New-York tribune., 1901-10-27
BOOKER Z. WASHINGTON.
THE MANNER OF MAN HE is AND THE
GREAT WORK HE is DOING
AT TUSKEGEE.

AL ICShEGEE-
Booker T. Washington attended the Yale cele-
bratiOn last week and on his way to New Haven
spent several days in New-York- He was asked
by many people to give his opinion on the ques-
tiOns which arose out of his entertainment at
the White House by the President, but to all
| those who wanted TO know what effect VIII
the incident have on the Southern vOte?' and
similar questions he had only one answer II
have nothing to say 1t is safe to say also that
the people who received this answer from the
sturdy. clear eyed black man urged the subject
no further and knew that he meant what he
said.
His work educator of his people. as an
author and as a public speaker has attracted
wide attention. has made him hero among
his people and gained for him the admiration
of his fellow citizens, and if h were less
well balanced he might be unable 70 carry
his honors gracefully. But he is modest and
unobtrusive. ana in all respects a fine example
of the self-made man. He born at HaIe's
Ford. Va, about" 1873. He was a slave until
freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and
never knew who was his father. He was named
Booker Taliaferro. probably because there were
many prominent people in the Commonwealth
10y that name. but the name Washington he
took after he became free. He makes no denial
of these biographical points and rather likes TO
dwell upon them. He speaks of the people OF
his race negroes and not as 'colored people,"
and sets them a good example for industry and
ambition. coupled with mOdesty.
He was asked while in New-York what his
object was in going to New Haven In answer
he said: Il was guest at the Lotos Club last
season when that body gave dinner to 4 dis
tinSuished citizen. had no idea that / would
be called upon TO speak. but some one did ask
me TO say something, anl l told the president
by way of Introduction to my little speech that
1 fancied had been asked to give color 10 the
occasion" The man who wanted to know asked
no more questions.
Washington's life story reads like a romance
But there are few cheerful chapters in it until
one reaches the story of the young man. The
child was buffeted about in drudgery and want
AS the property of the Maiden family he prob
ably had more comfort in the 'nigger quarters
than in the pOorhOuse to which his mother took
him in West Virginia. There as mere child he
worked in the salt furnaces and then in the
mines While working in the mines and fur
naces the child had chance to get a few
months of schooling every year. but he secured
employment with New England woman and
had an opportunity to attend night school. and
then and at odd times between jobs he worked
and studied until 1871. when he started for
Hampton School. of which he had heard much
out of the ST. month which the for
whom he worked paid him for his services his
savings were small. and when he reached Rich
rnond on his way to Hampton he had to go TO
work to get enough money to make himself pre-
sentabe at the institution. But he became the
star pupil of the place. and was graduated with
honOrs. although he worked his way through.
After spending n little while in his old home
and teaching school he returned to Hampton az
a teacher. and then started the institution at
Tuskegee. Ala, which will always be a notable
monument to his energy and his helpful work
in the interest of his race.
The college started In 1881 in a shanty.
The idea of higher school for blacks in that
part of the country caused amusement in many
Southern circles, and the majority of white ciu-
zens who gave the thing any thought believed
that the scheme Of the young negro enthusiast