The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-29
CONFERENCE FOR EDUCATION IN THE
 SOUTH HAS CLOSED
(contlnued from First Paee.)

tion could tell with considerable definite ness how these gatherings had softened, deepened and broadened our opinions on the greater issues which these confer ences raise
 If we first gave general statement to these mental changes 1t would be doubt less in some such form as this, from those of us who come from the north. In the eye to eye and heart to heart contact which these meetings make possible, we so far live into the southern point of view as to get for 1t so much intel lectual sympathy that we can at least un- derstand it.
 .To understand with sympathy points of view differing from our own, is the beginning of all hopeful work, which as citizens of one country we have to do to- gether, and 1t seems to me of utmost importance to remember that the amount and variety of work which we have to do together steadily increases. As the nation grows more compact; as it is year by year bound more closely part to part by all sorts of eletrical and transportation agencies, we shall have as a nation more problems that all of us must work out in common
 "Of all educational problems this Is supremely true If I wanted to do the north th. De-. service known to me, l should take the Hampton and Tuskegee kind of education and scatter it through every state north of Mason and Dixons line. Your need of this is also our need In nothing will the north and south win a spirit of sustaining fellowship and good will more surely than in meeting together l these common needs.
 ] "If I wished to try my hand at a de- ! finition of real civilization, l should say l that it consisted In that largeness of spirit that can sink once for all every merely narrow, sectional feeling out of sight and act greatly and generously for ha fO.,t a1f
 fThese conferences enlarge and deepen this spirit in us every time we meet.
 Years Ago.
 Some years ago l went into the home of one of our honored soldiers. The gra- cious lady of the house met me with the charm of a perfect hospitality, but said: A few years ago, if l had known you came from Massachusetts, l should rot have felt quite like speaking to you, but I have been up there among your people and found just the same good folks l have lived among down here all my life. Only a journey of a few weeks and a score or two of conversations and the temper and attitude were changed You will believe me when 1 say, that it pleas ed me to hear her add: Don't think that ] am one whit less a southern woman than l was before. I only feel differently about the north. No guest of MT. Og- den ever came south without being en- rehed by this same experience. l would not put the indignity upon any southern audience of assuming that you would be pleased to hear from a northerner: Oh, ] have changed all my opinions and now think as you do on all these social and educational questions.' You would, trust, mark down that man a pretty poor creature. If we are worth our salt citizens we do not shake ourselves empty of all our traditions and beliefs quite so easily as that. The manhood of north and south alike win hold him in honor to whom every honest opinion Is a sacred possession.
 eWhen Chancellor Hill of Georgia, last winter in New York, read to his northern audience some telling evidence of the early frailties and bgotries in Massaehu- setts. he was not only roundly applaud ed for it, but honored. It was done in iargeness of spirit whien disarmed un- friendly criticism. He stood by his eolors and we liked him the better for 1t. On the other hand. I was once present in a northern city when a speech was made bristling with hostile criticism of the south and a man of southern birth and training followed, saying that he agreed with every sentence of it. The audience showed plainly that it did not think well of him for this. He would have been better liked if he had yielded less.
 "If then, l should state In word what most precious result of these conferences I have myself received, l should put 1t thus: They have given me at least so mucb insight into the reasons why and in what the south differs from the north' that 1 feel perfectly safe and free Tn talking with my southern friends with absolute straightness openness ana tfuth- fulness about every phase of the ques- tion known to me. When we can talk together with fearless candor' We can act together with generous confidence.
 "Rut should acquit myself very III bere if I left this so exclusively personal. I have talked with many of the guests who from year to year have come to these conferences. I want to make the briefest summary of this testimony con sistent with veracity. I am going to nuote very frankly opinions that nave heen expressed to me, and shoulo aoo that they are not in the least eXceptoiai opinions. If 1 were to do my pest to state in the fewest words that peheVe to be the deepest and most common reel Ing among your northern guests snouio ray. They come down here with good deal of genuine humility about the great er questions with which we deal. lhey do not come with critical cocKsurehess to sci YOU right. l do not know one who does not come honestly admitting ,l,at he has a good deal more to learn tban he has to teach, and very especially Is this true, after their first Journey to the south If there is ever any Dhnahess of infallibility 1t is on the nrst trip put a single week is enough to shame It out or one. t, ,.,s
 q have often thought that l should like a truthful report of dozens of con versations l have heard as we were re- turning to the north; generous eonfes- sions of sympathy with you upon whom tbe heaviest burden of these problems fall; admiration for the sacrifices you have made and eagerness upon their re- turn to spread among northern friends and neighbors all that kind Of informa- tion which is best caluculated to lessen misunderstanding and increase sympa- thetic cooperation. Many of you have told me that you have certain papers and certain politicians, in the south whose ex- treme utterances constitute perhaps the chief difficulty in that cordial under standing upon which the best national work depends. Well, in the north we are punished and2plagued by the same disease But some politicians and some papers there have had very definite instruction about truth and decency from MT. Og- den,s guests who are not without in- duence in their communitieA "One lady tells me, the conferences, among other enlightments, have led me to seek out and read the best southern literature upon these questions; books like those of Thomas Nelson Page, Miss II .oira rfrrl