* * * * * REV. J. E. ROY, D.D., Field Superintendent, is again in the New York office, where his assistance has been desired each summer by the committee; serving also in the absence of Rev. Dr. Pike, occasioned by sickness. * * * * * THE Commencement of Berea College, Kentucky, will take place Wednesday, June 21. College exercises in the forenoon. In the afternoon an address from Rev. R. G. Hutchins, D.D., of Columbus, Ohio. * * * * * REV. DR. HERRICK JOHNSON, of Chicago, has made a manly and Christian fight against theatres. A little volume of 82 pages, entitled “_Plain Talks about the Theatre_,” embodies his views, and is entitled to a candid reading. * * * * * THOSE of our readers especially interested in the establishment of the Arthington Mission will be pleased to read in the African notes, published in this number of the MISSIONARY, reports of continued activity on the part of different organizations in the vicinity of Khartoum. COLORED JOURNALISM IN THE SOUTH Our colored brethren have been by no means lacking in journalistic ambition. Considering the short space of time they have had in which to develop the literary talent, I think they have done remarkably well. There have been many undertakings in this line, and of course a good many failures. Having seen in the Western States a great many ephemeral newspapers, which ran their course briefly and then vanished away, I am prepared to say that the percentage of newspaper failures is no greater among the negroes than the whites. Newspapers are very frail and mortal creatures, and to many of them it is appointed to die. Few of them can lay claim to immortality; like the human race, most of them die in infancy. Yet there are now more than fifty papers published by colored men, mostly in the Southern States. The State of Georgia has five; North Carolina has seven. As the general intelligence of the people increases, the usefulness of these papers also enlarges. There is a good deal of race pride among the colored people, and they greatly enjoy the achievements of their race, whether in the field of journalism or elsewhere. Of course they are not trained to habits of close criticism and literary discrimination. Like all whose education has not been very extensive, they delight in high-sounding phrases and long, sonorous words. Most of their editorials are somewhat open to criticism in this line, yet there are not a few examples of crisp, clear, terse, vigorous English which are refreshing to read in these pedantic days.