Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

A Great Country for Men of Brains and' Money. Lieut. B. F. Hoyt of the Second Georgia Battalion, one of Atlanta’s ©Sd citizens, has returnedi from the west coast of Africa, where he hud, spent much time and endured many hardships while exploring that country and studying, the people, both heathen and civilized, native and foreign born, as to their moral, spiritual acid physical status-, etc. He says Africa is a great country, and especially far the colored man, and found that the- various governments controlling in Africa were anxious for good colored! men ami women to come tto- that country. They don’t need that class of colored people in this country to- come over there who won’t work for a living here. They are not- needed. There are six of the natives in- the schools in Atlanta —three girls at Spelman seminary and one girl and two boys at Clark university. Mr. Hoyt says the native® he met were very kind and hospitable to him. They were honest, sober, and gentle, and it is only among -tb* semi-civilized

that you will find intemperance, dishonesty, and falsehood prevailing. He found the natives engaged in the extensive silkworm culture and the manufacturing of silk. They are also doing quite an extensive tanning business. They dye leather and silk blue, cream, yellow black, or any other color, and while it never fades, the dye never in jures the goods.' There are many verj wealthy, educated native Africans ai Lagos, Sierra Leone, and other cities. They are largely educated in England, France, Scotland, and Germany. 11801 of the native missionaries are educated in this country. They have banks and are engaged ii all the various mercantile pursuits and ship coffee and other products to tjiis and other countries in large quantities. They have many very fine residences built on the modern style of architecture. The residence of Mr. J. J. Thomas, a negro, at Lagos, is one of the most magnificent dwellings in the city, while there are thousands of others as fine, but not as large.

KESIDENCE OF MR. J. J. THOMAS.