henry ossian flipper-第50节
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he guard…house。 He has never 'skinned' me since you left。 He is O。K。 towards me； and the others are afraid of him 。 。 。 。 As I am sitting in my room on third floor； sixth 'div；' a kind of sadness creeps over me； for I am all alone。 Minnie went home on last Friday。 He was weighed in the 'math' scale and found wanting。 The poor fellow did not study his 'math' and could not help being 'found。' He was treated fairly and squarely； but he did not study。 I did all I could to help and encourage him； but it was all in vain。 He did not like（an instructor） very much； and a carelessness seized him； which resulted in his dismissal。 I was sorry to see him go away； and he himself regretted it very much。 He saw his great error only when it was too late。 On the day he left he told me that he did not really study a 'math' lesson since he entered； and was then willing to give any thing to remain and redeem himself。 He had a very simple subject on examination； and when he came back he told me that he had not seen the subject for some two or three weeks before； and he； consequently； did not know what to put on the board。 All he had on it was wrong； and he could not make his demonstration。〃
The World reporter seems to be as ignorant as some of the others。 I was by no means the 〃darkest 'African' that has yet been seen among the West Point cadets。〃 Howard； who reported in 1870 with Smith； was unadulterated； as also were Werle and White； who reported in 1874。 There were others who were also darker than I am： Gibbs and Napier； as I am informed。 I never saw the last two。
The Brooklyn Eagle is more generous in its views。 It proposes to utilize me。 See what it says：
〃Probably Lieutenant Flipper could be made much more useful than as a target for Indian bullets； if our government would withdraw him from the army and place him in some colored college； where he could teach the pupils engineering； so that when they reach Africa they could build bridges； railroads； etc。〃
This article was signed by 〃H。 W。 B。〃 It is not difficult to guess who that is。
I have had considerable correspondence with an army officer； a stranger to me； on this subject of being detailed at some college。 He is of opinion it would be best for me。 I could not agree with him。 After I joined my company an effort （unknown to me） was made by the Texas Mechanical and Agricultural College to have me detailed there。 It was published in the papers that I had been so detailed。 I made some inquiries； learned of the above statements； and that the effort had completely failed。 Personally I'd rather remain with my company。 I have no taste and no tact for teaching。 I would decline any such appointment。
（From the Thomasville （Ga。） Times。）
〃Wm。 Flipper； the colored cadet； has graduated at West
Point and been commissioned as a second lieutenant of cavalry in the United States Army。 He is the first colored individual who ever held a commission in the army； and it remains to be seen how the thing will work。 Flipper's father resides here； and is a first…class boot and shoe maker。 A short time back he stated that he had no idea his son would be allowed to graduate； but he will be glad to know that he was mistaken。〃
Of course everybody knows my name is not William。
（From the； Thomasville （Ga。） Enterprise。）
〃Lieutenant Henry O。 Flipper of the United States Army is spending a few days here with his father's family； he has been on the streets very little； spending most of his time at home。 He wears an undress uniform and deports himself； so far as we have heard； with perfect propriety。 This we believe he has done since his graduation； with the exception of his unnecessary and uncalled…for criticisms on the Southern people in his Atlanta speech。 He made a mistake there； one which his sense and education ought to teach him not to repeat。 Not that it would affect our people； or that they care about it； but for his own good。〃*
*In all the places I visited after graduation I was treated with the utmost respect and courtesy except in Atlanta。 The white people； with one exception； didn't notice me at all。 All foreigners treated me with all due consideration。 One young man； whom I knew many years； who has sold me many an article； and awaited my convenience for his pay； and who met me in New York； and walked and talked with me； hung his head and turned away from me； just as I was about to address him on a street in Atlanta。 Again and again have I passed and repassed acquaintances on the streets without any sign of recognition； even when I have addressed them。 Whenever I have entered any of their stores for any purpose； they have almost invariably 〃gotten off〃 some stuff about attempts on the part of the authorities at West Point to 〃freeze me out；〃 or about better treatment from Southern boys than from those of the North。 That is how they treated me in Atlanta； although I had lived there over fourteen years； and was known by nearly every one in the city。 In Thomasville； Southwest； Ga。； where I was born； and which I had not seen for eighteen years； I was received and treated by the whites almost as one of themselves。
That 〃undress uniform〃 was a 〃cit〃 suit of blue Cheviot。 The people there； like those in Atlanta； don't seem to know a black button from a brass one； or a civilian suit from a military uniform。
（From the Charleston （S。C。） News and Courier。）
THE COLORED WESTPOINTER。
Lieutenant H。 O。 Flipper； the colored graduate of West Point； was entertained in style at Tully's； King Street； Tuesday night。 The hosts were a colored organization called tile Amateur Literary and Fraternal Association； which determined that the lieutenant who will leave this city to…day to join his regiment； the Tenth Cavalry； now in Texas； should not do so without some evidence of their appreciation of him personally； and of the fact that he had reflected credit on their race by passing through the National Academy。 Over forty persons were at the entertainment； to whom the lieutenant was presented by A。 J。 Ransier； the colored ex…member of Congress。 The lieutenant responded briefly； as he has invariably done； and expressed his warm thanks for the courtesy shown by the association。 A number of sentiments were offered and speeches made； and the evening passed off very agreeably to all； especially so to the recipient of the hospitality。
〃Lieutenant Flipper expects to start to…day for Texas。 While he has been in this city he has made friends with whites and blacks by he sensible course he has pursued。〃
（From the Charleston （S。C。） Commercial。）
LIEUTENANT FLIPPER'S ENTERTAINMENT。
〃The Amateur Literary and Fraternal Association； of which A。 J。 Ransier is the President； learning that Lieutenant Flipper； of the United States Cavalry； was preparing to depart to the position assigned him on duty on the plains in Texas； at once determined to give him a reception； and for this purpose the following committee was appointed to arrange the details and programme for an entertainment： J。 N。 Gregg； W。 H。 Birny； A。 J。 Ransier； C。 C。 Leslie； and George A。 Gibson。
〃The arrangements were made； and the members of the association and invited guests to the number of some forty； of the most respectable colored people of Charleston； met last night at Tully's Hall； King Street； where a bounteous feast was prepared for the occasion。 The guest； Lieutenant Flipper； soon arrived； and was introduced to the party； and； in the course of time； all sat down at the table； upon which was spread the most palatable dishes which the king caterer of Charleston could prepare。 This was vigorously attacked by all。
〃Wines were then brought on； and speech…making introduced as a set off。 A。 J。 Ransier； in one of his usual pleasant speeches； introduced Lieutenant Flipper； paying him a deserved tribute for his success in the attainment of the first commission issued to a colored graduate of West Point。
〃Lieutenant Flipper； in a brief and courteous speech； acknowledged the compliment； and thanked the association for the kind attention paid him； promising them that in his future career in the army of his country he would ever strive to maintain a position which would do credit to his race。
〃W。 H。 Birney next responded in eloquent terms to the toast； 'The State of South Carolina。' J。 N。 Gregg was called upon； and responded in a wise and discreet manner to the toast of 'The Future of the Colored Man in this Country。' 'The Press' and 'Woman' were next respectively toasted； and responded to by Ransier and F。 A。 Carmand。 Other speeches were made by C。 C。 Leslie； J。 J。 Connor； and others； and at a late hour the party retired； after a most pleasant evening's enjoyment。 Lieutenant Flipper leaves for Texas to…morrow。〃
Before closing my narrative I desire to perform a very pleasant duty。 I sincerely believe that all my success at West Point is due not so much to my perseverance and general conduct there as to the early moral and mental training I received at the hands of those philanthropic men and women who left their pleasant homes in the North to educate and elevate the black portion of America's citizens； and that； too； to their own discomfort and disadvantage。 How they have borne the sneers
