The Washington bee., 1896-11-28

worth three thousand nine hundred
and six dollars !! Even though poor
you can help your boy to start in
life.
The following extract is from
lecture given by Mrs. B. K Bruce,
wife of ex-senator Bruce at the
""uskegee Normal end Industrial
School, Tuskegee, Alabama. For
the benefit of those who may not
otherwise have the opportunity to
read 1t !; we reproduce that portion
ON character building as published
in the "Student,"
THE NECESSITY OF CULTIvATING
GOOD CHARACTER.
Young men and women learn to
walk to the narrow path of right
doing and right thinking-a habit
against which temptation has 10
power. Character stamps itself
upon the face, you cannot conceal
lit. You have often heard it said
"I will trust such person, know
he is honest" He is known to be
honest because honesty is seen on
his face his very movement is an
EN- blem of honesty. Make yourself
a synonym of honesty. There is a
story of Robert Morris of Ph:ladcl-
phia, who lived in revolutionary
times. and was member of the
Second Continental Congress. He
was a man widely known for his
good character. On one occasion
when there was no money to sup
port the army or Colonial Govern
ment, when the officers of the Gov
ernment was almost in dispAlr,
this man, Robert Morris went to a
Quaker and asked for large sum
Of money. 81 want fifty thousand
dollars" was the dem md, and
when the Quaker was little slow,
knowing the condition of the Co
lonial Government, Robert said
"My word and honor The
Quaker at once replied "You shall
have it" Robert Morris was
known in Philadelphia as an honest
man, and he was an houest man so
he secured the amount of money
and saved the Colonial Govern
ment. Thus you see he was able
to secure the fifty thousand dollars
and do great good for his country
by being honest. 1t appears to me
that your principal, Booker L.
! Washington, is not here asking for
money, but for men and women
who will go out and help make the
world bet er. All this is what /
mean by character. I repeat, it
can be won in single day. 1t
makes meritorious men and women,
it gives them proper zeal and de-
termination. Life without it is
like ship without rudder. The
real object of education is to de-
velop strong character to create
love and sympathy for all men.
Now Is the time to form that kind
of character. If you fail to get it
here in school, the chances are you
will not get it after you leave
school. One great writer has said
that reading and writing are merely
kitchen work and that the forming
of character is the important part
of our education. l appreciate his
meaning but do not agree with him
in detail for l consider the kitchen
work the most important of all
work in the home. Whit if we
have the learning of the Medes and
Persians it would all be useless,
worthless, and vain, unless we cul-
tivate good strong noble character.
He who gave his life for our re-
demption did it because of love,
pure and simple love. Shall we not
also create the habit Of love and
make our lives helpful to others
Each one has it in his own power
to do something for some one else,
then let each one do his best to
register his deeds. to stamp his
character upon the minds of honest
people. All these virtues will in
crease character in old age to which
it is justly entitled. Remember
your parents at home, and their
condition. Do not send to them