Specially Invites the St. Paul Branch
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People to
Hold a Reception at the Library.
The reception tendered the St. Paul
branch of the N. A. A. C. P., Friday
night, March 22, by the St. Paul pub
lic library was an unusual and splendid
affair. To many who were not ac
quainted with Dr. Dawson Johnston,
librarian, and at whose suggestion the
invitation was extended to our people,
it was an excellent opportunity to
meet and to know such an admirable
gentlemen. Dr. Johnston is indeed
well qualified for the position and is
sincerely anxious to make the St. Paul
public library the most thorough and
effective institution of the kind in the
United States. His personal knowl
edge of books on the colored people
and their authors is marvelous and in
his address he displayed true chris
tian, human sympathy for the color
ed man and appreciation of the worth
of his literary efforts. He paid a
glowing tribute to Washington, Doug
lass and DuBois, and spoke most feel
ingly of his personal acquaintance with
Mr. Daniel Murray, of the Congres
sional library at Washington. Dr.
Johnston personally conducted a tour
of the entire building explaining in de
tail the purposes of each department,
the system of the institution and the
various beauties and art features of
the building. All present voted the
evening one of great profit to them
and a large number made application
for library cards with the view of a
more extended use of the advantages
offered by the library. Dr. Turner was
master of ceremonies and Attorney
W. T. Francis responded on behalf of
the colored people of St. Paul voicing
their appreciation of the consideration
and courtesy shown them.
