The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-01-13
WASHINGTON (
: -ATNASHVILLE
.INSPEC'rS FISK UNIVERSITY AND
TALKS no FACULTY AND
STUDENTS.
CAN'T STAND STILL
Says the Wizard. Race Must Either
90 Forward or Backward, as is
True OF the Individual. binds
Much to Commend at the Univer-
Sity.-


ciaH Last Wednesday morning, the
people Of Nashville became aware
or the fact that their great race
leader, DR.. Booker Il. Washington,
was in their midst. His visit to the
city has a significant feature. He
came not to address the people of
Nashville, as he had done a little
over month ago, HOP did he come
amid the cheering Of admirers and
the blare Of trumpets, but he came
quietly and, accompanied by his wife,
his little nephew and his secretary,
Of Dean H. II. Wright, Of Fisk Uni
versity. His appearance in the chap
el elicited applause that is seldom
given any man Of note at this place.
In fewa words, he greeted the Pres
1dent, the faculty and students, en-
.phasizing the need Of such schools
as Hampton and Fuskegee and Fisk,
Howard and Wilberforce and COM
pairing g--them-wit11- the University OF
Michigan and Michigan Agricultural
College. with Harvard and Massachu-
sctts Agricultural College. He JUS
titled the ambitions of Negro stu
dent3 in-reachtng out for higher edu-
cation, when possible.
Throughout the day, DR.. Wash
ingtOn, in company with President
Gates looked into the several depart
ments Of the institution. AS trus-
tee Of Fisk University, he acquainted
himself with all the workings of the
University, approaching them in his
characteristic, practical manner; he
looked into the wants of the school
and especially into the financial
needs. 1t is. Of great moment in
deed that the greatest exponent Of
education. be connected
with an Institution Hike Fisk Univer-
sity. Ill.,.
Thursday morning, at Chapel, the
students and faculty were addressed
by their distinguished visitor. He
entered in the company of Prof II.
L. Keeling and was introduced by
President George A. Gates, who out
lined. the methods of industrial and
literary schools among Negroes. In
opening, DR.. Washington said, "I
have had very rich, interesting ex-
perience in connection with your
President, Dean Wright, and Dr.
Moore and others in going through
observing the physical plant of this
institution. The more I study the
physical side of this institution, he
more | am led to honor the memory
II those who laid the foundation Of
this institution; the more [ am led
to honor them because Of the broad
ness OF their vision, because of the
faith they manifested in the earlier
days and the possibilities before such
an institution This University has
q rich inheritance in the physical
equipment here and is destined to
have q still richer inheritance in
that respect. # 4 II
"NoW if 7 have any word for you
this morning that can be of any
value, it is perhaps in reference to
some Of my own observations as I
pass up and down the world, as un-
fortunately | have to spend a good
deal Of time in passing from one
place TO another, and during my
Journeys hither ind thither | chance
TO meet now and again young men
and young women, many Of whom
have been trained in normal schools,
industrial schools, colleges and uni
versities, and while many of them,
most OF them, | am glad to say, are
standing up, maintaining themselves
putting into practical living the les
sons which were taught them while
they were in the various institutions
from which they have graduated,
am sorry to say that now and then
there are those who have slipped
hack who houn CT Fn, =
teachings which they got when they
were in their institutions.
'NoW as [ study those who have
slipped back, who have slipped q
cog, as it were, I find that there are
several underlying weaknesses, and
] warn you, whether you remain here
to finish the course Of study or are
compelled to go out for this or that
reason, before you finish, ] warn YOU
to consider now that everything, ev-
cry rule and every policy that exists
here in connection with this work.
has an end in view. You are held
up to the high standard in reference
to the preparation and in reference
to the recitation Of your lessons.
This is for the bringing Of you up
to such q high standard Of mental
exercise, Of the-use-of- your-mind,
that it will be impossible for you to
slip back. IT is said Of us as a race
Of people that we need props more
than any other people. We Need
some fellow to be near us, aboW us,
constantly, to keep us DroDpn up,
that if we are left alone very long
we begin to slip down, to slide(back-
wardst You know it is said &f the
people Of Hayti that they fcannot
stand alone, that they continually,
year by year, go back without the
touch and influence of soIhe other