The San Francisco call., 1901-10-24
ONE MANS WORK.

EFOKlS from the 1ale festival are to the
X effect that Of all the distinguished scholars and
official dignitaries who attending that great
gathering not one has received more considera-
ton than Dr.. Booker T. Washington, the
negro principal OF Tusegee Normal and Industrial
Institute Some of the attention paid him may be due
the discussion raised by the fact that he recently
dned with President Roosevelt, but we may be sure
that most of If has permanent foundation than
that Had be never dined with the President Mr..
Washington would still have commanded respect in
such gathering OF educators by of the extra
ordinary work he has accomplished in the education
OF his race
The story of Tuskegee Institute reads almost like
a romance 1t was started by Mr. Washington when
he was himself poor, unfriended and untried man.
It began almost literally with nothing in the way of
material wealth. 1t case where brave, indus
trIous, sagacious and ndomtable man went out into
the wilderness and about establishing center of.
industry and education. He received nothing in the
way Of help until he had proven that he could get
along without help. At the present time his institute
is OF the most considerable in the Union so far
the number OF students is concerned, and one of
the least considerable with respect to wealth 1t is
virtually living from day day by the labors of its
students directed by the experience OF its principal
and is about completely self-supporting institr-
ton be found in the world of education
The nineteenth annual report of the trustees of the
institute which has just been issued states that the
average daily attendance of students during the past
year IoIo and addition there has been an aver
age attendance, 100 children in the training school
of the normal department The school is conducted
on such strict economy that the individual cost to
students averages only $73 year. OF that cost the
larger part paid by the students in the form of
labor, and during the past year the amount credited
TO them fot that service was over $4,000.
While the school aims to train teachers and to fit
students for various lines of industry the chief study
is agriculture In his report the work of the school
Mr. Washington says: 'The salvation of my race will
largely rest upon its ability and willingness to
and cultivate properly the soil believe that every
thing possible should be done to enlarge and increase
the efficiency Of agricultural department In this
connection 1 glad to add that arrangements have
been made to reserve three acres of land around the
training school, to be used in giving agricultural
training to the smallest children The negro as a
slave was started on the foundation of agriculture.
mechanics and household arts While l would by
means limit his present education to these but
would in all cases add academic and religious training
do believe shall find it helpful for number of
years to come, in methods of education to give
great attention to these fundamental occupations In
proportion as one Owls the soil and has the mastery
of these fundamental occupations in the same propor
ton does he lay the foundation for the highest and
most complete development of himself and children y
Along those lines the school has been working and
its influence has been widely felt AT present it has
students from twentyne States and Territories and
from six foreign countries. Such record would be
accounted good had it been made by university
established on a foundation of millions and the man
who has made it by his almost unaded efforts GER
tanly merits honor from all who concerned in the
education of mankind.