Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-18

ate costume appeared before the audi
ence and gave a full account of each
step taken in Transforming his material
| into the manufactured article. The
young man who irohed the buggy ap-
pcared in Il wooden shirt, leather apron
and skull cap and described the kind Of
iron selected. how it should be fash
toned, where the different parts should
be placed and gave all the details con-
nected with the operation. The audi
ence commented especially upon the
accuracy. defniteness and appropriate
ness of the language used in the de-
scriptions given.
THE general appearance Of the
school is attractive and inspiring to an
extent one cannot appreciate until he
has had an opportunity to study 1t 1T
close range. The words of praise CIV
en- the institution have not been ex-
travagant.
In his field. Booker Washington has
done an unparalleled work. He is a
man of large frame. rugged face, quick
movement and great impressiveness of
bearing. lie is master of himself. TN
dcrstands his associates and students
knows his work and Is ready for the
next thing. There Is no confusion, be-
| cause there Is no hurry; but there IS
everywhere manifest an alert and con-
trolling mind and kindly spirit. 1t is a
place where things are done and done
right, too. 1t has all the characteris-
tics of quiet Industrious, sober. pros
porous community. 1t stands in such
| marked contrast with many things
seen in other sections that perhaps its
virtues are more manifest than they
otherwise would be-"
Did you visit the blackest section Of
| the Black Belt'?"
1--WE stopped ut Calhoun. In this re-
gion the colored people outnumber the
| whites in anywhere from six to thirty
to one. The school at this place was
established by two Northern women in
a tumbled down, abandoned, negro
cabin. The school now owns a large
farm and has at least a dozen build
ings. In addition to the industrial and
scholastic work corporation connect
cd with the school arranges for the sale
of land to negroes on reasonable terms.
No one is allowed to own one of these
small farms unless he complies with
certain moral and industrial conditions.
AT Calhoun, on Sunday. April gath.
an audience of several hundred negroes
assembled in a grove on the grounds If
the Calhoun school to listen to speeches
from the guests of Mr.. Ogden. There
was but one white person in the COM
pany besides those who made up the
party from the North. '-
| at was especially interesting to lis
ten TO the comments of those negroes
who separated themselves from the
general audience and grouped them
selves in little clusters OH the out
skirts of the sittings. The remarks
were always pertinent, sometimes clev-
or, but usually gOOd-natured. The ac-
curacy with which they took the meas
ure of the different speakers was es-
pecially noticeable. They did not take
kindly to talk which indicated the
speaker felt he must use language they
could understand. The meeting was
orderly, the audience was attentive and
the evidences of approval indicated the
keenest appreciation of the best things
said. 1t was an experience of life
time and the picture formed by those
dark faces and white eyes, in beauti-
full grove of trees i'm full leaf. beneath
Il Southern sky, will be long remem-
bered."
What is your feeling about the ne
gro problem?"
1T is not safe for n Northern man
to talk on subject of which he knows
so little. l think an old negro's prayer
expresses the safe attitude for the
outsider. Returning from town one
night he was Overtaken by violent
thunder storm. The darkness was in
tense. the thunder terrific and the brief
flashes of lightning added to the diff
IculticS of keeping in the road. Finally
nc stopped his mule and in pleading
tones said, % Lord. If it is just the
same to you. we would like little
more light and little less noise 1t is
light we need and it is light the South
lern people arc seeking"
who is Mr.. Ogden?"
"Mr. Robert C. Ogden is the General
Manager of the John Wanamaker
lstores in New York City. He has, for
many years, been interested in cduca-
ton in the South. He has been active
ly identified with the General Educa-
ton Board and the Southern Education
Board. This movement, of which he is
the head, is known as the Conference
for Education in the South, and is in
dependent of the other associations
named. He is the prince Of hosts"
What is his object in arranging
these eXcursions?"
Il hold no brief from Mr.. Ogden, but
so far as l can judge. he wishes: First
to give Northern people who are inter-
Tested in education. an opportunity to
study. on the ground, the methods
which are being used in the South in
Solving important educational prob
lens. Second. to know, at first hand
some of the difficulties met and some Of
the triumphs achieved in educating the
negro. Third. to promote q better I'M
derstanding between the North and
South and to make possible such q
sympathy between the two sections as
will enable both to do their best work.
what are some of the lessons
learned on this trip"
First. that manual training is the
first step in great movement, and
that industrial and handicraft training
| &c no SecOpd sfcp in, thic roropf ~.