population, the need of this will readily appear. In the State of
Alabama are 80,000 colored voters who cannot read, and though the
children of a small proportion of these voters do learn to read, the
greater number do not, and cannot till the Northern churches open
their eyes to facts, and do more to remedy this monster evil. And
this ignorance of the blacks means not only ignorance, but grossest
immorality. Alabama in this respect is an average State; Georgia is
a little better, others much worse.

The industrial work of Atlanta consists, first, in farm-work. The
farm of sixty acres, which is the most beautiful spot in the State of
Georgia, and under the superintendence of a Massachusetts farmer,
speaks for itself. The young men learn, also, wood-work, draughting
and forging; they exhibit some exquisite specimens of lathe and
chisel-work, and the young carpenters readily find employment in the
city at the highest wages. The girls not only do much of the work of
the boarding-houses, but have special and daily lessons in cooking
and sewing; and I can testify to their practical skill.

The baccalaureate sermon was preached on Sunday, May 27, by Rev.
C.W. Francis, the pastor of the University church, and, the past
year, Acting President, also. It was a notable occasion. The
commodious chapel of Stone Hall was packed, the many students of
course filling a large space, while their friends and former students
filled in the background. Colored people are by nature ardent and
magnetic, and when education and religion have developed their
characters and toned down their absurdities, they are a very
interesting and attractive people.

Forward on the platform and side seats were Dr. Strieby and Dr.