The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-19
SEEN AT TUSKEGEE.
Impression of n Visitor at the Booker
Washington school.


Washington Post.
You may talk about Tuskeegee ad libi-
tum. write about it ad infinitum, and
7raise it ad nauseam, but all the prattle
and print and praise are as sounding brass
and tinkling symbol if you hope to make
people see Tuskegee with the eyes of the
mind, as 1t looms up before those who be-
hold it with the eyes OF flesh. Pictures
Of Tuskegee are interesting, and so far
as concerns the likeness Of the people and
objects represented, are well enough in
their way. But from pictures alone it is
impossible to realize how gigantic is the
plant at Tuskegee. how complete are the
appointments in every department OF the
work undertaken. and what fine opportuni-
ties the students have not OILY for learning
useful trades, but of filling their heads with
useful knowledge well. If one doubts
that the students of Tuskegee get suffi-
cient scholastic training let him attend a
commencement of the academic depart
ment. and his doubts will be Immediately
dispelled. The commencement exercises
this year were precisely like those OF other
institutions, with one exception, perhaps.
There was not single slip of the memory.
not a solitary slip of the tongue, and not
a single essay was read by either girl or
boy. The papers were perfectly written in
good, forcible English. were perfectly COM
mitted, and were unusually well delivered.
One might have closed his eyes and have
easily imagined himself at a commencement
of the best of our Eastern colleges, with
the slips OF memory which sometimes occur
there left out. One young ,nan gave strik-
ing. evidence OF oratoricai powers Of the
highest type.
To the commencement of the academic
department the whole of Alabama seemed
to have come. On the platform there were
as many white people as colored, and the
latter were all Southerners, so far as
could learn. Most of these white visitors
came from Montgomery and took the live
lest interest in every feature of the pro-
gramme. The subjects discussed at the
commencement OF the academic depart
ment were practical for the most part. One
young woman discoursed upon "The Mis-
sion of the School Teacher in a Southern
County School, If her advice could be
followed, the ignorance which so thickly
envelops the intellect OF the ill-conditioned
blacks of the South would be quickly dis
PEELED. The difficulties and needs OF the
woman in the cabin home made a pic
ture as full of pathos as il was OF squaior
and low ideals.
In the midst OF the oratory of the aca-
demic commencement, one heard an echo
OF the Industrial commencement which
young man appeared carrying pieces OF
wood, big and little. and fashioned into
various shapes. After he had carefully
deposited his wooden burden upon a good
sized table, along came another youth.
who showed how to construct a farm
wagon" And IL those OF us who saw him
DO II cannot make farm wagon ourselves.
it is due entirely to our own stupidity and
not to any lack OF cleverness or skill
which can be charged against the young
Tuskegee mechanic. Without laying him
self liable to the charge of exaggeration
or Misrepresentation, one can truthfully
say that there were few commencements
this year at which finer orations were de-
livered than were heard at the commence
ment of the academic department OF Tus-
kegee.
An Interesting feature of these exercises
was an account of "the struggles and
achievements" of Tuskegee graduate
belonging TO the class OF 1886, who in the
face Of many hardships ad privations,
has founded a school in Virginia modelled
commencement address had been delivered
by Bishop Tyree. oftthe African Methodist
sented diplomas and certificates to-its ll2
graduates. The principals parting words
to his students were full OF encourage
ment and good advice.
One is struck with the reverence quite
unaffected and voluntary, which every
student and teacher at Tuskegee feels for
DR.. Washington. This reverence extends
beyond the students and teachers To the
stranger within Tuskegee's gates, as well
as TO those who dwell I'm the vicinity the
year round Any request made by Mr.
Washington Is verify the law and the goS-
pei. Fer instance, the commencement exer-
cises OF the academic department lasted
four consecutive hours. Mr. Washington
asked in the beginning that no one leave
until the programme was finished. Out
of that vast concOurse of people who
filled every seat, occupied every available
inch of standing room, upstairs and down,
II there were "A half dozen who left the
chapel before the benediction was pro-
nounced, those who were seated on the
platform. and who thus commanded a clear
view OF gallery and pit, did not see them de-
part. The order was perfect throughout.
though the day had It's fun share OF Ala
bama caloric.