The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-22
o ANOTHER STRENUOUS LIFE.

| Booker T washington's autobiography,
up From Slavery" is TO be published In
Switzerland in German, in Finland IN
| Finnish, and a special Spanish edition is
soon to appear in Cuba. 1t has already
appeared in Hindustanee, and the trans
llations into German and French were
among the first to be undertaken. A
leading article by Tn. Benton in the
Revue des Deux Mondes names IL as a
book of that quality of human interest
which Will bring the greatest achieve
ments of their fellows, being an example
of the fame of Mr.. Washingtons auto
| biography in many foreign lands.-Liter-
| airy Exchange
| Only those American books are trans
| lated and published in foreign Ian
| guages, which contain material of more
| than local interest; only books which
| illustrate strong human and heroic
forces.
The attractive feature in Booker
Washingtons life is the extraordinary
exhibition of force of character in a
negro with some white" blood in his
veins. II contains much material for
the student in heredity-the tracing of
the origin of those latent forces in
negro which, at a bound, have placed
him in native force of character far
above many millions of the proud
Anglo-Saxon race" 1t also contains
abundant new material for the student
of the best methods of education for
lifting the ignorant. Here is a negro
who has, in the use of his faculties
and in his power of speech, put him
self above the average of the leaders
of men.
That which is most conspicuous in
the negro is his lack of character and
the power of organization. There have
been many eloquent negroes. but they |
have been destitute of solid character |
have lacked the sand" which makes |
the Teutonic race predominant. The |
teachers of the black race are not
troubled about it's brains; it is the de-
ficiency OF character that is their main
The history of the race re-
veals the cause of it.
But it is in Booker Washington that
of this character is found.
1t was the fear of those who knew him
when he was unknown, that at some
critical moment in his promising ca
reer, he would show that weakness
and webbing gait" which is the rule
Of his race. But their fears no longer
exist. He says, with modesty. that his
success is largely due to the instruc-
ton and example of his teacher, the
founder of the Hampton school. But
while the way was "blaZed" for him
through the wilderness of ignorance,
by that founder. it is still true that his
OWN singular and most unusual pos
session of character, is the solid and
continuous force which has made him
what he is. A mere imitator would
lave wholly failed.
The supreme need of the ignorant is
Industrial training with a certain !
mount OF well-proportioned book
With the exception of that
instructor. Horace Mann. !
cholars and students as we'll as !
tatesmep have generally failed to see
his need. When the philanthropist :
-chmuty. of New York City, taught the
oy street loafers to lay bricks so that
'ithin six months they became brick
ayers, this instruction was not regard
d as Education" in any sense. But
he men of the Booker Washington
ype regarded it as the first and pri-
nary education and book.learning as
Important but yet secondary. This 4
neory of education does not impair the
alue of high schools and colleges but
axes account of the real conditions of
ociety. and builds from the base up
ards.
The story of Washington's life strikes
own racial barriers. and appeals to
he men and women of all civilized ma
ons. 1t is pathetic in it's living pic
Ire of struggle. disappointments, al
ost insurmountable obstacles, and
nal success.
BY the side of the biographies of "
-eat men 1t reads well. But in all of
lie stories of self-made men, up from &
avery" has not been written. Be
re Booker Washington could meas
re himself against such, he had to.
oss the ugly chasm of slavery 1t is -
IT strange that German, Russian and
zen Hindu are curious about his
Dry.