The Colored American, December 29, 1900, page 14
A WEST INDIAN ARTIST
Mr Zithri J. N. Atkinson of Jamaica, a Knight of the Brush and a Winner of Prizes - Bruce Grit's Tribute to Sterling Qualities.
It is a real pleasure to be privileged to pay a tribute to the genius and talent of a young Negro who possesses to a wonderful degree a large amount of the force that wins and the modesty to wear his honors with becoming grace and dignity The subject of our sketch Mr Zithri J. N. Atkinson was born in the Darliston Mountains, Jamaica, B. W. I. of poor but eminently respectable parents and is the third of seven children. He had the ordinary elementary school advantages which are nothing extraordinary He early developed a natural gift for drawing and can sketch well and paint in ail colors with remarkable proficiency. He is also a good performer on the organ and pianoforte and his talent in this direction is no less remarkable than his talent for drawing since he is able to do both and that too without having learned from anyone.
Some two years ago he ventured to become a contestant at a drawing competition held under the auspices of the Jamaica Institute. Among those who competed were a number of supercilious upstarts who have been dipped in a weak solution of accomplishments, who noting his rough exterior and peasant like appearance were excited to mirth and even ridicule at his presumption in entering the lists as a contestant. One of these representatives of the catfish aristocracy remarked pointing to him -- "What is that thing there." "That thing" swallowed the insult, but competed for two days, at the end of which time the jury awarded him the prize establishing his superiority to his mocker, who is a Sub Inspector of Constabulary and an author who has probably never read the excellent letters of Lord Chesterfield to his son or that the philosopher, the saint, the hero, the wise, the good or the great man very often lie hid and concealed in a plebeian.
These scornful incompetents now have the satisfaction of knowing how little they really know and how puerile and contemptible they are.
God takes "the foolish things of this world to confound the wise'. Young Atkinson's color, general appearance and humble origin however did not prevent him from proving himself the superior of the opinionated Popinjays who made him the object of their ridicule and scorn.
Brains married to genius, worships at no shrines save merit, and pays respectful homage to talent, moral worth, and public service. The aristocracy of Brains recognizes no man by the contour of head, the texture of his hair, or the cut of his garments.
Good breeding and good sense are inseparable. Merit and good breeding will make theIr way everywhere. Knowledge will introduce you and good breeding endear you to the best of friends. After all, the real gentleman in that company of contestants was our young friend Atkinson and according to the decision of the Jury of awards he was manifestly the only artist among them whose work was worthy of notice, else why did they give this uncouth country youth the prize?
"There is nothing in this world," says an Eastern proverb, "which a resolute man who exerts himself cannot attain," and -------- Plutarch says "It is the usual consolation of the envious, if they cannot maintain their superiority to represent those by whom they are surpassed as inferior to some one else." It is a sad commentary on the intelligence of the Sub Inspector of Constabulary and author, -- whoever he is to have the conceit taken out of his anatomy by this black man but such is fate and we rejoice to know that one of "Ethiopia's blameless race" has succeeded in that far oft Island of the sea, in stamping the word "Ass" on the brow of his cultured calumniator and in teaching him in the words of the Negro poet Whitman,
"That greatness by nature cannot be extended,
It is an office ending with the man."
We have seen some of the work of this young man and we have shown it to those whose opinions in such matters are of value. They have pronounced it to be of a high order of excellence and were surprised when told that the artist had reached his present high state of perfection by his own endeavor. A life size crayon portrait of the writer made by this young man from an ordinary half tone picture at the request of the editor of the Jamaica Advocate who presented [it] to our wife as a birthday present now occupies a place in our home and is greatly prized because it is the work of "that thing" and the gift of a dear friend who appreciates real genius and who is always in season and out of season doing with pen, and voice his whole duty as a Negro. No man in Jamaica has rendered better service to the blacks of that Island than the editor cf the Advocate, and there is no braver or more fearless man than he. None certainly to whom the Negroes are more devotedly attached because of his unflinching devotion to their interests and his bold, manly and courageous advocacy of their rights as men.
It is very gratifying indeed to be able to introduce to American readers through The Colored American which penetrates into almost every portion of the globe a young man to whom nature has been so wondrous kind and whose future is so big with promise. He has demonstrated to his critics beyond the shadow of a doubt that, "that thing" is their master, the judges have said so, it is so.
"Honor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your part there all the honor lies."
We extend to Mr Atkinson our felicitations and hearty good wishes for a successful career in a field of laudable endeavor for which nature has peculiarly fitted him. And we offer to the catfish aristocracy which flourishes after a manner on that beautiful Isle of the Sea our sincere condolences and sympathy on its failure to measure up to the high degree of excellence attained by 'that thing" who at this looks like a pretty big thing.
BRUCE GRIT.
Mr Zithri J. N. Atkinson of Jamaica, a Knight of the Brush and a Winner of Prizes - Bruce Grit's Tribute to Sterling Qualities.
It is a real pleasure to be privileged to pay a tribute to the genius and talent of a young Negro who possesses to a wonderful degree a large amount of the force that wins and the modesty to wear his honors with becoming grace and dignity The subject of our sketch Mr Zithri J. N. Atkinson was born in the Darliston Mountains, Jamaica, B. W. I. of poor but eminently respectable parents and is the third of seven children. He had the ordinary elementary school advantages which are nothing extraordinary He early developed a natural gift for drawing and can sketch well and paint in ail colors with remarkable proficiency. He is also a good performer on the organ and pianoforte and his talent in this direction is no less remarkable than his talent for drawing since he is able to do both and that too without having learned from anyone.
Some two years ago he ventured to become a contestant at a drawing competition held under the auspices of the Jamaica Institute. Among those who competed were a number of supercilious upstarts who have been dipped in a weak solution of accomplishments, who noting his rough exterior and peasant like appearance were excited to mirth and even ridicule at his presumption in entering the lists as a contestant. One of these representatives of the catfish aristocracy remarked pointing to him -- "What is that thing there." "That thing" swallowed the insult, but competed for two days, at the end of which time the jury awarded him the prize establishing his superiority to his mocker, who is a Sub Inspector of Constabulary and an author who has probably never read the excellent letters of Lord Chesterfield to his son or that the philosopher, the saint, the hero, the wise, the good or the great man very often lie hid and concealed in a plebeian.
These scornful incompetents now have the satisfaction of knowing how little they really know and how puerile and contemptible they are.
God takes "the foolish things of this world to confound the wise'. Young Atkinson's color, general appearance and humble origin however did not prevent him from proving himself the superior of the opinionated Popinjays who made him the object of their ridicule and scorn.
Brains married to genius, worships at no shrines save merit, and pays respectful homage to talent, moral worth, and public service. The aristocracy of Brains recognizes no man by the contour of head, the texture of his hair, or the cut of his garments.
Good breeding and good sense are inseparable. Merit and good breeding will make theIr way everywhere. Knowledge will introduce you and good breeding endear you to the best of friends. After all, the real gentleman in that company of contestants was our young friend Atkinson and according to the decision of the Jury of awards he was manifestly the only artist among them whose work was worthy of notice, else why did they give this uncouth country youth the prize?
"There is nothing in this world," says an Eastern proverb, "which a resolute man who exerts himself cannot attain," and -------- Plutarch says "It is the usual consolation of the envious, if they cannot maintain their superiority to represent those by whom they are surpassed as inferior to some one else." It is a sad commentary on the intelligence of the Sub Inspector of Constabulary and author, -- whoever he is to have the conceit taken out of his anatomy by this black man but such is fate and we rejoice to know that one of "Ethiopia's blameless race" has succeeded in that far oft Island of the sea, in stamping the word "Ass" on the brow of his cultured calumniator and in teaching him in the words of the Negro poet Whitman,
"That greatness by nature cannot be extended,
It is an office ending with the man."
We have seen some of the work of this young man and we have shown it to those whose opinions in such matters are of value. They have pronounced it to be of a high order of excellence and were surprised when told that the artist had reached his present high state of perfection by his own endeavor. A life size crayon portrait of the writer made by this young man from an ordinary half tone picture at the request of the editor of the Jamaica Advocate who presented [it] to our wife as a birthday present now occupies a place in our home and is greatly prized because it is the work of "that thing" and the gift of a dear friend who appreciates real genius and who is always in season and out of season doing with pen, and voice his whole duty as a Negro. No man in Jamaica has rendered better service to the blacks of that Island than the editor cf the Advocate, and there is no braver or more fearless man than he. None certainly to whom the Negroes are more devotedly attached because of his unflinching devotion to their interests and his bold, manly and courageous advocacy of their rights as men.
It is very gratifying indeed to be able to introduce to American readers through The Colored American which penetrates into almost every portion of the globe a young man to whom nature has been so wondrous kind and whose future is so big with promise. He has demonstrated to his critics beyond the shadow of a doubt that, "that thing" is their master, the judges have said so, it is so.
"Honor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your part there all the honor lies."
We extend to Mr Atkinson our felicitations and hearty good wishes for a successful career in a field of laudable endeavor for which nature has peculiarly fitted him. And we offer to the catfish aristocracy which flourishes after a manner on that beautiful Isle of the Sea our sincere condolences and sympathy on its failure to measure up to the high degree of excellence attained by 'that thing" who at this looks like a pretty big thing.
BRUCE GRIT.
