Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-04
TALKS OF HIS WORK
BOOKER WASHINGTON TELLS OF
HIS HOPES.
Trying to Make the Negro Useful
Member of Society-Carnegie
Interested in Tuskegee.
srecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF Inc Evening sur.
TUSKEGEE. Ala, February q, 1908.
Booker T. Washington lives at Tuskegee
In a beautiful brick residence erected by his
own students. 1t is modern In all details,
neat enough to excite the envy of New
England housekeeper, and furnished with
all those little refinements Of taste and lux
ury which are suggested by advanced edu-
cation and perfect savoire faire. The rugs
hangings. pictures are In the most exquisite
taste, as one should expect to see in the
house of so cultured a couple as Mr.. and
Mrs. Washington.
At the principals invitation. went up to
his study on the third floor Of his residence.
On table in the midst Of a plainly fur
nlshed room stood tiny vase, holding a
bunch Of violets. On the walls hung pic
lures Of Rutherford B. Hayes, autographed
and presented by the late President; Of
Bishop Paine. founder Of the African Meth
odist Episcopal Church: Of the Hampton
Normal Academy and a frieze from the
Shaw monument In Boston. A small bust
of Admiral Dewey bore witness to the ne
gro leaders patriotism.
In private conversation Mr.. Washington
Is most charming-simple as child, unpre-
tending full of good stories. deferential.
There Is much in his mental makeup that
reminds of Abraham Lincoln. We
talked of his work and the relation Of the
two races.
What is your hope as to the ultimate
situation" / asked. when the negroes
finally become the equals of the whites in
education. financial resources and influ-
ence?"
"If such time ever comes" he replied.
Il hope that the two races will live to-
gether much as the Jews and Gentiles do
today. Each race will have Its own society,
and will continue distinct people, yet they
will live side by side in harmonious business
and political relations
But do you not sometimes feel lonely
and does not such cultivated lady as your
| wife often long for association with peo-
pie who are her equals in education and re
fnementT
mot at all. That Is one feature Of the
case that white people do not seem general
ly to understand. In every city that visit
1 am sure to find several cultivated colored
families. with modern houses. where there
are bath tubs. libraries. all the latest maya
zines and music and entertaining converse
ton. The time has passed In America when
an educated negro need feel lonely"
Two Main Objects.
The two main objects which Washington
| is striving to attain are to make the negro
useful member of society and to upbuild
his moral fiber.
You will not find anywhere In the whole
country q more moral community than
this" he said proudly, speaking Of Tuske-
gee. ana IL Is emphat1caIly true that my
girls go out from here and become exam
Piles of purity In the neighborhoods where
they settle. and strong influences for good.
Rarely. IL ever. does q girl graduate Of
Tuskegee go wrong"
do many Of them enter domestic serv-
fce?" asked.
mo. They can get places at three and
four times the wages that domestic service
offers. and we cannot turn them out fast
enough to fill the places. Later on I hope
to have q school for the training Of domes-
| tic servants and housekeepers."
Speaking OF the present relations of
whites and blacks In the south. Mr.. Wash
| ington said: There are very few places
where the negro Is disturbed In holding
property and In doing business. In general,
| the white man Is good friend of the negro
/ who is trying to better his condition and
| the latter Is beginning to discriminate be-