Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-10-08

Ono thing that appealed most to mi
was little cottage set on In the cor
n Nor Of the Srounds--the center o
several acres. surrounded by garden
! orchard, poultry yard, barn and Pill
pan, home OF the humble type. JUS
such : home 60 work will give to an,
thrifty Negro; or white man, wht
wants to live, 70 make home. relates
visitor to the Tuskegee institute. This
IL where every girl In the school has
% spend week during the term. She
II given small amount Of cash--4l
Z cents . day, and she has to manipulate
n with the others living with her during
the period. having each an equal
amount OF change. So as to make
comfortable home for themselves
] here il their real lesson in household
duties, with I teacher to direct. The
house consists Of two bedrooms. kitch'
\ en-. dining room, living room, pantry
bath, front and back porches.
The furniture made by the begin.
ners In woodwork, Indicating that any
body can make some furniture without
much effort, at least with so much
wood around have bed, chairs. tables
and q few benches. The windows are
draped with cheesecloth, cross-stitched
by the girls; the portieres are made
from croker sacks or other rough ma
terial, dyed by pupils; settees are
made the same way; rugs, nome
made; the students are taught here
the care Of beds, Of closets, of wood
work, disinfecting, dish washing. COOK
ing, setting table and all duties per-
taining to housekeeping; they work
the garden, gather and prepare the
vegetables, care for chickens and the
stock, even learn the care Of garbage.
Connected with the home is flower
garden and playground. Do our
mountain people, do our rural schools
have such q chance in life? Why not?
did not go there to find out what
the northern capitalists were doing
to educate the Negro. had been
told all of this. I knew what money
would do. went there to find out
what Booker T. Washington and his
wife were doing for the Negro and
how the Negro was making use OF the
opportunity.
/ did not leave the grounds from the
minute I drove In the Lincoln gate
until left for the depot. ate and
slept there In home reserved by the
school for white friends. was treat
ed with the same courtesy and atten-
tion as l have been accustomed to by
the Negroes all of my life, and proflt-
"a by the experience and enjoyed
every minute Of my time
Booker Washington was not there.
but his wife was. She had done as
much for the uplift Of her race as he
has. He has financed and planned and
she has executed much of the details.
She was born In Macon. Miss. edu-
Gated at Nashville and taught in this
institution before she married.
She ia very intelligent, industrious
i woman, with strong purpose, and
she ID working the details of this prob
lem 81 the poor and helpless among
\ her people. She hopes to see the day
when every Negro is trained to give
the best Of his sense and energy, when
he is certain that work is the only way
{ to attain great end.
She has q handsome home and she
keeps It well. She loves the South and
speaks with gratitude OF her friends in
the North.
This training and environment will
ii time give to the white people OF the
south the competent service that was
theirs in part; intelligent work is
needed in every Office. This is work
Tor the people Of both races, as saw
II on my visit.
is8S4 m, q v,nvornnnt NJ southern Negroes