The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-05

(Excsusive Service the Survey Press Bu
 reau)
 In one sense Tuskegee was in no way surprised at the death of Dr. Washing ton. Indeed, had he fallen two or three years ago many of us could only have said, "Alasl it is what we have been ex- pecting" The trustees had urged and almost ordered him to rest. Again and again at home his physician had put him to bed and ordered him to remain there. When school closed last May he seemed a worn-out man. having striven to close the year free of debt
 In a little while he went north and sailed away to Canadian waters to reju- venate, but no rejuvenation came. For all that he went on to Boston and con ducted the National Negro Business league, of which he was president and founder Then it appeared that of a cer- tainty all was over. In the north he lay prostrate. He had reached the point where he received no mail, not even tel egram, which for him was amazing; for by letter and by telegram he was in the habit of keeping his finger on every pulse in Tuskegee institute.
 Then all of a sudden he appeared in the Negro national Baptist convention at Chicago, where he was listed for an ad- dress. Once more there was a siege of pain and several sleepless nights Again, however, he rehounded and was off to Mobile for a few days fishing. When he returned he seemed a new man.
 Seeing that he defied nerves and baf- fled pain, we hoped. It was in the hour of hope that the last stroke came. and we felt that pulling at the throat which we should have felt had he gone by sudden accident.
 How Tuslsegee took Dr. Washington's 8 death can probably best be appreciated oy an account of what his life meant among his teachers. Officially he was 0 stern and exacting taskmaster. A tire- less worker himself, he imposed heavy tasks upon others. Tn the home. how ever, he had a genius for cheering by lit tie kindnesses and by thoughtful. word. Now he would send around a basket of vegetables from his garden, now cut of one of his pigs which he had killed. and in which he took great delight.
 People who sent books and pictures to Tuskegee can hardly realize what a dou- ble pleasure they were shipping; the pleasure they gave him and others through him. He would have the boxes opened and books and pictures brought into his office Then from all his heaps of correspondence, from business en- agreements, from matters of national iur- portance, he would turn aside and go through these himself. He would sort pile here for this family one there for another, according to what he considered would suit each. In all things he re- ceived but to share
 Then he had a way of letting organfza- tion go to pieces for a few minutes. If some rural school had a creditable ex- hibit he would order that the senior class 150 strong should be taken there, whether it was one mile or 10 miles away. He would order the classes out to see how this poor illiterate farmer had raised bumper crop of peas, corn, sugar cane and peanuts, how he surrounded himself with conveniences, both inside and out side the home.
 Now he would declare a half-holiday; now he would allow the students to sleep a half-hour later in the morning. In the same way the teachers would get an out ing once or twice a year., sometimes at night sometimes in the day. As the teachers are on duty for both day and night school, and as the students usually rise at 5;30 and breakfast at 6, these breaks were windfalls. They sent each one back to his labors with a smile. He knew the value of change and the