Atwood Hammond High School - Post Yearbook (Atwood, IL)

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“I was often allowed, under guard, to roam about the plantation and, on the afternoon of the day on which I received the note, I came across Dinah in the garden. I decided to find out whether or not she was the author of the missive and I asked her if she would interpret a letter for me, since I was unable to read. “Laudy no!”, she exclaimed. “I can’t make out no reading s’cept my name and Lee’s and mv ole man’s.” I anxiously waited until almost midnight that night before I heard a sound. The door opened and Lee entered. After being assured of my safety, I followed him and was once more a free man. Yet I was badly puzzled and my mind was not cleared of the question of my liberation until three years later. “A few weeks after your grandmother and I first met in Pennsylvania, I was relating this adventure, among others, to her. It was the first time she had heard it, I noticed that she was unusually attentive as I recited the details of the occurrence. I observed that her face was remarkably bright for one who was just recovering from a long and severe illness, for, as I had learned, she had been ill since her family had been forced to leave their old Virginian plantation and to move to Pennsylvania. It seemed that her whole expression was changed and that she revived in that one moment. ‘‘After I had finished, she inquired, excitedly, “And what was the name of the young lady who so fascinated you?” “It was the same as yours— Virginia.” “A happy smile spread over her lovely face and she cried out, “And it was not only the same name but the same Virginia! Do you know why I have hesitated? Becauss I could not rid my memory of the noble Yankee whose liberty I brought about.” THE AWAKENING OF AN OLD WORLD By Lora Biggs. China is one of the oldest, the most exclusive, and the most populous countries in the world. The early history of China is wrapped in mystery for though some authors say that her civilization dates back for several thousand years, not until the twenty-seventh century before the Christian era have we a record of any ruler. From her earliest days China has shown an aversion to intercourse with other countries, so that her inhabitants thought o the world as consisting of China with her eighteen provinces. However, in 1834 England forced her to admit a representative of British merchants into her vast country, and since then she has had more dealings with other nations. China is indeed one of the most populous countries in the world, for in her 4,200,000 square miles of territory she has a population of 428,000,000 people.

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ask food of this lady who, I confess, had undone me more than an armed Rebel would have done. She answered me with a naughty air, which she showed to be affected by occasionally resting her eyes on the ground: “Sir, it is as much my duty as it is that of my brothers to treat those persons as my enemies who glory in the destruction of the honor, fortune, and happiness of my family ” “O'.i! but—I—you know—” I got no farther and, feeling, as guilty as if f had done all that she had said, I dropped my head, determining to continue on my way. I lifted my eyes once more and thinking that they would never again, behold this charming maiden, I gazed long and steadily upon her. A deep blush mounted her cheeks. “I 11—w a i t—I ’ 11 sen d—so in e-thing down by Lee. Oh! Sir. I have forgotten that there are some worthy men in the North. Perhaps you are sincere in— As she stopped I saw the color leave her face. Glancing to my right, I beheld a young man pointing his gun at me. “What! Jenny, conversing with a Yankee!” ‘Oh! but Hugh, he is so hungry!” “Jenny! you (lou t mean you were going to feed him! I reckon I've been about starved myself but I never met a northern beauty who turned traitor to satisfy my appetite.” At these words Virginia’s southern blood was evidently stirred up, for, leading the bewildered Dinah avray, she abandoned me to the mercy of the young gentleman, who made me precede him through the wood. After a short walk we came toasloping strip of open land on the summit of which stood a stately old brick house, with a colonial porch on its front. We followed a gravel path which led to a brick cellar with half of its walls reaching aboveground. This was to be my prison until aid arrived to carry me captivity to the Con-frrates. The door, the only opening was guarded by day by a slave called Washington, and by night by another, who as I found out, was Dinah's son and the boy whom Virginia had mentioned as Lee. On the second day of my arrival, I was handed my dinner as usual and proceded to enjoy it, when, beneath the cloth over it I discovered this letter. Mr. Churchill paused to search for it among the others and pass it to Jack who read it as follows: “its the old colored woman you met with miss Virginia wlios ritin to you mister i reckon us all rit to fit an starv to free us black folks masses been and to mi lint im gona let you out to sav othr nigers whu aint so fotunat im gona get mv boy lee tu let you out tu nite be redie kid dis’ After reading it through the though struck me that it was written too smoothly to come from one so ignorant. I thought that perhaps the young gentle man was merely fooling me and that I might be disappointed should I try to escape.

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The condition of the Chinese Empire at the present time and the forces gathering strength among its people, merit the attention of politicians throughout the world; for it is those forces aud the direction in which they are guided which will mould the future of that great country. The government even now lias some features of an advanced democracy. Though the Emperor acts almost as he pleases, he maybe criticised bv his cabinet of ministers. For the last few years the government of China has been on the verge of a reform. In regard to this question the provinces were ten years ago in advance of Peking, the seat of government and controlling power, but they desired a reform only so long as it did not affect personal interests. A national reform party organized by the younger population, advanced so rapidly in number and influence, that before the termination of their war with Japan it claimed the right of being heard on the question of the conclusion of peace. This showed that the party represented a national movement which would make China a strong and progressive nation. It was favorably disposed towards the introduction of foreign enterprises, provided they would not affect Chinese life injuriously. In 1898, a new era began in Chinese history. Throughout the Empire .temples were changed into schools; national colleges of agriculture, commerce, and industry were established; and a national army with naval and military academies, was instituted Thus China is being awakened from her long sleep by direct contact with other nations. Steamships sail from the United States, England, Germany, France, Australia, Japan and Canada to Shanghai and other ports. Here the Chinese meet people of other nations and, as a result, they have begun to adopt western ideas and to be influenced by the example set by western civilization. Though most of the prominent men in China appear to have decided that the hope of the country lies in constitutional government, they cannot decide as to the model 01 which it should be framed. This year three princes are to be sent to the capitols of all the nations in order that they may study the different kinds of government. The reports of the five commissioners who returned last year have not yet been fully looked over, but they agree in recommending the adoption of a constitutional government. China is taking a great step forward in trying to rid her country of its corrupt habits. Everyone knows that Chinese courts have been places of graft where the judges enriched themselves by their unfai; dealings, China is now becoming aware of the baseness of her judicial system, and bv the example set by the United States in Shanghai. We have reason to believe that China will soon reform her courts. One of the greatest drawbacks to China’s progress is