The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-23
LOVE OF LEARNING.
This 4 Controlling Instinct Of
the colOred Nan.
he WOULD ALSO OWN LAND
Geaerai Armssrsng IN the Fsssre of the
xexr. in Anseri~.-Hfs Pro-
gre~s since shs War.


sisy Lecture Association GA = similar topic-
has contributed the following article TO
Fsaak Lesfs<ss IaHatyns1< !sssnss<sg~y.
The acquaintance OF the officers Of the
Hampton school with the Southern negro
! and The conditions which surround him
covers now \ period OF twenty one years.
the FIRST report OF this school having been
published in lsS. when there vas an en-
roIimenf OF fifteen pupils and Two teachers.
while the last. dated June l. fsSs, gives .
total OF hsg boarding students ard eighty
three officers and teachers. OF this 60.
-, were negroes and the remainder In
disBs. while re have in addition, upon the
grounds OF the Normal school. primary
coiored school OF 80 pupils. for which We
supply bsiidin<s, outfit and appoint the
teachers. the csunsy running IL for frnna
ssx Go eight months out OF the year, under
our Supervision and with the understand
nag that We make up any deficit in Its ex-
penees-
We have. therefore. directly under our
control As pupils. SEINE so negro children
and youth. while indirectly. through our
graduates, Of whom 20 are now teachers
IN Il1e primary schools OF the South. we are
familiar with. and. 70 sreaser or less ex-
tent, influence the lives OF thousands more
Our bureau OF correspondence. through
which We keep record OF every student
who has entered the school, covers in its
work large geographical area. and is one
Of our most trustworthy sources of infor-
nation. Ii is upon aa experience gained
through the channels thus indicated,
through occasional tonrs Of observation in
the South. and through a constantly grow
ing connection. on the lines Of my work,
with Southern whites. that base my esti-
hate of what education has already done
for the ex-slave and bis descendants.
The initial fact in the case believe to be
that the negro. as We ind him has two con-
trolling instinc y. the desire for education
and the determination Ia own land. To
first OF these witness Is borne by the won
deriully rapid growth oil Hampton and
similar schools. 20 enter which negro chill
dren can now be fitted in ans of the South
ern states by the public school system.
which has been adopted throught the South
with an eagerness and an appreciation that
is remarkable, when We consider that il
means a yearly taxation OF between
s.. 90. 0O0 and s. O00.0D.
As n matter of course, most of the negro
children who enter the primary schools do
not get beyond them. but there is most
encouraging and steadily increasing pro-
portion who. by persistent and in most
cases unaided effort, succeed in reaching
the higher schools and colleges which have
been established. largely by Northern
charity. for their benefit. The history OF
these aspirants for knowledge is direct
contradiction of the proverb. &c s'ext que
e PRIMER pas gag coase. = for. from the first
struggle on the part OF the father and
mother to git along somehow without
the help at home or in the field which the
child Of school age can give. to the day
when the student, with his hard-won di-
ploma, leaves Fisk or Atlanta or Hampton,
every step costs.
HEroIc STRUGGLE FOR LEARNING.
II il were possible 10 tell in detail the
story of some OF these young men and
women. the evidence OF courage and high
purpose which they give, in their deter.
mined effort 10 educate then. selves, could.
think. fairly challenge the pluck" and
ambition OF our own race. No better Illus
tration of the strength of this instinct of
which speak can be given than is offered
| by the night school at Hampton. which
was opened few years since, in answer to
| mand 4. e., the existence of a large num-
Der Of applicants for admission 10 the Nor
mai school who were absolutely without
| other means OF support than their own labor
| who offered material which was worth
l training. and who must be turned back 10
| ignorance and degradation unless we could
somehow supply their needed opportunity.
| This We did by guaranteeing them steady
I Hos
trade shops. in the Sawmili, the various
/ household departments, aud on the farm,
opening for them at the same time evening
| classes ol two hours. FIVE nights in the
| week, where they could prepare for the
normal school proper. IN which course their
expenses are paid in the main from their
earnings while pupils of the night school.
| In regard 10 the success OF these classes.
I the enrolment for which has increased,
, from forty live in lisa to 49, for the presen,
/ year. the teacher in charge writes:
While we are keeniy alive To The obsta-
eles which are constantly presenting them.
! selves Ne have much to offset them. The
wonder to those unaecastomesi la the work
is expressed in the ever recurring question
How can your pupils work all day and
study all nights' When We consider tina,
Il
/ eleven months out OF the twelve aud the
work continued the remaining month, and
! when as with the trade boys-it mean.
! three or four years IT this ali work regime
il il somewhat remarkable Some fall hy
the way. IL Is tfae. but any one who has
/ hseu long enough in the school under.
stands that the explanation OF this seem.
/ ing paradox lies in the cAFnestnesS aud de-
j termination OF these young people who are
so anxious. as they estsn express il, to
make men and women of themselves.
J. in common with ali who are familia;
/ asth this aide 1T the work, feel that this test
j. suificieai so Taas,e the desire OF the negro
Sag education. aud also his capacity q
receive a. ANY one Who sEll spend at even.
Ing IN luly or August IN these class rooms
AMI remembering that every puya h&s
already done from eight 10 ten hours O,
bona tide Wosk. watch the eager faces and
listen - tha patient attempts 40 master she
. nnknown realms % knaMi ledge. wisl hardly
ssop short 81 compete conversion 10 the
B fs0s utilities ef race which Is capable os
paving such price for is education.
Fvsasasly their faith ia What education
can 40 Scr them hAs all The pewer az "a.
/ pegsps.an ard al The EmneIanx force Of In
sts1pct aa1 tho experiment. il II eaa rfxhfly
bc called saeA, has teen golng ga Iona
enough "a sasw, ! believe. thai this DOM.
nsslng pgFp0se even though Il "a reoer
nszxbis enlx &snsse minority. bears 4
definite relsi.Oa II tAe fasare Ok the negro
sa tAts coantgy