The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17

the pOOrhoJse TO which his mother took
him in West Virginia There as a mere
child he worked in the salt furnaces and
then in the mines. While working in the
mines and furnaces the child had a chance
to get a few months of school every year,
but he secured employment with a New
england woman and had an opportunity
TO attend night school, and then at odd
times jobs he worked and stud
led until 1871, when he started for Hamp-
ton school, OF which he had heard much.
out OF the So a month which the woman
tor whom he worked paid him for his serV-
ices his savings were small, and when he
reached Richmond on his way to Hampton
he had to go to work to get enough money
to make himself presentable at the institu-
ton. But he became the star pupil of the
place and was graduated with hOnorS, al
though he worked his way through. After
spending a little while at his old home and
teaching school he returned to Hampton
as a teacher and then started the %institu-
ton at T~uskesee, Ala, which VIII always
be a notable monument to his energy and
his helpful work in the interest of his race.
The college was started in 1881 in a
shanty. The Idea of a higher school for
blacks in that part Of the country caused
some amusement in many Southern circles,
and the majority of white citizens who
gave the thing any thought believed that
the scheme of the young negro enthusiast
would be forgotten In a short time. But
to-day the Tuskeegee College has forty-six
buildings on its $500 acres of land, and
ls-JV pupils, representing IWGntV-SeVen
States, are being taught in the institution.
A new hospital is building, a Carnegie Ii
brary Is under way, and a new dormitory,
the gift of John ID. Rockefeller, will soon
become a part of the institution. The stu
dents receive instruction not only in the
ordinary school branches, but in twenty
eight industries, each pupil selecting the
one for which he has the greatest inclina-
ton. In his book, up from Slavery" Mr..
Washington says: From the very begin
ming, at Tuskeegee, L was determined to
Va tho - - Il
tural and domestic work, but to have them
erect their own buildings This plan has
been carried out t. the present day, and as
the institution grows the list of negro
mechanics increases.
Washington had seen the people of his
race work in a "headless' way. and was
determined TO better their condition in that
respect. My place as" he said, mot TO
teach them to work in the old way, but to
show them how to make the forces of ma
ture-air, steam. water and electricitv-as-
sist them in their labor" WASHINGTON set
his people a good example as a workman
and as practical exponent of the principles
which he taught. His daughter Portia,
who is now a student at Wellesley College.
learned the dressmaking trade while at the
Tuskegee institution, and his eldest son.
who is now thirteen years old, has been
working at the brickmasOn's trade several
years without curtailing his regular school
course. lie has a younger son who thinks
himself cut out to be a physician. The
boy goes to school at TuSkegee, but also
works in the office of a physician. and
hopes to rise from office boy to the position
OF a real doctor" The older boy. Baker
Taliaferro. has ambition in the direction of
an architects office, and Mr.. Washington
takes pride in showing a letter in which the
little fellow writes: II like my work so
much that 1 want to work at my trade all
day. Besides, l want TO earn all the money
l can, so that when / go to another school
L shall have money to pay my expenses"
In the spring of 1896, according to Mr..
W~ashington's words, anne 10 him the
greatest surprise of his life in the form of
a letter from President Eliot, Of Harvard
University, asking the negro president of
Tuskegee TO be present at Cambridge at
the next commencement 10 receive the de-
gree which Harvard intended TO confer
upon him. At that time he shared the
hOnOrs with General Miles, DIR. Bell. Bishop
Vincent and DR.. Savage. and growls went
up similar TO those which have been heard
from the South since the dinner at the
White House took place. At that time. as
now. he was besieged by people who want
ed him TO talk on the subject, but then, as
now, his reply was, II have nothing TO
loudly and often to his people of making
themselves worthy OF recognition, and by
way of leading the column in that direction
doubled his work in the interests of his
school.
Il formed a resolution" he wrote. lin
the secrecy of my heart that I would try TO
build up a school that would be OF so much
service to the country that the President
of the United States would some day come
TO see it. This was a bold resolution, and
for a number of years L kept ii hidden in
my own thoughts. not daring 20 share IL
with any one" This dream was realized.
and the visit of President Mckinley and
his Cabinet TO the school in December,
1895, is the brightest spot in the history OF
the institution.