Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
or little clusters of “native” huts; New Georgia, on our right, is quite
a village but seems to bear an indifferent reputation--due perhaps to
its history; it was settled with slaves rescued from slaving-vessels and
such slaves were rarely considered as equals, in the old days, by the
colonists.
When we reached the main river, the whole character of the scenery
changed. The river itself was wider; the banks were cleaner and the flat
land stood higher; the mangrove swamps disappeared; plantations showing
considerable attention were to be seen here and there. While we had
chatted and viewed the scene the Bishop had not been idle, and the
smiling black boy now passed an abundant supply of sandwiches and sliced
cake, daintily wrapped in paper and tied with narrow ribbons, all
prepared beforehand by Mrs. Ferguson. Served with lemon and strawberry
soda-water they were a welcome refreshment.
We had been so fully occupied that we had hardly noticed that three
hours had passed when we saw Bromley ahead. The building stands on a
level terrace well above the river. It is said to be the largest in
Liberia; whether so or not, it is a spacious, plain, well-built
construction, admirably adapted to its purpose. Its architect and master
builder, Mr. Scott, met us at the landing. He is a native of pure blood,
a Grebo from Cape Palmas district. He has never been outside of Liberia
and has had to gain his knowledge and experience as he best could. He
has had correspondence instruction from an American school and finds it
of advantage.
The building is known as the Julia C. Emery Hall and serves as a girls’
school. The parlor is a fine room and upon its walls are displayed
interesting cuts, portraits and documents, all relative to national,
racial and mission history. We were shown through the building from
tower--whence a splendid view over the river is to be had--to cellar. It
is well equipped--dormitories, school rooms, chapel, dining room,
kitchen, washrooms, storerooms--all suitable and neat and clean. Seventy
girls are in attendance. There are not beds for all the children,
perhaps not for more than half of them; half of the children sleep upon
the floor on mats. This is no special hardship, as they are used to it;
in my own opinion they are quite as well off without beds.
The girls form two groups--the large girls dressed in blue and white and
the little girls dressed in pink and white. They seem neat and happy.
They rendered a program for us which would have done credit to any
teaching here at home:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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