The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02

in the time of reconstruction the Ku- Klux Klan were accustomed to assemble to make their mysterious rides through the adjacent country.
 The white people of Tuskegee speak
 in the highest terms of Washington and
 the exemplary behavior of his nu-
 merous pupils. There is no doubt that his school has done a great and good work, and, as long as he controls 1t or
 his policies are adhered to- 1t will con tinue to elevate his race morally and mentally. Let us hope and believe that such will be the case and continue to give him the aid of the state, financially
 and otherwise. The financial aid given by the state is a bagatelN compared to
 the munifcent donations of northern
 philanthropists, but the moral support
 of the white people of Tuskegee is the schools most valuable asset.
 I have never seen Dr. Washington and |. know him only by his reputation among the white people of Tuskegee and his fame as it is heralded by the public
 press. Perhaps a little incident will best
 illustrate his character as a man. Not long ago he was passing the resi- dence of a lady who did not know him and who called to him, Uncle, won't you please come in and cut up a load of wood for mel" Washington raised his hat and replied: If I had time, madam, I would do so gladly, but I will at once send man to cut your wood" He walked on and immediately sent one of his pupils to do the work. This was done to the satisfaction of the lady, who offered to pay the pupil for his labor. He too, raised his hat and said: Cant
 take pay, madam, Dr. Washington sent
 me to cut the wood for you and told me to charge you nothing
 This Is we'll authenticated incident and demonstrates the mans wonderful self-control.
 Lord Chesterfield, I think in defining the word gentleman said: He is a man slow to take offense and still slower to give offense."
 Washington took no offense, but seized the opportunity to do kindness to the lady who had unintentionally offered it. In the grounds l met an old darkey who was not certain whether he knew me or not but after a few well directed ques- tions about his ''whitefolks'' he recog- ] nized me and called my name In that place 1t was strange, indeed to hearthis former slave speak affectionately of 'Marse Lushe Bryan, Marse Charley Bryan and Marse Paul Carlos" His most vivid memory of me was that he had heard me make speeches in the old court house and l was one of Melsas white | folks This type of his race Is rapidly l passing away; is it possible for as true and faithful class of it to take it's ! place? It may be a very different type and show it's usefulness in quite a differ- ent way, but proper education and true
 religious training may give the country
 new and improved race of black men. l For this result the work of the statesmen. philanthropists and patriots has been l shaped for more than forty years past. The future only can tell what the harvest will be.
 1 drove by the old family home, now so 1 changed that l could hardly recognize it
 then by the far famed female college, 1 soon to be moved to Montgomery, and
 then back to the square" The court
 house that formerly occupied it's center
 has been torn away and new and splen- did temple of justice has been built on the
 site or the old hotel. A ponument to the Confederate dead Is soon to be erected and the grounds beautified in every way. | Entering the court house I met Milo
 Abercrombie, the probate judge, and sew
 eral other gentlemen who were children when was resident of the town. ' When these young men introduced me to