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164 only possible to types of humanity, inherently pertaining to the whites. * * * * * * If St. Peter springs the 'Negro' question on the average American at the gates of Paradise, the a. A. will be in a trying position, for he will find in Heaven a numerous host of black men who have come up 'through tribulation;' and if he elects to try the warmer climes of Hades to escape contamination, it is reasonably sure that he'll find a few there."

Thus we close the career of a representative newspaper, with the Afro-American as its trustworthy and faithful promoter.

Among Virginia's proud and noble Afro-American sons, there is none more worthy than the above subject, who was born in the Rome of Virginia, October 15th, 1850, of slave parents, and was himself a slave until the Surrender.

During the war our subject's mother was impressed with the idea that her son should possess, at least, the ability to read and write, and she accordingly sought the aid of a fellow-slave to instruct her boy several nights in the week. This was continued until 1864, when matters became quite heated, and the teacher began to doubt whether he could continue the instruction of this youth. However, after some consideration it was decided that he should be taught between the hours of ten and twelve, on Sunday mornings, during the absence of the people, who were at that time attending divine services. The master, discovering that the tutor of young Jones could read and write, sold him; but the mother was so moved to have her son educated, she secured the services of a sick Confederate soldier, which were soon terminated by the surrender of Lee. A private school was opened soon after the war, the lamented R. A. Perkins of