cambridge, because the world has been waiting twenty years for a man capable of matching Peter O’Connor’s leap of 24 feet 11¾ inches. The Harvard idol accomplished it, and with such a margin that it now seems hopeless of developing a greater jumper for a number of years, anyway.

“His all-round prowess on the track would have been sufficient to rate him with the best. Had he chosen to specialize in any one of the eight events it is not beyond the scope of human thought to see him shatter different marks. His best winning records in the matches he has already tried are:

100-yard dash--9 4-5 seconds.
220-yard dash--22 1-5 seconds.
440-yard run--52 1-5 seconds.
Running broad jump--25 feet 3 inches.
Running high jump--5 feet 9 inches.
Running hop, step and jump--45 feet 3 inches.
Javelin throw--140 feet.
Discus throw--110 feet.

In the above meet on July 23, 1921 Gourdin also won the 100-yard
dash from his closest rival, Rudd, the famed sprinter and captain
of the British team.

During his athletic career, the late J. B. Taylor of the University of Pa., was a track wonder in both America and Europe. When in action he had the easiest and prettiest carriage of body and the smoothest clocklike movement of limbs of any sprinter seen on the cinder path for years. When making his 440 yard and other records he used a remarkable sprinting stride of nine feet--about two feet longer than the average sprinter takes.

While at Harvard, T. Cable won fame as a hammer thrower; L. V. Alexis was a star trackman, and E. L. Davidson won the 125 pound-class wrestling Collegiate Championship in competing against the best white wrestlers of his class from the other six big colleges that had entered the match. A. L. Jackson was one of the best hurdlers Harvard ever turned out. B. Dismond of the University of Chicago and Lee Umble of Colorado University made records for their schools, and Umble is today one of the best wrestlers of his class in the West. J. T. Carter has won recognition as a crack sprinter on the Brown track team, Dewey Rogers is a star trackman on the University of Pa. track team and his ability to push 440 yards back of him in 50 2-5 seconds shows he has a pair of heels that must be closely watched or they may some day on some cinder path get fast ideas to elope from their owner. Rogers in one of his 440 yards sprints defeated the captain of his own track team--Earl Eby.

Roy Morris has won a national reputation as a sprinter of note. R. E. Johnson of Pittsburgh, is one of the best 5,000 and 10,000 meter runners in the country. Little Charley Mitchell of the St. Christopher Club, New York, is one of the pluckiest and ablest marathon runners in the land and has finished eighth out of a string of sixty. G. L. Brashear, now coach of Straight University, New Orleans, La., was at one time one of the best all-round athletes in California. E. Niles has repeatedly shown that he is one of the best 440 and 880 yard sprinters in New England.

“The New York Athletic Club games saw another promising Negro athlete come into prominence. Billy Parker, representing the St. Christopher Club, raced to an easy victory in the 1,000 yard run. He won about as he pleased in 2:10. Parker is one of the best-looking runners that the Colored clubs have developed in years. He is big, rangy, and a good strider.” The above is what Howard Valentine, a sport writer, had to say in a white paper, the New York Globe, about Wm. S. (Billy) Parker who so easily defeated some of the fastest Colored and white runners in the East. Parker is also one of the foremost basketball players in the East. Young men who are interested in bicycle riding might be encouraged to learn here that little Major Taylor, a Colored man, during the year 1900 held the championship as the fastest bicycle rider in America.

Track and Field Records Held by Colored Youths

Best Western Inter-Collegiate Conference Record. 440 Yards, 47 2-5
seconds, Binga Dismond, Chicago, at Evantson, Ill., June 3, 1916.

Best United States Inter-Scholastic Track Record. 60 yards, 6 2-5
seconds, Sol Butler, Hutchinson, (Kansas) High School, at Evanston,
Ill. March 28, 1914.

In July, 1919 Butler (now of Drake) won the broad jump in the
Inter-Allied Games at Pershing Stadium, France.

Track Amateur World Records

100 Yards, 9- 3-4 seconds
by H. P. Drew at Berkley, California, March 28, 1914.
130 Yards, 12 4-5 seconds,
H. P. Drew at Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1913.
220 Yards, 21 1-5 seconds,
H. P. Drew at Clearmont, California, Feb. 28. 1914.

Colored Youths Who Have Won Unusual Distinctions in Track and Field Work in White Colleges.

Sol Butler All-round Athlete Drake University
Theodore Cable Hammer Thrower Harvard University
Binga Dismond 440 Yard Runner Chicago University
Howard P. Drew Short Distant Runner So. Cal. University
Edwin O. Gourdin All-round Athlete Harvard University
W. R. Granger Half Miler Dartmouth College
Irving Howe Short Distant Runner Colby College
A. L. Jackson Hurdler Harvard University
Wm. B. Matthews Baseball player Harvard University
Fritz Pollard Hurdler and Football Brown University
Dewey Rogers Sprinter University of Pa.
John B. Taylor 440 Yard Sprinter University of Pa.
Joseph E. Trigg Oarsman Syracuse University
Fred White Short and Middle Sprinter University of Pa.

Howard and Lincoln at the University of Pennsylvania

At the University of Pa., Relay Games held April 29 and 30, 1921, on Franklin Field, Phila., Pa., the Howard University track team took a one mile relay race away from Bowdoin College, Carnegie School of Technology, Tufts College and several other white colleges of that stamp. The Lincoln University track team in a one mile relay race also romped away from the teams of George Washington University and a number of other such white institutions.

Beside gaining honors in winning those only two events in which they were entered, each of these two Colored teams was presented with a banner and each member of the teams was given a gold watch. The outcome of those two events not only brought encouragements to athletes in all Negro schools and pride to members of the Race throughout the country, but it convinced the athletic world of two truths. First, the brotherhood and true sportsmanship feelings between white and Colored schools in America are slowly but surely increasing and becoming closer and more friendly. Secondly, Negro universities, colleges and schools are today turning out athletes who can hold their own when competing with athletes developed by white schools of the same class.

Colored Athletes in Colored Universities and Colleges.

Those Colored youths mentioned in the preceding chapter are but a few of the Colored athletes who while attending white schools successfully matched the stamina, endurance and strength of their muscles, bones and will powers against those of Caucasian youths. The following named Colored athletes are those who studied and competed among themselves in Colored Universities, colleges and schools under instructions of their college trained Colored Athletic coaches, and who would have carried away many athletic first honors had they attended white schools and taken parts in sports:

Atlanta University--L. R. Harper, all-round star athlete: L. D.
Maxwell, football and baseball star; W. S. Fuller, basketball star.

Fisk University:--H. A. Johnson, all-round star athlete; W. H.
Zeigler, football star; L. O. McVey, baseball star.

Hampton Institute:--James Gayle, all-round star athlete; J. E.
Scott, football star; J. W. Harvey, football and baseball star; V.
S. Brown, basketball star.

Howard University:--C. Coleman, all-round star athlete; G. Brice,
football star; G. Gilmore, basketball star; F. Sykes, baseball star.

Lincoln University:--W. P. Young, all-round star athlete; H. G.
Ridgely, football star; M. F. Wheatland, basketball star; L.
Holloway, baseball star.

Morehouse College:--J. C. Walker, all-round star athlete; R.
Richardson, football star; Edw. Hope, basketball star; S. Duncon,
baseball star.

Shaw University:--M. Walker, all-round star athlete; W. Crump,
football star; L. W. Cook, basketball star; D. W. Graham, baseball
star.

Talladega College:--L. H. Cox, all-round star athlete; C. Coles and
R. E. Rivers, football stars; Q. Gordon, baseball star.

Tuskegee Institute:--G.H. Kitchen, all-round star athlete; A. L.
Williams, football star; C. C. Hart, basketball star; J. F. Ross,
baseball star.

Va. Union University:--H.B. Hucles, all-round star athlete; S.
B. Taylor, football star; B. C. Gregory, basketball star; S. B.
Taylor, baseball star.

Va. Normal and Ind. School:--J. F. Nicholas, all-round star
athlete; E. C. Melton, football star; A. C. Jackson, baseball star.

Wilberforce University:--I. Lane, all-round star athlete: T. Reid,
football star; S.H. Hull, basketball star; L. Townsend, baseball
star.

BASEBALL

“PLAY BALL.”

From early spring until late fall,
This Nation’s hobby is baseball;
And while such season is in reign
Few men or boys do stay real sane.
--_Harrison._

Cris Terriente, Colored champion home-run hitter and out-fielder, and known as the Cuban “Babe Ruth”, was a marvel even several years ago when he played in the United States with the famous Colored teams, American Giants of Chicago and the All-Nationals of Kansas City. This Colored ball player has been frequently estimated by white baseball critics as being an equal home-run hitter to the celebrated “Babe Ruth”, whose services were sold by a Boston team to a New York team for over one hundred thousand dollars. And one of those well-meaning white critics, when commenting on the wonderful baseball playing of Terriente, so far forgot his “square-deal” and one hundred per cent Americanism as to allow some of his grayless brain matter and stagnant watery thoughts to soak through his system and overflow into his pen point that splashed little puddles of poisoned ink. In his article he lamented the fact that it was impossible to “indelibly white-wash” Terrente so as to make him white enough to be accepted as a playing member on one of the Big League White baseball teams.

Now, if that same baseball critic had entered the United States Army as either a volunteer or a draftee in the World War and had been dying of thirst on the bloodsoaked and bone-strewn plains of “No Man’s Land”, it is wondered if he would have thought it necessary to “indelibly white-wash” Colored soldiers before accepting from their black lips, and greedily pressing to his own parched white lips, the begged-for water canteens of the Colored soldiers? For such exchanges of canteens between generous Colored and dying white soldiers occurred thousands of times and in not one instance did those famished white men allow color prejudice to stand between them and a few mouthsfuls of left-over Colored water that meant the saving of their lives. Nevertheless, a majority of those soldiers whose lives had been saved by the timely swallows of water from the canteens of black soldiers, immediately resumed their persecution of and discriminations against the Negro race even before they got back home to America.

Thus while history shows that the majority of white people, when in the jaws of threatened or actual death, become too “color-blind” and “near-sighted” to see the hue of the hand or the shape of the face that comes to its help and vital rescue; history also shows that a great many white people, while in the pink of life, health and prosperity, allow their visions to become so magnified and their minds to become so overrun and soaked with vile race prejudice that they constantly see imaginary color-lines that really do not exist. They also are constantly building up before law-abiding, clean-living and progressive classes of Colored people certain racial barriers that are not only proving a stain but also a shame (in the eyes of the rest of the onlooking world) upon this land of freedom, civilization and Christianity. But at this time and place the writer will not go further into this particular phase of this color-line subject, as it is being more fully dealt with in the writing of one of his other books.

Fair-minded white people are justly ashamed of the words and actions of such members of their race as the above mentioned reporter, and already bright rays of hope are beginning to shine in the Big League for Colored baseball players. In this direction The Continental League with headquarters at Boston, Mass. and formed by the white baseball magnate, Andrew Lawson, has really wedged the first opening. At the formation of this league, Lawson admitted two Colored teams, one from Providence, R. I. and the other from Boston, the latter team having both Colored and white players. This is the greatest bit of encouragement Colored professional baseball players in America have ever received. The chairman of the Board of Directors of The Continental League is R. T. Murray, a Colored man. This league’s influence for the spreading of broad-mindedness and fair-play is already being noticed among the officials of other white Big Leagues. At the end of the baseball season of 1920, Colored teams were allowed to play against many of the big white league teams on their barn-storming tours.

During that season Bolden’s Hilldale team played against Connie Mack’s team of All-Stars at the National League Park, Phila., Pa., in which game Bolden’s team lost by a score of 2 to 1.

Bolden’s team also played against the famous “Babe” Ruth and his All-Stars at the National League Park, Phila., Pa., in which game Bolden’s team won by a score of 5 to 0. In this game, Flourney the Hilldale pitcher not only kept “Babe” Ruth from getting one of his famous home-runs but struck him out twice. “Babe” Ruth was also struck out at Shibe Park, Phila., Pa., during the same season by “Cannon Ball” Redding, star pitcher on the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants team.

Tesreau’s Bears played against Carl May’s All Stars at Dyckman Oval at which place the Yankees defeated the Colored team on both ends of a double-header by scores of 10 to 0 and 5 to 3.

The Lincoln Colored Giants played and defeated the New York Giants (white) in New York by a score of 4 to 1. Williams the Colored pitcher struck out thirteen men on the white team.

As far back as the early eighties, M. F. Walker proved himself such a good pitcher that he played on a white league ball team in Toledo, Ohio, and a Frank Grant also played on big white league teams in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. William B. Matthews, during his college days at Harvard caused quite a sensation throughout the country by his unexcelled ball playing and mainly through his star playing his college nine won sweeping victories all down the line of their engagements.

In taking hurried glances over past performances of present day Colored baseball players, the following named are but a few picked from among those who think, dream, talk and act so much over the diamond that baseball has become their middle names:

T. Brown of American Giants, Cockerell and Flourney of Hilldale, Holland of Detroit Stars, Leblanc of Cuban Stars Redding of Bacharach Giants, Rogan of St. Louis Giants and J. Williams of Lincoln Giants put forth the same kind of energy and earnestness in making moundmen fan the wind and think holes are in their bats as did Mathewson, Shawkey and Alexander, the great white pitchers, against their players.

Duncan of Chicago Giants, Ray of Kansas City Monarchs, Rodguez of Cincinnati Stars, Rojo of Bacharach Giants, Santop of Hilldale Quakers and Webster of Detroit Stars use the same kind of stickability in freezing onto hot balls as the white past masters in backstop, Schalk and O’Neill.

Bost of Oakland Braves, Grant of American Giants, Jeffries of Chicago Giants, Pettus of Bacharach Giants and Richards of Godfrey’s California All-Stars go through the same kind of successful limber-jointed jumping-jack antics on first base as McInnis and Kelly in the big white leagues.

Crowell of Tesreau Bears, Holloway of Indianapolis A. B. C’s. Holtz of St. Louis Giants and Thomas of Columbus Buckeyes have the same love for and show just as much jealously over the second bag as the crack second basemen, Collins and Hornsby don’t try to hide.

Day of Indianapolis A. B. C’s, Dinan of Tesraeu Bears, Fial of Lincoln Giants, Francis of Hilldale Quakers, Brown of Norfolk Giants and F. Hill of Detroit Stars are just as busy nailing and crucifying the last hopes of runners at third base as Groh and Gardner, who are about the best among white third basemen.

Dobbins of Hilldale Quakers, Hewitt of St. Louis Giants, Lloyd of Columbus Buckeyes and Lundy of Bacharach Giants while panning the same kind of red-hot frying sizzlers at shortstop as the celebrated Wagner and Bancroft, also usually salt and pepper those frying sizzlers with most amusing capers and comedian stage acts.

Briggs of Hilldale Quakers, Gans of Lincoln Giants, P. Hill of Detroit Stars, Jenkins of Chicago Giants, Kemp of Norfolk Giants, Thomas of Baltimore Black Sox, and Weeks of Pittsburgh Stars have that same knack of vamping the sun straight in the face without blinking an eye while pulling down a twenty-two story sky-scrapping fly, like the rangy outfielders Speaker and Burns.

Meadows of Godfrey’s California All-Stars, Santop of Hilldale Quakers and Torrenti of American Giants are just as much interested in astronomy and scientific research as “Babe” Ruth and Sisler when they start a message to the planet Mars by way of a home-run baseball.

While big Jeff Tesreau has tried so hard and done so well, he has not yet become so big a thief as Ty Cobb in stealing bases and pawning runs at home-plate.

All of the other players, on these Colored teams, whose names have not been mentioned are also A-1 baseball jugglers and would make good showing to their credits in any of the white Big Leagues that would give them a fair and square chance to play on their teams.

And Colored boys who are talented and aspire to become great ball players should not lose ambition and hang back because of their race or color: They should take on new courage by reading here; that the most youthful and hopeful things (the grass and leaves) in the world, are Colored, and no one who looks “green” with hate and envy is able to stop Dame Nature each spring from stepping boldly out and, without apologies to men of any race, drapping the woods and fields with her colored shades of green.

BASKETBALL

GEORGE GILMORE.

With Howard and Loendi it was the same;
G. Gilmore to them did dribble much fame.
Sure in quick shooting and true in his pass
He often proved himself in a peerless class.

All basketball folks his death do regret,
But none of those people will soon forget
His gliding ways up and down the floor,
And the side-line cry, “Here comes Gilmore!”
--_Harrison._

Among Colored schools, Hampton, Howard and Lincoln form the big basket-ball right-angle triangle whose three angles each year are usually so constantly and rapidly twisted and turned to equal elevations of degrees, that it is not until the end of the season, when the three-sided affair finally settles on a steady foundation, that the spectators are really able to see and tell the base of this triangle from its hypothenuse and altitude.

Johnny Johnson, the Colored right-forward on the Columbia University varsity basketball team, in playing against the teams of Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Pennsylvania and other big colleges, in nearly every case scored the majority of points for his college team. His playing against these colleges was so brainy, spectacular and effective that it caused the leading white sport pages to give him glowing compliments relative to his being one of the best basketball players in the country.

In several large cities Colored athletes have organized and wonderfully developed some of the swiftest and most efficient basketball teams in America. Among the leading teams are: Dr. Johnson’s Forty Club of Chicago, Cum Posey’s Loendi Club of Pittsburgh, Chas. Bradford’s St. Christopher Club of New York, Manager Accoe’s A. C. Lightning Five of Brooklyn, C. Cain’s Vandals, of Atlantic City, “Babe” Thomas’ Alpha Big Five of New York, Douglas’ Spartan Braves of New York, Moss’ Center Five of Toledo, Ohio, All-Scholastics of Harrisburg, the Alcoes of Washington, D.C., the Athenians of Baltimore and the Pioneers of Cleveland, Ohio.

Among those players on these teams whose names, through observation and information, the writer was able to get are: Betts, Blueitt, Sol Butler, Brown, Bundy, Capers, Cooper, Duff, Fial, Fields, Forbes, Gumbs, Howard, Hubbard, Jenkins, Moss Posey, Ricks, Sessons, Slocum, Young and Winters. The other players on these teams were always doing such tricky feinting dizzy ducking, dazzling dodging, sudden blocking, slippery sliding, magic dribbling, lightning shooting and bull’s eye caging that the writer was not able to corner them in, so as to trip them up and hold them down long enough to get their names.

PRIZE FIGHTING.

“JACK” JOHNSON.