New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-01
HAMPTON INSTITUTE.
IA Account of Its Founder and
His Work.

icsi stndy- Bv Edith Armstrong Talbot $40.
pp. 4. soL Doubleday. Page CO
The founder OF Hampton Institute and the
pioneer OF Industrial education for the negro was
D man OF distinct personality. 4 contemporary
81 his college days once summed up his char
.cter In the phrase missionary or pirate" A
devoted missionary he was fun OF deep religious
feeling and unlimited capacity for humanitarian
sndeavor But before he was missionary he
was a boy Of high spirits. islander with
love OF the sea- a man brinful OF energy and
ambition. with thirst for adventure delight
IN fun ana q gift Of sane common sense These
were the qualities which made him strong, first
as a soldier and then a missionary and
teacher. They account for the extraordinary
affection which he inspired. the power which
ne exercised over ali who came within the range
OF his activities. For twenty years. in the face
Of the greatest encouragement and popular in
difference. he fought for an education for the
freedmen adapted to their childish condition and
moral deficiencies. which would at once build
character and fit them for the practical condi-
lions confronting them. Industrial education
ss a moral as well practical training is
now almost fad-if anything so reasonable and
useful may be called a fad in the time OF its
popula-ity-Rnd its value. not only for blacks,
but for whites is acknowledged To General
Armstrong; insight. courage and devotion and
70 the charm OF his personal ma gnetism the IN
station OF that work ana its firm foundations
are due.
In this interesting biography we find much
to explain that charm and power. It is written
with the natural partially OF daughter. but
without indiscrimnate eulogy- General Arm
strong IS allowed in great measure to speak
for himself and reveal his own peculiarities
through his letters. These have naturalness
and engaging frankness which testify TO the
truth OF the tenderest appreciations.
General Armstrong was born IN Hawaii. the
son OF New-Englard missionaries. The first
part OF the biography contains an account Of the
island life much Of II in Armstrong; own breezy
words He was thoroughly normal boy. ever
ready for all the sports OF outdoor life, bu:
under stern family discipline trained to hard
work Of body and mind, and 10 a sense Of re-
sponsibility which laid the foundations OF his
character. in 1850. when not quite twenty-one
years old. he first left Hawaii TO enter the
Junior class at Williams College, rather TO
come under the influence Of Mark Hopkins. He
wrote delightful letters of his first Impressions
OF the large world New-York, when he stayed
IN Union Square. away uptown and away up
IN the fourth story" majestic in its size
and its marble palaces, and he wondered how
much they cost and who had the money TO pay
Cor them just as keenly as the visitor OF to-day
who is confronted by a similar. but larger puZ-
zle College full Of the fever. but
Armstrong was too much of a stranger to be
more than lightly touched by it After his
graduation he was carried into the service more
by the example OF his fellows and desire for
adventure and career than by conviction.
Friends told him there was an opening to en-
list q company for regiment being formed at
Troy. so there he pitched a tent in a park.
gathered IN the young men from the surround
ing country, and became captain Of New-York
volunteers. He a good officer and some
thing OF q military martinez. Indeed, that trait
never left him. He was the soldier Ia his school,
sharp and abrupt. But beneath It all he was
kindly. A culprit student could see sympathy
and forgiveness after discipline IN his eye. His
soldiers knew that he would risk his life as read
fly he would risk that Of any one OF them.
ard that no comfort for them would be wanting
II he could secure It, even by going without
himself His camps were models for order and
sanitation StiI be felt little interest in the
cause OF the Union He SUI called himself an
Hawaiian. and the mere preservation Of the
great nation which he did not know meant
nothing TO him The Emancipation ProcIarna-
ton changed all that He felt THAI he was