I always envy the individual whose life-work is so laid that
he can spend his evenings at home. I have sometimes thought that
people who have this rare privilege do not appreciate it as they
should. It is such a rest and relief to get away from crowds of
people, and handshaking, and travelling, to get home, even if it be
for but a very brief while.
Another thing at Tuskegee out of which I get a great deal of
pleasure and satisfaction is in the meeting with our students, and
teachers, and their families, in the chapel for devotional exercises
every evening at half-past eight, the last thing before retiring for
the night. It is an inspiring sight when one stands on the platform
there and sees before him eleven or twelve hundred earnest young men
and women; and one cannot but feel that it is a privilege to help to
guide them to a higher and more useful life.
In the spring of 1899 there came to me what I might describe as
almost the greatest surprise of my life. Some good ladies in Boston
arranged a public meeting in the interests of Tuskegee, to be held in
the Hollis Street Theatre. This meeting was attended by large numbers
of the best people of Boston, of both races. Bishop Lawrence
presided. In addition to an address made by myself, Mr. Paul Lawrence
Dunbar read from his poems, and Dr.
Pages:
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265