The Denver star., 1913-12-13
MadIkans Q. ceIs Relates
Story Of His Life.
eOING BACK TO FATHERLAnD
From Watching Herds of Cattle In
South Africa and Leading an Other
wise Nomadc Career to tho Light Of
Christian Culture and Education 10
Cele's Good Fortune.

To the native Zulu. who needs to
learn how to use to greater advantage
his natural resources and blessings,
Madikane Q. Cele. a Hampton trained
blacksmith and wheelwrlght, will re-
turn shortly, accompanied by his wife.
who is Hampton girl. To the Chris
tian Zulus Mr.. and Mrs. Cele will
bring new strength and inspiration, as
they go to work in the Zulu Christian
Industrial school at Natal, South AT
rica. which was founded by Rev. John
l.. DUDE.
The Hampton message of "educa-
ton for life. in life and by life will
help to bring together the interests o,
the Zulus who are without ambition
and without the knowledge of Christ
and the native Zulus who haze already
advanced along the way of Christian
living.
Ceie's story of progress during the
past eight or ten years IS worth care
full reading. because 1t shows what an
African living in Christian or semi
Christian atmosphere can really do for
himself and for his people when he
makes up his mind to sacrifice home
and personal comforts to venture out
into a strange world and to reshape
his ways of thinking and living. Cele
himself can best tell the story Of his
own life.
This is what he says:
Down in the southeastern part OF AZ
rica. along the coast OF the Indian ocean.
there lives the tribv known Zulu. ono,
OF the most warlike tribes of Africa ana
vet very kind In way. There you VIII
find my birthplace. but as to what date
or what year / was bor- l cannot tell.
and no one can tell People there do not
keep the ages OF children or of grown
people We all live just as long as we
can and die when we can't help it. MY
father lived in this tribe as n governor
under the king OF the Zulus until white
missionaries landed there and he became
civilized. giving up his position and allow
ing the missionaries to instruct him in the
word OF God. When he became a civilized
man was Just born
grew up as most Zulu boys do. watch
ing after my fathers herds OF cattle. sheep
and goats until became n large boy and
! began to Join other boys OF my age tn
sports. such hunting. plasing at war
| with each other and idling away all of the
! time. With such habits my father was
much dtspleased. for out OF me he ex-
pected to make something real So he
sent me to the missionaries where he was
educated. l spent three Years at the
Amanximutot Mission School For Boys
I finished what they could afford TO teach
me. then went back to my father.
The evil spirit-so / called it-caught my
father. He became dissatisfied with only
the blue spcller learning had. Now. he
thought to himself. that / must have
little more education. But he didn't know
where he could send to be educated.
and was pleased with that. because then
l thought the life l lived was the best
earth. He tried In every way possible 10
fnd a place where he could send me.
Finally he learned of America and her
schools through the white missionaries.
yet he knew nothing of the country or OF
the language. While he was wondering
how he could learn more about America
something happened which pleased him
greatly. that was the return to Zuuland
OF Rev. John l.. Dubc. my uncle, who
ranged for my coming to America.
On my trip from Africa had many dis
couragements. On the ship l found my
self surrounded by white. strange faces
No one could speak the Zulu language.
could not speak word of English. For
two weeks l could now and then the
tops OF the African mountains. Never
did anything look so good to me as those
mountains. Then for five weeks ] could
see nothing but the endless sea After my
long. wcarisomc tourney-tired. worried
and scared almost TO dcath-I reached New
York city. few days later. through the
American Missionary association. | was
directed to the Slater school at Winston
Salem. In North Carolina There | had
my first lesson In the English language.
1t was there also that had my first fall
Ing out with America was made TO
work
Then heard Of Hampton institute
through two OF my teachers vho were
Hampton graduates. found out that
Hampton offers to those who are not able
to pay for their training in money an OPP
portunity CT working for an education.
The thought OF long years of labor at
Hampton seemed Mt first more than
could stand. After entering Hampton in
1907 | soon found that the half OF what
Hampton is has never been told. Now
the nine ion6 years o: hard struggle sor
e;iucation sem like but n dav
When i entered the Hampton institute
trade school knew nothing at all about
the trades. couldn't even ask for the
tools wanted l didn't know their
names. Little by little, learned my, les
sons in the trade school. and in three
years had earned my wheelwright,rs
certificate. took the wheelwrighting
trade and some special work in black
smithing. because l knew that. while my
people have plenty OF horses males cows
and elephants. they have no wagons for
use In transportation.
Down In the southland we know that
the Negro helped American civilization by
clearing away the forests. draining the
land. makiny the roads. Ike laborcd hard
and well. lie helped to lay the marvellous
foundation Of prosperity for this country.
America owes lasting debt to Africa be
cause many OF the blessings which we en-
Joy today have come directiv or indirectlv
through the best efforts of the sons and
daughters OF Africa
believe that there was strong feel
ing in the heart OF General Armstrong
when he founded the Hampton school thai
unless tho spirit of Hampton. the spirit
OF unselHsh service, could be- felt by the
Africans his aims could not bc fully real
lied. When think of General Arm.
strong's work Tor the Negro race and tn.