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Last examination in Botany at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m. the whole college was assembled in the chapel. "God be with you, till we meet again" was sung. After which, Dr. Candler gave a short appropriate farewell talk. Then closed the school year of 1891-1892. Now that the year is past, how short it seems!
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Spent 3 hours in getting trunks ready for the Summer. Very hot. Dr. Candler led the prayer meeting. He read Paul's farewell speech to the Ephesians. The sum of the Dr.'s discourse was:―
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1. Do your best on small as well as great occasions.
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2. Don't be too afraid of working yourself down.
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3. Don't be a fossil of prudent decency beautiful to behold but of no account.
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Wrote to sweet Hortense McClure whose letter I had received a day or two ago. She sent me some tea-cakes by her grandma, Mrs. Cartwright, an energetic, kind hearted, sensible and ladily woman. I like her and all her children―at least those whom I have met, Mrs. Nettie Candler and Mrs. Annie McClure.
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Rather too hot and wet to be pleasant. Absolutely fooled away the whole morning in eating many apples in Dr. Martin's orchard and in making calls.
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After dinner, with Nath and William, went to Covington to hear Rev. Holliday, a colored preacher, lecture in the court house on the dispensary bill. His talk was sensible and plain, and he pointed out the success of temperance cause as necessary to the betterment of the conditions of the Negro. The colored part of the audience, to my surprise, did not show much enthusiasm. But when a lawyer named Roger, a roguish looking thing, got up to speak in favor of the saloon, then what a stream of shouts, whoopings, yellings, cheerings, howlings from the black and the white, from a big gray haired one-armed fellow as well as from little asses call'd dudes!
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Roger was perfectly disgusting in his ungentlemanly way of talking and behavior. His whole aim was to ridicule the temperance folks, pander to the passions and appetites of the ignorant negroes and to kill the time thus preventing anyone from taking the other side. When he got through his whole gang, the most contemptible wretches of the town, packed out, leaving only a few decent negroes and whites to hear the other side. Marvin William gave a successful blow on the lawyer's speech.
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1. Holliday behaved very gentlemanly, very temperate in his words and arguments toward his opponents. Prudence seems to be one of the characteristics of an educated negro.
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2. Roger said that Covington has more moral people than in any town in Ga. What a unblushing lie! If all lawyers lie as this fool, they ought to be called liars, not lawyers.
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3. It was noticeable that while there were more than a dozen young men―one of whom is an Emory sub-Fresh―most enthusiastic for the saloon; there was only two Cov. youth in the whole crowd on the side of temperance.
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The Commencement Exercises began in the night. I was so tired that I had to rest soon after supper.
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After dinner, went to Covington, to hear Rev. Sam Small speak in the Court House. He is handsome man, with dark hair and side whiskers and pale complexion. The main purport of his speech was that the 3rd party agitation injures the Democratic Party, that the national Prohibition Party to which he belongs is different from the 3rd party in that it divides both Democratic and Republican party alike. He said that he would rather be a hog in Chicago to be sold for4.00 than be a man in Newton County to be sold to the saloon keepers for less than a dollar. In referring to the execution of a negro sometime ago for assaulting a negro girl, Small asked the colored part of crowd "How many of you wish to see your daughters again attacked by drunkards?" "We have no daughters," replied one of the niggers. "The Lord is very merciful in distribution of girls, then," wittily said Small.
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Dr. Tudor of Richmond preached the Commencement Sermon to a full house. It was a well prepared and thoughtful discourse. Dined at Mr. Berry's. At 3:30 p.m. in the missionary meeting, Bell and myself talked.
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Took supper at Dr. Candler's The dining was full of members of the Board of Trustees, girls who came to be seen and boys who came to see the girls, Rev. McFerrin of Macon preached a good sermon to the young preachers.
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8th. Wednesday. Very warm.
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From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Commencement Exercises in which Seniors spoke and diplomas were given. The house was well crowded.
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1. Commencement Exercises are a great event not only in Oxford but in all the country round about.
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2. Visitors from all parts of Ga. Every house in Oxford overflowed with guests. Dr. Candler's home presented the scenes of a hotel. Mrs. Candler made everybody feel at home by her unaffected good nature, genial hospitality and personal attractions.
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3. There is more home-likeness in the Commencement here than there is in similar affairs in Vanderbilt. Naturally so.
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4. As everybody packs for home and as I contemplate three months of uncertainties, a sense of loneliness and melancholy came over me.
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5. I do hate to impose on people my old chestnuts and that for a few dollars. O. how I wish I had a regular work which may give me a job and furnish me with means of going here another session!
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6. Received a letter from Miss Lucy F. Dear sweet girl. How kind she is to remember me, even me! God bless her.
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Rained hard in the afternoon. Took dinner at Mrs. Steward's and supper at Mr. Berry's.
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I am alone in Marvin Hall. Joe Sharp in parting, pressed by hand and said :"I love you". Yes, I love you too! God be with you in your battle with the stern realities of life!
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The record of Marvin Hall last year was very good. Of its 25 boarders only 8 were non-Christian. It had the Editorin-Chief of Phenix, 6 debators one of whom was a champion debator. Its family prayer meetings after suppers and Saturday class meetings were as a rule well attended. Sent up my trunks Mrs. Candler's to be kept there during the summer.
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Lithonia Dear Miss Lucy! Left Oxford on the 11th inst. by 4 p.m. train for Lithonia, a nice little town 16 miles from Covington. Was met at the Depot by Charlie Stipe and Herbert Bond. Have found a kind welcome and shelter in Bro. Stipe's, the Methodist Pastor. His wife is a very intelligent woman of gentle nature and good heart.
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Yesterday evening at 8 I addressed the people in the Methodist Church. The house was full―ten times more so than I feared. The population of the town is estimated somewhere at 2500 or 3000. Quarries are the source of wealth and occupation here, the people turning stone into bread, as it were.
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Am waiting for answers. The pastors of Rome, Dalton, Dallas and of some other places, either from meanness or laziness or both haven't answered, though to do so would not cost them a copper. Am in suspense as to what I shall do this week. I may go down to Newton to see Mrs. Allen. Though this is a dry town there are many blind tigers. Ladies and children are afraid to go by the streets on which these dangerous beasts are found. If there were a mad dog in the town, the good people would shoot him down on the first chance. A negro rapist threatening the virtue of women in the place would be lynched. Yet the citizens tolerate and patronize blind tigers which violate the law and endanger the life and virtue of the helpless. What a shame!
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Marietta. Very hot. Left Lithonia by 12 o'clock train for Marietta. Got here about 3 p.m. Came to Mrs. Tucker's. She and her sweet daughter could hardly have given me a heartier welcome if I had been a member of the family. After supper went to the court house to witness the commencement exercises of the Harwood Seminary. The debate by the girls was saved from a bust only by their beauty.
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1. Between 1 and 2 this morning, a fire broke out about 4 houses from Mrs. Tucker's. It was an exciting scene, but the fire engine did its work well. The flames were happily confined to the house where they started.
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2. The circumstances of Mrs. Tucker are indeed tight. She and her daughters are supported by the earning of the two older ones. The first words of Mrs. Tucker to me yesterday were:
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"Pray for us. I look or try to look cheerful, as if nothing weighed on my heart for the children's sake. But really I need God's grace to support me." Oh, how I wish I had millions of dollars for no other purpose than to help the helpless!
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3. Mr. Marget and his daughter, Miss Minnie dined at Mrs. Tucker's. The latter is a pretty, loving and loveable creature. Her mother died of over-work for the cause of missions.
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4. Miss Julia the next to the oldest daughter of Mrs. Tucker is a remarkably sensible, sweet and well informed woman. She is idolized by her students. Nana the youngest is a most loveable girl I ever saw. She is a sunbeam of humanity.
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Marietta. Yesterday afternoon by 4:30 o'clock train went to Acworth. Found Re. Caldwell, the P.C., a most un-emphatic and indifferent sort of a man I ever met with. He ought to be thankful for his splendid wife. But for her, I am afraid he would have been a total bust. Was so tired that I did not feel inclined at all to speak. The audience behaved better than they looked at first. They gave4.00.
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Mrs. Caldwell told me this morning that she is the sister of Dr. W. Lewis of Trinity Ch.Atlanta. No wonder she is so kind, so good-natured and so hospitable.
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By 9 a.m. train came down to Marietta to rest a day. Spent the larger part of the day in reading Uncle Tom's Cabin.
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Dalton. Left Marietta at 9:30 a.m. Reached Dalton about noon. Felt exceedingly sheepish in the strange town, knowing and known to, nobody. After a rest in the depot went to Rev. Qillians home. He looked or rather behaved much in the nerveless manner of Rev. Caldwell. No stir and businesslikeness in either. Mrs. Qillian is a charming and just loveable woman. She has beautiful children―especially Mary is a lovely little girl.
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A nice church. About 30 out.4 and little over―one dollar being the gift of Mrs. Qullian. Slept with D. Barrett. His father is a well to do man. Keep a fine home. Mrs. Barrett was very kind to me.
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Rome. While waiting for the train in a drug store, received a letter from Mrs. Candler. Answered her at the spot.
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Left Dalton―a beautiful and enterprising town of 4000 people, ―by 10 a.m. train for Rome. Reached Rome about 12:30. Waited and rested in the Depot until 2 p.m. Then went to the Y.M.C.A. building. At 4 called on Dr. Bays and told him the "why" of my coming, He received me much better than I feared. He said I could talk in his church. Went back to Y.M.C.A. and met Bro. Roser, the general secretary. A tub bath was a luxurious refreshment. All blessing on Y.M.C.A.―the home of the stranger, the guide and protector of the young.
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Rome. Attended the morning service. Dr. Bays preached a strong sermon.
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Dined at Will Hiles' home. By the way I never thought that Will, one of the society boys in the Col., would ever show me any kindness in a town like this. His kind and considerate treatment more agreeably surprised me than the indifference of Gordon H., Will's brother.
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Was greeted several times by white chaps and little darkies with that most detestable and insulting words "Chinaman eat rats" or "rats". I hate being called a Chinaman from the core of my heart. Not that I am better than the Chinese, but that the sense in which the word "Chinaman" is used here is simply abominable.
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At 5 p.m. spoke about 10 minutes in the Y.M.C.A. building.
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Occasional showers prevented many for coming to church. The audience was not large but intelligent. I tried my best. The crowd was the hardest to move. No hearty and cheering laughter all through. I can not feel like speaking unless there is much laughing.
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At the close of my talk, Mrs. Camp invited me to go to her home for the night. Mr. Camp is a good old gentleman. Their little girl, Daizy, is a daisy indeed. Their home is a comfortable one.
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Dallas. After breakfast in Mr. Camp's went to Dr. Bays'. Wrote to Mrs. H. and Nana Tucker. Left Rome at 11:30 a.m. Got to Dallas about 1:30 p.m. "Can anything good come out of Dallas?" I said to myself, as I looked on the empty hotels, scattered houses and unflourishing condition in general.
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Found Bro. Wood the first preacher I met with so far in this trip who made me feel I were in good hands. "I am glad to see you", he said with a warm grasp and cheering smile, well contrasted with the solemn and cold greetings received in other places. Sincerity and whole souledness characterizes Wood. If rise in ministerial grades is a reward for merit, this man will surely rise sometime or other. Mrs. Wood is a very fine young lady. It is fortunate that many preachers get fine wives. Spent two or more hours in getting acquainted with the principal men of the town. Then came to Dr. Robertson's. Was most delightfully surprised to meet Miss Lulu Betterton whom I had seen at her home in Chattanooga last fall when I was visiting Thom. Betterton. She is a charming little woman―intelligent, kind, affectionate. She came down here to nurse her sick friend―Miss R.―who died a week ago. Dr. R. and his family are dearly attached to her. At 8 talked to a larger audience than I feared. They gave me6.00―much, indeed, considering the financial difficulties of the little church.
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Austell. Spent most of the a.m. in writing letters etc. Miss Lulu in every way tried to make me feel at home. I wouldn't be surprised if she one of these days became a Mrs. Robertson. Was all the more delighted with her thought-fullness and genuine kindness because I had thought that she was a society-girl.
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Left Dallas at 1:10 p.m. Reached Austell about 2:30. Came to Mr. Brockman's house and was of course kindly received by Mrs. Brockman, the excellent mother of that remarkable young man, Fletcher Brock. Later on, with Frank, called on Alph Pierce. Missed Miss Suzie. Her little sister Miss Julia is also fine-looking. Their mother, Mrs. Pierce, is a well-built, fine, dignified lady. Had a pleasant evening in their company. Went to bed early. Slept with Mr. H―from Tex.
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Lawrenceville. Left Austell at 7:45. When reached Atlanta the early train for Lawrenceville had already gone. Had to wait until 5 p.m. Spent most of the a.m. in Y.M.C.A. in reading some and nodding some.
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At 2 p.m. called on Miss Lizzie. Talked about Thom Betterton, about the burning of her house in Oxford and about things in general. She is one of the most loveable and sensible girls to be met anywhere.
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Left Atlanta at 5 p.m. by the Seaboard Air Line train. Reached Lawrenceville about 6:30. Went to the pastor's home, but to my utter amazement the house was locked up. While I was at sea what to do Mrs. Ledbetter, the pastor's wife, came on a wagon from a trip to the country. Then she told me that her husband had to go to Munroe to preach, that a day or two ago he wrote me not to come, and that people were not expecting me.
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Now, if the Reverend gentleman had to go, why couldn't he make somebody see to my appointment? However, since he is said to have written me day or two ago, he may not be accountable for my disappointment. The worst remains to be seen.
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After supper Mrs. Ledbetter and others and myself went to the church. A few girls and fewer men straggled in every 10 or 15 minutes. Waited for someone to lead the prayer meeting―this being Wednesday night―but nobody came: B-r-o-t-h-e-r McDonell the l-e-a-d-i-n-g member of the church, came in later than any. Well, rather than sending away the crowd disappointed, I took the chair and was somewhat gratified at the interest they showed in my talk. Here is a charge against the Reverend Ledbetter. For, did he expect me to speak? Then why didn't he make a better announcement? Did he give up my coming? Then, as the pastor, wasn't it his bounden duty to appoint somebody to lead the prayer meeting? But he did neither. What a contemptible negligence!
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Mrs. Ledbetter is a kindly and active young wife. The downright carelessness and laziness of many preachers―Revs. Caldw., Ledbetter and others―surprise me as much as the good wives they have. Met Dr. J.W. Lee's little boy at Mrs. Ledbetter's. He is remarkably bright. Today has been full of mishaps of various nature―Patience!
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Buford. Left the uninviting Lawrenceville at 5 a.m. on the narrow-gage train. Had to wait in the depot of Suwanee nearly 3 hours for the train to Buford.
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Reached Buford about 10:15. Went to Rev. Fariss' home. There met Rose and Stevens of Barnsville. Rose married Miss Carrie F. last night. Mrs. and Bro. F. and their boys―whom I had met in Oxford―all treated me kindly. Very hot. Took nearly 3 hours of nap after dinner.
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Talked to a small audience. Felt so tired that I did not have the "liberty" to make the talk interesting. They gave me3.00. Buford is a growing but a new town. It is to be noted that Lawrenceville, Suwanee and Buford are legally dry.
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Gainsville. Left Buford at 9:30. Reached Gainsville at 10:30 a.m. Came to Rev. Underwood's home. Mrs. Underwood is the daughter of Mr. Brockman. She seems to have inherited the kindly disposition, courtesy and practical wisdom of her worthy father.
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This part of Gainsville seems to be well adapted to the growth of grass and hence to the raising of cattle. I have seen more of oxen carts in Buford and here than anywhere in Georgia so far.
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It is very difficult to get a copy of Uncle Thom's Cabin in a Southerner's library. I have asked almost every pastor and others who read, but none of them keeps a copy of it. Note!
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Athens. Had an appreciative audience last night.5.80.
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Left Gainsville at 9:45 a.m. for Athens. Changed car at Lula: reached the destination about 12. Made for Dr. Kendall's home. Thom R. Kendall and his brother Paul welcomed me. After dinner rested until 7 p.m.
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Dr. Kendall, the pastor, is a kindhearted and thoughtful pastor. He is said to be a good hand in setting every member to work. He has a fine and respectable library. It is to be noticed that poor preachers always have poor libraries. Mrs. Kendall is a lively and intelligent lady.
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Athens had 1200 inhabitants, one electric car line, and the State University. Rained hard p.m. Received a welcome letter form Nana.
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Athens. Very hot from early a.m. Attended the S.S. Worshipped in church where Dr. Kendall preached, his church now being under repair. A very gospel-ly sermon.
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1. While in GainsvilleMaggie Underwood, a girl of 11 or 12, said to me "Don't preach in this country. It is a hard living to be a preacher." Parents should take care not to let children know such.
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2. Pity the heathen for having no Sabbath. Thank God for the blessings of rest of Sundays. Then make your servants work on the Sabbath as on a week day. Inconsistency!
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3. "Mr. T.H. Yun of 'China' (!) will talk tonight in Okony Church", mumbled out the S.S. conductor who looked as if he had been pickled for the last 12 months as half. In Okony Church a brother announced:
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"Mr. T.H. Yun of Corea will address tonight." Address on what? With these languid and languifying advertisements nobody should wonder if nobody comes out.
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4. After dinner read a sketch of the homelife of my darling author, Lord Macaulay. I love every good thing that is said of this brilliant man.
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10 p.m. Just returned from Okonly Ch. The house was chockfull. A more appreciative audience I never saw before in this trip. A pastor of push like Bro. Wood of Dallas would have found it not difficult to collect at least20.00. But ah!―I am tried of the slow and nerveless preachers I have so often met with lately. Instead of taking a hat collection, he told the audience to hand in what they thought best. It was embarassing to me and to the giver to take or give a dime or nickel. So most―who would have dropt a dime or nickel in a hat had to all go away. Only7.90 from such a fine crowd. God knows I am not mercenary. Had I at least200 in my pocket so there were no danger, in case of failure during the summer, of paying my way without throwing myself on the charity(!) of somebody―had I this much I would not feel so bad.
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Lexington. Cloudy all the morning and cool.
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At 4 p.m. bidding farewell to the kind family of Dr. Kendall, left Athens for Lexington Ga. Rain poured down soon after I left Athens and continued into the night.
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Bro. Gray met me at the train and conducted to the parsonage. He is a most genial man I have met with. His brother is a missionary to China.
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Rained so hard that it was out of question to get a crowd. Gave a short scattering talk to about 10 or more hearers in a general store near the court-house simply not to send away anybody disappointed.
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Lexington with 600 inhabitants is said to be a very substantial town in moral and in money. Said to be the oldest in Georgia. Extensive farms; wide yards; old-fashioned houses; and large hospitality.
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Greensboro. Left Lexington and the sunny brother Gray and his wife at 9 a.m. Reached Greensboro about 10:30. At the depot met up with Marvin Williams who is travelling to sell books. Both came to the parsonage and found a most cheerful welcome at the hands of Bro. and Mrs. Ansley―an excellent couple.
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Felf much fatigued and feverish. The Church here seems to be alive to missions and this all due to the zeal and push of Marie Armor and Mrs. Ansley.
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The audience was moderately good. I found it very hard to talk with ease-so exhausted I was. When through almost everyone present came up to shake hands. A pretty girl of about 16 said "I don't know what others think, but I am perfectly charmed with you"! Too good to be true.
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Washington Ga. A very pleasant day. After breakfast with Bro. Ansley, went out in a buggie to the ground where the Meth S.S. was to have a picnic and barbecue. The ladies were so kind to me that I hated to leave the town so soon. But I couldn't help it.
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Took 11:27 a.m. train for Washington Ca. Waited nearly an hour at Barnett station. Got there about 2:30. To my agreeable surprise, Hugh Foreman, a graduate of '92, met me at the depot and took me to his home which is a hotel. At 4 p.m. called on Dr. Bradley, the P.C. Rested from 5 to 7:30―a heavy and dull sleep.
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Spoke to an intelligent audience larger than feared. No such warmness of sympathy and friendship offered as was in Greensboro.
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Thomson. A fine day. Read some in "Looking Backward" in the a.m.
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Left Washington at 11:30 for Thomson. Got here about 2 p.m. Marvin W. met me at the train. Came up to his home. His mother is a quiet, kind, motherly lady. "Marvin is our only boy. I am very fond of him." How it sounds like my mother's words concerning me! Marvin's grandpa though 84 years old, reads newspapers without glasses. Too hot to do anything―even to sleep. Near sundown Marvin and I went to see Misses Lulu and Laura P. Played a game of croquette. A big tub bath just before going to bed was a great treat.
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