“A little boy bustled into a grocery one day with a memorandum in his hand. “‘Hello, Mr. Smith,’ he said, ‘I want 13 pounds of coffee at 32 cents.’ “‘Very good,’ said the grocer, and he noted down the sale, and set his clerk to packing the coffee. ‘Anything else, Charlie?’ “‘Yes, 27 pounds of sugar at 9 cents.’ “‘The loaf, eh? And what else?’ “‘Seven and a half pounds of bacon at 20 cents.’ “‘That’s the Arrow brand. Go on.’ “‘Five pounds of tea at 90 cents, 11½ quarts of molasses at 8 cents a pint, two eight-pound hams at 21¼ cents and five dozen jars of pickled walnuts at 24 cents a jar.’ “The clerk bustled about and the grocer made out the bill. “‘It’s a big order,’ he said. ‘Did your mother tell you to pay for it, or is it to be charged?’ “‘My mother,’ said the boy, as he pocketed the neat and accurate bill, ‘has nothing to do with this business. It is my arithmetic lesson, and I had to get it done somehow.’”—In the Boston Herald. * * * * * “Oh, dey’s times fu’ bein’ pleasant an’ fu’ goin’ smilin’ roun’, ’Cause I don’t believe in people allus totin’ roun’ a frown, But it’s easy ’nough to titter w’en de stew is smokin’ hot, But hit’s mighty ha’d to giggle w’en dey’s nuffin’ in de pot.” —Paul Laurence Dunbar. _An Artist of Rare Culture_ BY S. E. WILSON “I have no genius; it is only patient, concentrated toil that gives me success.”—Sir Isaac Newton. It is with the deepest sense of pride that we introduce our readers to one of the most gifted artists of the Afro-American race, Mme. Estelle Pinckney Clough, of Worcester, Mass. Two years ago, on the 11th day of this month, Mme. Clough made her debut in grand opera. She achieved a great triumph in interpreting the soprano role of “Aida,” a production which was presented by the Theodore Drury Opera company in the Lexington Opera House, New York City. Relative to this appearance, the critic of the “Musical Leader” says: “A performance of remarkable excellence was given by Theodore Drury and his associates, who revealed in a manner most astonishing what talent is to be found among the Colored people. “Aida” was sung and admirably sung by Mme. Estelle Clough of Worcester, Mass. She has a voice of wonderful range, and her high notes are so exquisitely sung that Melba herself need have no shame were she the possessor. The performance was a credit to all and a revelation to many who, like myself, had never seen anything of the sort before. The audience was very large and thoroughly appreciative.”