She was a quick, apt scholar during her school days, and developed such talent for composition that she was encouraged to devote special attention to English literature and the classics, and to what end her efforts in this direction were expended is plainly noticeable in the excellence of her style of writing. The warmth and vigor of imagination which characterizes all of her writings, inspires and helps one to appreciate the true joys of an ever-varying and fluctuating life. The colored race has produced some very sweet singers. I shall name a few of them in this chapter. Many of my readers will remember the "Original Fisk Jubilee Singers," who created such wide interest in all sections of this country and in Europe. Among the ladies were Miss Maggie Porter-Cole, who is still singing, and Miss Jennie De Hart Jackson, who has retired. Among those of more recent date I would mention Madame Selika, who has appeared in all of the principal cities of the world; Madame Sisseretta Jones, who has just returned from an extensive trip through Europe; Miss Bessie Lee, of Philadelphia, who has a very sweet voice, and Miss Jennie Robinson Stewart, who comes of a musical family. While I was attending the World's Fair in Chicago, I met, for the first time, Gertrude Hawkins. I have heard many singers, but a sweeter voice I have never heard. I have left until the last Madam Flora Batson Bergen, because I want to present a picture of her, and make special mention of her work as a singer. Some singers render a class of music either in some foreign language, or else give us music that is on such a high plane that ordinary people can not understand it. But Madam Bergen gives us the old songs we heard when we were children, and she sings them in such a way as to reach our very souls. [Illustration: MADAM FLORA BATSON BERGEN.] On Thursday, March 19, 1896, the funeral service of Rev. R. H. Stitt, one of our young men who had just passed away, was held in A. M. E. Zion Church, Philadelphia. Madam Bergen sang two selections on that occasion, and never will I forget the impression made upon me by her sweet voice. She sang "No Tears in Heaven." That may be true. But there were plenty of tears shed by that audience while she was singing the song. I am positive that all of these great singers must be a help to the race in educating white people up to a better knowledge of what the race can do. It might be well at this point to call attention to the elocutionists of the race. I feel that some day they must play a prominent part in the dramatic world. In a small way, they have done that already, among themselves.