The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-19
NOTED AMERICAN NEGRO
Remarkable Career Of Booker 7. Washing
ton Of 1uskesee, Ala.
4 REAL LEADER OF lO,oee,eo0 PEOPLE
newan ITS Afe work in shants
rrd Labcred I'm a
Coal Mine.
Hashvills American.

hllity. and yet that is probably the posi-
ton which Booker r. Washington holos
today. with regard TO the negroes IN THIS
country. As Frederick Douglass grew TO
be an old man the question was often
asked who was TO take his place as
leader Of the colprsd people In the United
States. Untll the time Of The Atlanta Ex-
position, in 1924. there had appeared no
probable successor. Tac address OF Booker
T. Washington al the Exposition chal-
ienged the attention Of the entire country.
He was at the time the comparatively un-
known principal Of a recently established
struggling school Tor eoiorsa young men
and women in The Mode Of the Black
Belt Of Alabama. In the short time which
has elapsed since the delivery Of the At
lsnta address, Booker Washington
achievements, and the very general rec9g-
milton OF bis talents and ability have
brought him so prominently before she
public that 1t seems quite proper TO speak
or him as the best known coiored man in
the United States today. a few Htpong the
many causes which haze led 20 this result
are the comforting OF degree upon him
by Harvard University; his notable address
Al boston On the BNfbEibb OF fhE uhNNltiAE
Of the Shaw monument on Boston Com
mon with many other able addresses all
over the country; bis selection by he trus-
lees Of the John r. Slater fund 70 conduct
for them. with tho assistance OF his wife,
series 81 meetings for eoiorea people Ia
ali the cities Of the South. this woIl, 70
cover period OF two years, his successful
administration OF athe fairs Of Tuskegee
institute, great school OF a thousand
pupils, his selection TO be one OF the ora
Tors at the Peace Jubilee in Chicago In
October, 1895 where he spoke 10 an audi
enee Of 1900 people 10 the presence OF
President Mckinley, who took the ocea-
sion to pay Washington most dlstin-
guished compliment, and last, the visit
which the President and Mrs. Mckinley
made to Juskegee IN their recent Journey
through the South
IN view of what he has accomplished
the early life OF Booker Washington and
the opportunities for educating which he
had are interesting. II Is a striking COM
mentary on some Of the conditions OF life
which have been possible in this country
that to the very natural first question,
How old is Booker Washington the an
swer mus; be returned lie does not
know" He was born q slave in the State
OF Virginia in either the year 1857 or 1858.
SO humble was his origin, so seant the
notice taken OF the fact that one more
black boy had been born on the place.
that no special attention was given 10 his
birth (which would accurately Ak the date
His for those first years. near the
village OF IIale's Ford. was ono Of those
ope-room log cabins. with uncouth chin
ney OF clay and wood glued upon the end
such as any one may even yet see in all
parts OF the South. The floor OF the cabin
was the hard-trodden earth. and the walls
had no windows circumstances which
mi 0f Al r-fr IT. a..
door was rarely closed. and when II was
both light and air found tree nFssage DO.
tween the logs Of the walls which, the mud
thinking had fallen ont -ec
Young Washington mugt have been about
years old when the war closed I have
beard him tell OF that event in these
words
We knew there had been war. and in
our cabins talked about II. One morning
word was sent over the whole place Tor ali
the bands TO come up TO the big house
Standing there IN tho yard in front of the
porch paper was read out loud TO us
and my mother, bending over me. whisp-
cred 10 me that we were free was too
young 10 really understand what Thai
meant then"
There Was now tho family 10 be provided
for and soon after freedom was declared
the Nashingtons migrated 10 West Viz
Elnia. where work In the coal mines offer
"a employment and money wages. TIL,
Journey over the mountains was made 1,
2 rude cart The determination to rise II
life. which then could have only been an
instinct. was already stirring tho soul q
the boy. and, Finding that life in the mine
gave no opportunity for advancement
Booker looked for other employment II,
was so fortunate as 10 be hired 10 wor
~ the kitchen and run errands for a Nov
England woman OF unusual lntellieenc,
fnVr saF oh
married 20 Southern gentleman. mn,
Washington has always felt that 10 he
training aud example he owes much r,
his success in life This lady--Mrs VOL
Fufiner--is stil living. though al an ad
Tanced age al the time ! write Her HON
nov II In Charleston. $. q. with her sou
MTor y. " Rnffner, Of the United State
army, and recently enjoyed the privileg
OF visiting her there, II was she wh
taught the boy, Booker TO read spealt
ing Of him TO me. she said
He WAS always good boy. quiet an
determined TO amount to something. "A
never wasted his tfroe, as so many OF m
help did. AS soon as his work was don,
even IL II was only for a few minutes. h
would sit down In the corner OF the kitch
en-. with the book from which | was be
ginning to teach him 10 read Only on
thing ever made him uneasy. He was nay
er satisfied with his work unless he via
try different thlngs--unoe, remembe
working on steamboat-but he alwav
came back 20 me until he finally starte
for Hampton"
When Young Washington was II year
OH the reputation OF General Armstrong
great work at HAMPTON penetrated to N
West Virginia mountains. To hear OF I'M
was 70 realize at once that this was
means OF getting on" II was nat
queation OF whether he should 20 n
wher. but OF how quickly he could rsae
hampton 3o had no money 10 spare "a
nii ne had earned had gone to help aq,
port the family
ui this turning point in bis life lie. hi
of;r words tell
Whom found out that hampton was
place where black boy could sindv. m
ni the same time have chance 10 ,eor
for his board. and that. In additlon /
study he would be taught how 10 work
rsade up my mind 10 60 there TolIln
my mother goodbye J started All IN
morning 10 find my way 10 Hanpt1n 81
though l had but very few cenfa i
sp''ney. and old not have even any deflnt,
,aea where Hampton WAS. But ino,iirc
my way and By walking begglug I'D,
spn paving for pcrtien Of tho tourney &
tAe steam cars With money earned on Il,
s4A1 ! nnauy reached The city Of Rich
moro va was without friends thor
eua opti1elv without money. i fauna
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