Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/316

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308
THE AFRO-AMERICAN PRESS.

Carolina to read. I had long cherished a desire to visit the printing department of The Pilot to learn how Bro. Brown could send out such an excellent paper, at such a small subscription price—only seventy-five cents a year. Now I understand. Of course, the Ministerial Union owns the press. That much is safe. Bro. Brown just raises enough money to buy the paper. He does all the type-setting himself, assisted by a noble and talented young lady, about fifteen or sixteen years old, Miss Annie W. Walden, to whom he taught the art. And, by the way, who taught him? No one. He purchased the press, without the least knowledge of how to use it; but by bringing to bear his inborn talent for such work, and his iron will, he mastered the effort in a few days. It is, to say the least, a tedious work to sit and handle type. But the toughest part of all is the process of carrying the paper through the press. It makes a man sweat and show his strength, and ruins all his clothes with the ink and grease and—what not. It takes two persons one whole day to do the printing after the type is all set, which consumes quite a while,—several days.

Well, who edits the paper? Brother Brown; he is the man. Several brethren promised to assist him; but the whole work falls upon him."

As to the support that has been gathered to The Pilot, it is interesting to read what its editor has to say about it: "It is gratifying to observe the tide which is sweeping the state in favor of The Pilot. From every quarter, from hundreds of staunch Baptists whose hearts long for the prosperity of the denomination, come strong and enthusiastic expressions assuring us that the enterprise shall be sustained."

With Editor Brown's continued persistence in the work, we are forced to believe that the future prospects for The Pilot are bright for a race organ, which will prove to be of great benefit to it.