Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-14
NEGRO TEACHERS
LIFE IS QUOTED
Rev. P. H. Barker breaches on
Booker 7. Washington's
Career.

Booker T. Washington commenced
his book education while working in
a West Virginia mine when his
mother found for him, by means he
does not know, "Webster's Blue
back Speller." In a letter to Rev
Percival II. Barker, minister of
Christ Reformed Church, Professor
Washington says his mothers gift
and a conversation he overheard IN
he mines started him on his way to
Hampton Institute. His letter was
the subject of last nights sermon at
Christ Church.
THE purpose of this sermon" said
Mr.. Barker, lis to inspire some young
fellow to reach out after an ideal
such as guided Booker t. Washing
ton from the position of a slave on
plantation TO the presidency Of a
great educational institution. Sue
cess is never shaken out of the
sleeve. The first step toward
achievement is an ideal. 1t is the
cornerstone upon which every sue
cessful life is built. He is small
man who can realize his ideal, but
Ire great thing in life is in fighting
for it. David Star Jordan is fond o.
saving that the world turns aside to
let any man pass who knows whittier
he is going. Only the sexton and
undertaken can serve the purposeless
life"
Professor Washington wrote, IN
part:
I'm looking back over my past eS-
perience it appears to me that the
most important things We're the facts
which brought about my determine
ton to go to Hampton Institute and
secure an education. From the time
/ can remember having thoughts
about anything | recall had an
intense longing to learn to read. |
determined when quite a small Child
that if l accomplished nothing else
in life | would in some way get
enough education to enable me to
read common books and newspapers.
In some way my mother got hold of
an old copy Of Webster's Blue-bacli
Speller, which contained the alphabet
followed by such meaningless words
as abb 'ba,' Ca 'da.' / began at
once to devour this book and / think
ii was the first one ever had in
my hands. At this time l was work.
ing in the coal mines of West Vir-
ginia.
lone day, while at work in the coal
mine. / happened to overhear two
miners talking about a great school
for colored people somewhere in
Virginia This was the first time
that I had ever heard anything about
any kind of school or college that
was more pretentious than the little
colored school in our town.
'In the darkness of the mine |
noiselessly crept as close as / could
to the two men who were talking
| heard one tell the other that not
only was the school established for
the members of my race, but that
opportunities We're provided by which
poor but worthy students could work
out all or a part of the cost of
board, and at the same time be
taught some trade or industry.
"As they went on describing the
school, 1t seemed to me that 1t must
be the greatest place on earth, and
not even Heaven presented more at
fractions for me at that time than
did the Hampton Normal and Agri-
cultural Institute. in Virginia, abo,v
which these men were talking. / re-
solved at once to go to that school,
although / had no idea where it
was. or how many miles away, or
low / was going TO reach 1t; | re
membered only that l was on fire
constantly with one ambition, and
that was to go to Hampton. This
thought was with me day and night
This desire to secure an educa
ton carried me through many diff
culties to Hampton Institute; it en-
abled me to work my way through
that institution. To give to the
members of my race a like oppor-
tunity to secure an education has
been the guiding principle in what
may be called my life work