CHAPTER XXII.

LOOKING BACKWARD.

The Nature of the Author’s Work at Tuskegee--The Discouragements Met with in the Early Years--Author’s First Experience at Speaking to Northern Audiences--General Armstrong’s Advice and Helpfulness--His Interest in the Work at Tuskegee--His Last Visit to Tuskegee--His Reception by Teachers and Students--Author’s First Public Address in the North--Author’s Campaign of Speech-making in the South to His Own People--His First Opportunity to Speak to a Large Audience of White People in the South--Some Incidents and the Results of this Speech as Told by the Christian World--Author’s Rule About Engagements of a Public Nature--The Difficulty in the Early Years in Getting Interviews with Prominent People--The Difficulty to Secure Opportunities to Speak in Churches in the Beginning--Some Reasons Why This Was So--The First Legacy Received by the School--Later Legacies--Some of Author’s Experiences with Benefactors--Some Interesting and Lucky Experiences of Author While Collecting Money--An Article in the “Outlook” on the Ministry--Criticism and Censure--Bishop D. A. Payne Corroborates Author’s Position--Credit Given T. Thomas Fortune and E. J. Scott, Author’s Private Secretary--The Financial Policy of Tuskegee at Present Contrasted with That of the Early Years--The System of Book-keeping at Tuskegee--$1,000,000 Raised--How to Succeed in Any Undertaking--The Kind of People the World Needs--Hard Work the Author’s Synonym of “Luck” and the Price of All Success.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

Booker T. Washington and Family Frontispiece

Hon. Frederick Douglass 3

Dr. J. L. M. Curry 4

Mr. Washington and Two of his Distinguished Friends and Supporters--Pres. William McKinley, Gov. J. F. Johnston 27

The House in Virginia where Booker T. Washington was born 28

Little Booker and his Mother Praying to be Delivered from Slavery. (Original Illustration.) 31

Little Booker a Favorite with his Master--Is Allowed to Peep into the Parlor of the Big House 33

The House in which Booker T. Washington’s Family Lived in West Virginia, at the Time he Left for Hampton Institute 41

The Cabin in Old Virginia where Booker T. Washington Lived when a Boy 42

“This fired my ambition to learn to read as nothing had done before.” (Original Illustration.) 44

“Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.” (Original Illustration.) 46

“Booker Starting for Hampton Institute.” (Original Illustration.) 56

Booker T. Washington Rehearsing his Graduating Oration at Hampton. (Original Illustration.) 60

Teachers at Tuskegee Institute--Warren Logan, Lewis Adams, and John H. Washington 65

A Brilliant Trio of Colored Americans--E. J. Scott, Edgar Webber, T. Thomas Fortune 66

A Group of Mr. Washington’s Warm Friends and Supporters--Rev. R. C. Bedford, Ex-Pres. Grover Cleveland, Gov. G. W. Atkinson 83

Distinguished Americans who have Introduced Mr. Washington on Public Occasions--Ex-Governor Bullock, Hon. Joseph A. Choate, William Harper, Pres. of Chicago University 84

Olivia Davidson Hall at Tuskegee Institute 91

Cassidy Industrial Hall--Erected by Students, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 92

Booker T. Washington’s Residence, Tuskegee, Ala. 113

Faculty Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute--Eighty-eight Teachers 114

Bird’s-eye View of the Grounds of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 117

Printing-press Room--They do Their Own Printing at Tuskegee Institute 201

Paint Shop--Students at Work 202

President Eliot Conferring Honorary Degree upon Mr. Washington at Harvard University, June 24, 1896. (Original Illustration.) 206

Senior Class in Psychology, Tuskegee Institute 219

Brickmaking at the Tuskegee Brickyard 220

A Corner in a Millinery Room, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 225

Girls at Tuskegee Learning Dairying 226

Mrs. Olivia Davidson Washington 255

Girls at Tuskegee Engaged in Floriculture 256

Mr. Washington Making a Speech at the Chicago Peace Jubilee, October 19, 1898. (Original Illustration.) 262

Laundry Building at Tuskegee Institute 273

Porter Hall--First Building Erected of Tuskegee Institute 274

Bird’s-eye View of the Grounds and Review Stand at Tuskegee, December 16, 1898, when President McKinley and Party Visited the Institute 279

Waiting for the Procession to Pass at the Time of President McKinley’s Visit to Tuskegee 280

Shoe Shop, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 285

Cooking at Tuskegee Institute 286

Young Women at Work in the Sewing Room, Tuskegee Institute 287

Girls at Tuskegee Engaged in Horticulture 288

Mathematical Float, December 16, 1898, at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 297

Student Carpenters at Work on the Trade’s Building 298

Agricultural Building at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 307

Blacksmith Shop--Built by Students 308

Dressmaking at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 309

Bee Culture at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 310

Tuskegee Negro Conference, February 22, 1899--Negro Farmers Coming Out of the Dining Hall 319

Tailoring Division, Tuskegee Institute 320

Reception Given Booker T. Washington after his return from Europe, by Gov. G. W. Atkinson at Charleston, W. Va. 346

A View of the Machine Shop--Students at Work 377

Harness Making and Carriage Dressing at Tuskegee Institute 378

The New Chapel--Built by Students 387

Alabama Hall, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 388

Float--Representing Tinning Department, Passed in Parade on the Occasion of President McKinley’s Visit to the Tuskegee Institute 389

Bird’s-eye View of Some of the Floats at the Tuskegee Institute, December 16, 1898 390

President McKinley and Party Watching the Parade 407

Science Hall--Erected by Students at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute 408