African Letters

By Henry McNeal Turner

An essential American classic from beloved author, Henry McNeal Turner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andura Publishing
• Release date: May 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9788835829393

Book preview

AFRICAN LETTERS

BY

BISHOP H. M. TURNER, D.D. LL. D

PUBLISHED BY HIS CONSENT

NASHVILLE, TENN.

PUBLISHING HOUSE A. M. E. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION

1893

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AFRICAN LETTERS.

Steamship City of Paris, October 15, 1891.

MR. EDITOR:

        I am out on the ocean sailing--or rather steaming--to all human appearances to the unknown. Where?

        I left the great city, New York, yesterday about two o'clock, with peculiar sensations.

        I had long contemplated a trip to Africa, the world's future paradise, but had never realized what it was to start. I never dreamed that it would take the starch out of a fellow as it did me.

        The hurly-burly of preparation and the desire to leave absorbed every faculty of my soul; but when I mounted this mighty sea craft and looked down upon the faces of Rev. Theodore Gould, Dr. Derrick, the presiding elders, Morgan and Israel Derricks, and several other ministers who stood with upturned faces--also Mrs. Dr. Derrick, Mrs. Bolden and a number of ladies, all of whom waved handerchiefs at me as the ship steamed out--I began to realize that this was more than an ordinary trip to some portion of our common territory.

        Mrs. Dr. Derrick touched me when she raised her handkerchief to her eyes; but the thought rushed to me, That is womanish, and I tried to dismiss it. But in a moment my eyes fell upon my son, David M. Turner, who had come from Washington City to see me off, despite the fact that I had told both sons to attend to their business, and not spend money to bother after me. David, however, ignored my order and came anyhow, and as I espied him looking up wistfully and then dropping his head, my emotions reached their culmination, all my manhood succumbed, and tears suffused my face. I loved David as I never dreamed of before. The other children appeared before me in detail, and this thought rushed upon me, Mother is gone, wife is gone, and now possibly children are gone. My mind flashed through the Church, and an inkling of dislike here and there

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I had indulged, owing possibly to misunderstanding in most instances, all fled, and I found myself loving everybody I had left behind. I never loved in all my life as I did then, and do now, and expect to while I live.

        Some four hours after we left New York, one of the ship's officers appeared in my state-room, and told me to follow him. He led me to a saloon state-room, which he told me was to be mine alone. It possessed every comfort the mind of man could conceive.

        Its furniture and conveniences looked to me to be too superb to be risked upon the water; but I thought that it was no more valuable than the thousand or more persons on board--not the one millionth part so valuable.

        The ship rocked and rolled a little last night, but not from the effect of any wind that blew. The sea-swells were the result of a gale which had soon subsided. Many persons, however, cascaded a little, but it only sharpened my appetite.

        This morning at the breakfast table, a gentleman in my front called my name in a clear voice and said, Good morning! I looked up and it was H. I. Kimball, the man who built the great Kimball House in Atlanta, Ga. Mutual congratulations were passed at meeting at the same table at sea, if not on land. Much of the day has been spent in conversation with this great financier. He paid many compliments to Bishop Gaines, Alexander Hamilton, the famous house-builder, William Finch, tailor, and a host of colored men of Atlanta.

        About two o'clock to-day our ship overtook the steamship Germanic, which left New York four hours ahead of us yesterday. We ran side by side for some time, but the Germanic had to yield to the great speed of this large ocean greyhound.

        Elder Geda, who is with me, and is in another cabin not quite so well furnished, has made more acquaintances than I could make in a week. He disregards introductions, knows everybody because they are human, and everybody knows him

        The ocean, which has behaved so well ever since we left the city, is being lashed into fury by a rising wind; but the ship runs steadily, and before the big waves come I will go to bed.

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October 16.

        The breeze calmed down last night, and I slept like a log. This morning the sun is shining in his splendor, and while the ocean surface is throbbing with the pulsations of life, the mammoth ship made its way like a thing of life. Two steamers bound for New York appeared in the distance, one in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon.

        Yesterday, up to twelve o'clock, we had come 312 miles, and to-day up to the same hour, 427 miles. Some of the officers are mad because we did not make 500 miles.

        I had a long talk with Col. Jas. D. Patterson, of Richmond, Va., to-day. He is a rich tobacco merchant. He paid Dr. Derrick a marvelous compliment, and poohed at the idea of any one attempting to criticise him while at Richmond, Va.

        About one o'clock a school of porpoises or cetaceous sea-hogs appeared near the ship, and leaped and frolicked for an hour. All eyes were fastened upon them till they disappeared in the distance. Shortly after, a flock of what are called Mother Carey's chickens flew along just above the water surface, and many predicted a storm; but no storm has arrived up to ten o'clock to-night.

        A gentleman from New York, said to be worth one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, is a steerage passenger, and has dressed himself quite coarsely to keep from attracting attention; but some of the saloon passengers know him, and such a cursing as he gets is non-repeatable. A gentleman said, he loved money too, and was almost a miser, but such miserliness as that was a shame to humanity.

        It has been very warm, but it grows chilly as we approach the Newfoundland coast.

October 17.

        This morning was chilly and misty, and the sea a little rolling, but everything is pleasant and inspiring. Congratulations upon such a fine trip so far are abundant. The ship is so long and reaches over so many of these short waves that no one realizes that the sea is not smooth when inside.

        A whale was seen in the distance this morning, rising up and spouting water, but soon disappeared.

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        At twelve o'clock to-day we had come 437 miles since yesterday at the same hour.

        A little before midday four small boats, said to be fishing crafts, were passed, floating around in the ocean, yet hundreds of miles from the banks of Newfoundland. I would be afraid of those little boats on the Potomac River, much less on the great ocean.

        Rev. T. R. Geda has made an ocean of acquaintances, and an Englishman offers him a position in the Salvation Army in London. He leaves it with me as to whether he shall accept it or not. I told him I would not release him from accompanying me to Africa, unless they wanted him to beat the drum for the army.

        We have had a delightful trip up to the present, but the wind is rising, and to-morrow is predicted a bad day.

October 18.

        The wind is blowing stiffly and the ship rocks lively. The whitecapped waves chase each other grandly. Divine service was called at 10:30 o'clock, but nothing was done or said, save the captain reading the English prayer service. The writer did