“There remains, as a means of elevating and advancing the colored people, the Press. The periodical Press has been of untold service in promoting the civilization of the English and American white laborers. It has come into their homes, arousing them, week by week, with fresh power and stimulus. It has filled their homes with pictures of beauty, which delighted themselves and their children, and taught them, indirectly, (and therefore most effectually,) lessons of thrift, neatness and refinement. Every picture of a clean, neatly-dressed child, of a well-kept home, of a happy fireside group, etc., etc., carried its lesson and left its impress, suggesting imitation, and stimulating efforts for improvement. “Now, what periodicals are there in the whole wide world that will thus encourage, stimulate and arouse the colored people? Not one. I have not met with any English or American publication at all suited to their needs. It is a common remark of the people here, when asked to adopt some reform: ‘That will do for _white_ people; but it is not for we.’ And if the _British Workman_, or any similar paper, is placed in their hands, it but intensifies this feeling. The contrast between themselves and white people is constantly before them. Week after week they will see pictures of pleasant homes and scenes in home life, and in every case these are connected with the home of the _white_ man. If, by chance, some colored face is shown, it is as a curiosity, like a Modoc Indian, a Chinaman or a Zulu. “What is urgently needed is something that will meet the needs of colored laborers, in periodical literature, as the needs of the white laboring classes are now met. I think that there should without delay be established in America some new periodical—or some periodical now established should be so modified in the manner of conducting it—that, pursuing the broad lines of humanity, would secure two things: “1.—In the illustrations, the manhood of the colored man would receive recognition, and _his_ home, _his_ children, incidents of _his_ life, would appear from time to time, in such way as to convey to all colored people a feeling of emulation, a hope and inspiration, stimulating them to achieve better things for themselves. “2.—In the letter-press, care would be taken to avoid those figures of speech which carry with them an implied degradation of the colored people. To illustrate, what is ‘foul’ would not be made synonymous with what is ‘black.’” There is certainly sound reason in the above suggestions, and it would seem that good results might follow the proposed plan. Just how it is to be done is the question. The paying constituency of such a paper would probably be too small to make it a matter of mere business enterprise. Perhaps to some one the good to be accomplished may seem large enough and direct enough to warrant the needed outlay of thought, time and capital. * * * * * ITEMS FROM THE FIELD.