Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-03
. e 81 a d Is + 81 H.. q r. Il
PAID TRIBUTE TOLEE
Booker 7. Washington Praises
til: Dead yTgin'an.
VIRGINIA DAY Ix+Relsfs
Large audience Attends Opening cere-
monieo of Hampton Institute Com.
Observation-Disclosures by colored
and Indian Graduates.

III tir institute yesterday afternoon.
! The spacious room was handsomely
| decorated with flags. the edge of the
| platform was Incl with putted plants.
while overhead Il splendid American
las was drapcd in graceful festoons.
The exercises were of an exception
ally Interesting character. the opening
service being followed by plantation
songs from the magnificent chorus Of
colured and Indian students Of the
school AS the notes of the old-fashion-
ed songs came ont in fiill volume 1t
seemed as if they must almost lift the
roof off the building.
Changed Ideas of Farming"
Changed Ideas of Farming" was
the subject of j. Enoch Blanton, of
Rice Depot, Va. graduate OF the class
iii agriculture in 1905. He touched
upon his experiences at "SheIlbanli
Farm" in an interesting and amusing
way, showing the advantages to he de-
rived from training In agriculture
Frances l.. Boiling. of Farmville,
Va, graduate of The class in domestic
science, spoke on ''What Hampton Has
Meant to Me-" paying a glowing trib
ute To her alma mater.
Miss Natalie Curtis, of New York,
who is one OF the Instructors In the
Indian department. then made an inter
csting address on the folk lore songs
of the Indian, and made an impassion-
ed appeal for justice To the red men.
indian Songs.
AS 4 practical illustration Indian
girls and Indian boys sang Cradle
Songs Of the Pawnce, Arapaboe and
liopi Indians" Feather Dance Song of
The Senecas." Ceremonial Song of the
Sioux" and Love Song of the
hpaches."
Then followed an interesting ad-
dress by Charles DoXson, an Onondagn
Indian. and an alumnus of Hampton
Institute. He is now one of the eight
highest paid mechanics in the New
York Central Railway Shops. He
told OF his difficulties in getting into
the>union and said practical experience
| had convinced him OF the necessity for
workmen to stand together. He had
found that Indian blood did not stand
in the way Of a mans success. provid-
ell he possessed the other necessary
qualifications.
DR.. John Graham Brooks Speaks.
DR., John Graham Brooks. of Harv-
ard University, spoke on "The Fruits
tof Hampton" lie said that as the race
problem is probably the hardest with
which the world has TO deal and the
one of which we nre most profoundly
ignorant, he would avoid the big and
keep TO the little ana near The fact
that the writings of those who have
had most experience with the negroes
arc so fundamentally at variance has
an element Of hope as well as of de-
Spar.
Although it has been asserted that
the negro has lost his buoyancy, study
of him leads one to believe that
this Is not correct The same Is
true as to the oft-repeated statement
that the negro race is dying. and even
| If it were so, there is still the need
for much educational work. 1t would
be compliment to any educational in
stitute to be able to say that il really
knows its business.
Gone Of the truest things about
Hampton.' said he, SIS that she is find
problems multiply faster than they can
be met. but the real business of Hamp-
| ton is 20 show how race can be dis
ciplinel inio independence and how
success Is 10 lie won: in this IL sue
ceeds admirably.
Some Fruit of Elampton's Work.
"To show Tint this is so we need
only look at some Of the fruit Of Hamp-
toms work" he continued. "There are
the land and homes on the Tussegee
tree and On the Calhoun tree; there
are the Building and Loan Association
| in Hampton. and the Hampton Supply
Company; there Is the Mt. Vernon set
| Element, with its les owned homes and
/ no saloon. All around there are the
new homes. of sometimes eight rooms.
| in place of The One-roomed hut, and
( farms owned and cultivated, and made
to supply all the food for the family
except the sugar and tea. Along with
the mnterial progress comes tile rising
] Importance of moral agencies, shown
Z, in church, Sunday school, home life
md health, and improved relations be-
tween the races. the whole making
the negro necessary to the community
/ All this Is Hampton fruit;}if il can be
so grown on a dozen limbs 1t may
grow on thousand.
/ DR.. Booker r., Washington, Of Tuske-
gee Institute, was then introduced. He
received splendid ovation. He
spoke, in part. as follows:
i Loves Old Virginia.
/ There is no spot save one. and no
/ State save one that are so dear TO me
us Hampton Institute and the State of
Virginia. AT the one l received my
education. and In the other ! was born.
have always been proud of the fact
that am q Virginian and a Southern
er. No man Is more loyal to the State
OF his birth than am.
Such n gathering as this is fraught
with the deepest interest and eneonr-
lagement, We are sometimes. inclined
10 grow discouraged that greater pro-
gress has not been made in the South.
When we witness such a scene as this,
whore are gathered Northern men.