The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-09
AFROAMER|CAN CULL|NCS

One thing that appealed most to me
was a little cottage set off in the cor
ner of the g~rounds-the center of
several acres, surrounded by garden,
orchard, poultry yard, barn and pig
pen, a home Of the humble type, Just
such a home as work will give to any
thrifty Negro; or white man, who
wants to live, to make a home, relates a
visitor to the Tuskegee institute. This
is where every girl in the school has
to spend a week during the term. She
is given a small amount Of cash-40
cents a day, and she has to manipulate
with the others living with her during
the period, having each an equal
amount of change. So as to make a
comfortable home for themselves,
here is their real lesson in household
duties, with a 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 a bed, chairs, tables
and a 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, home
made; the students are taught here
the al of beds, of closets, of wood
work, disinfecting, dish washing, cook
ing, setting table and all duties per-
tanning 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 a flower
garden and & playground. Do our
mountain people, do Our rural schools
have such a chance in life? Why not?
! did not go there to find out what
the northern capitalists were doing
to educate the Negro. l had been
told all OF this. l knew what money
would do. l 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.
l did not leave the grounds from the
minute l drove in the Lincoln gate
until | left for the depot. l ate and
slept there in a home reserved by the
school for white friends. l was treat
ed with the same courtesy and atten-
ton as l have been accustomed to by
the Negroes all of my life, and l profit
ed 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 mas 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 is a very intelligent, industrious
woman, with a strong purpose, and
she is working the details of this prob
lem of 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 a great end.
She has a 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
in 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 a work
for the people of both races, as saw
it on my visit.