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tter may find you in a better state of consolation than when you wrote to me。 I told you that you would have trials and difficulties to endure。 Do not mind them； for they will go like chaff before the wind； and your enemies will soon be glad to gain your friendship。 They do the same to all newcomers in every college。 You are elevated to a high position； and you must stand it like a man。 Do not let them run you away； for then they will say； the 〃nigger〃 won't do。 Show your spunk； and let them see that you will fight。 That is what you are sent to West Point for。 When they find you are determined to stay； they will let you alone。 You must not resign on any account； for it is just what the Democrats want。 They are betting largely here that you won't get in。 The rebels say if you are admitted； they will devil you so much that you can't stay。 Be a man； don't think of leaving； and let me know all about your troubles。 The papers say you have not been received。 Do write me positively whether you are received or not。
〃'Times are lively here； for everybody is preparing for the Fourth of July。 There are five colored companies here； all in uniform； and they are trying to see who shall excel in drill。
〃'Stand your ground； don't resign； and write me soon。
〃'From your affectionate father；
〃'ISRAEL SMITH。'〃
〃On the 11th of January I visited West Point again。 I found all the cadets still against the colored boy。 A system of terrorism reigned supreme。 Every one who did not take sides against the colored boy was ostracized。
〃At drill one morning Cadet Anderson trod on the colored boy's toes。 When Smith expostulated Anderson replied； 'Keep your toes away。' When Smith told about it Anderson got two other white cadets to say he never said so。 This brought the colored boy in a fix。
〃Last July I saw the colored cadet again。 He was still ostracized。 No cadet ever spoke to him。 He lived a； hermit life； isolated and alone。
〃When I asked him how he got on with his studies he said： 'As well as I am able； roaming all alone； with no one to help me and no one to clear up the knotty points。 If there is an obscure point in my lesson I must go to the class with it。 I cannot go to a brother cadet。'
〃'If you should ask them to help you what would they say？'
〃'They would call me a nigger； and tell me to go back to the plantation。'
〃Yesterday； after watching the colored cadet for three years； I saw him again。 He has grown tall and slender。 He talks slowly； as if he had lost the use of language。 Indeed many days and weeks he has gone without saying twenty lines a day in a loud voice； and that in the recitation…room。
〃When they were examining him the other day he spoke slowly； but his answers were correct。 His answers in philosophy were correct。 But they say he answered slowly； and they will find him deficient for that。 Find him deficient for answering slowly when the boy almost lost the use of language！ When he knew four hundred eyes were on him and two hundred malign arts all praying for his failure！
〃The colored cadet is now in his third year。 The great question at West Point is； Will he pass his examination？ No one will know till the 30th of June。 It is my impression that the young officers have marked him so low that he will be found deficient。 The young officers hate him almost as bad as the cadets； and whenever they could make a bad mark against him they have done it。
〃'Does anyone ever speak to you now？' I asked。
〃'No。 I dare not address a cadet。 I do not want to provoke them。 I simply want to graduate。 I am satisfied if they do not strike or harm me； though if I had a kind word now and then I should be happier； and I could study better；' Then the colored boy drew a long sigh。
〃To…day I met General Howard； who was present at the colored cadet's court…martial。 I asked him to tell me about it。
〃'Well； Mr。 Perkins；' said the General； 'they tried to make out that the colored boy lied。'
〃'Yes；' I interrupted； 'and they all say he did lie at the Point now。 How was it？'
〃'It was this way： They accused him of talking on parade； and； while trying to convict him out of his own mouth； they asked him 〃If on a certain day he did not speak to a certain cadet while on drill？〃 〃I did not speak to this cadet while on drill the day you mention；〃 answered Cadet Smith； 〃for the cadet was not in the parade that day。〃'
〃This answer startled the prosecutors； and； looking over the diary of parade days； they were astonished to find Cadet Smith correct。
〃'What then？' I asked。
〃'Why they accuse him of telling a lie in spirit； though not in form； for he had talked on a previous day。 Just as if he was obliged to say any thing to assist the prosecutors except to answer their questions。'
〃General Howard believes Cadet Smith to be a good； honest boy。 I believe the same。
〃ELI PERKINS。〃
（From the Savannah （Ga。） Morning…News。）
〃Lieutenant Flipper seems to have gone back on his Atlanta friends。 He came home from West Point with a good Academy record； behaved himself with becoming dignity。 The officers at the barracks treated him not socially； but as an officer of the armywith due respect； as did the citizens of Atlanta； who felt that he had won credit by his good conduct and success。 But in an evil hour the colored friends （？） of Flipper gave him a reception； and in full uniform he made them a speech。 Now speech…making is a dangerous thing； and this colored warrior seems to have been made a victim of it。 He distorted the official courtesies of the officers at the barracks into social courtesies； and abused the white people of the South because they did not give him and his race social equality。 Not only were sensible colored people displeased with his remarks； but many white citizens who went to the meeting friendly to Flipper left disgusted with his sentiments。〃*
*If a man walks on the streets with me； invites me to his quarters； introduces me to his comrades； and other like acts of courtesy； ought I to consider him treating me socially or officially？ I went to the garrison in Atlanta to pay my respects to the commanding officer。 I expected nothing。 I met an officer； who； with four others； had introduced himself to me on the cars。 My official call had been made。 He took me around； introduced me to the officers； and showed me all possible attention。 I met another officer in the city several days after this。 He offered cigars。 We walked up and down the streets together。 Many times did we hear and comment upon the remarks we overheard： 〃Is he walking with that nigger？〃 and the like。 He invited me into a druggist's to take some soda… water。 I went in and got it； although it was never sold there before to a person of color。 We rode out to the garrison together； and every attention was shown me by all。 Another officer told me that before I came the officers of the garrison assembled to consider whether or not they should recognize me。 The unanimous vote was 〃yes。〃 Was all this official？ No。 It is the white people； the disappointed tyrants of Georgia； who try to distort social courtesies in official ones。 The 〃many white〃 people were some half…dozen newspaper reporters； whose articles doubtless were partly written