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no bitterness against the South； and was happy when an opportunity offered for manifesting his sympathy。 In all my acquaintance with General Armstrong I never heard him speak； in public or in private； a single bitter word against the white man in the South。 From his example in this respect I learned the lesson that great men cultivate love； and that only little men cherish a spirit of hatred。 I learned that assistance given to the weak makes the one who gives it strong； and that oppression of the unfortunate makes one weak。
It is now long ago that I learned this lesson from General Armstrong； and resolved that I would permit no man； no matter what his colour might be； to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him。 With God's help； I believe that I have completely rid myself of any ill feeling toward the Southern white man for any wrong that he may have inflicted upon my race。 I am made to feel just as happy now when I am rendering service to Southern white men as when the service is rendered to a member of my own race。 I pity from the bottom of my heart any individual who is so unfortunate as to get into the habit of holding race prejudice。
The more I consider the subject； the more strongly I am convinced that the most harmful effect of the practice to which the people in certain sections of the South have felt themselves compelled to resort； in order to get rid of the force of the Negroes' ballot； is not wholly in the wrong done to the Negro； but in the permanent injury to the morals of the white man。 The wrong to the Negro is temporary； but to the morals of the white man the injury is permanent。 I have noted time and time again that when an individual perjures himself in order to break the force of the black man's ballot； he soon learns to practise dishonesty in other relations of life； not only where the Negro is concerned； but equally so where a white man is concerned。 The white man who begins by cheating a Negro usually ends by cheating a white man。 The white man who begins to break the law by lynching a Negro soon yields to the temptation to lynch a white man。 All this； it seems to me； makes it important that the whole Nation lend a hand in trying to lift the burden of ignorance from the South。
Another thing that is becoming more apparent each year in the development of education in the South is the influence of General Armstrong's idea of education； and this not upon the blacks alone； but upon the whites also。 At the present time there is almost no Southern state that is not putting forth efforts in the direction of securing industrial education for its white boys and girls； and in most cases it is easy to trace the history of these efforts back to General Armstrong。
Soon after the opening of our humble boarding department students began coming to us in still larger numbers。 For weeks we not only had to contend with the difficulty of providing board； with no money； but also with that of providing sleeping accommodations。 For this purpose we rented a number of cabins near the school。 These cabins were in a dilapidated condition； and during the winter months the students who occupied them necessarily suffered from the cold。 We charge the students eight dollars a monthall they were able to payfor their board。 This included； besides board； room； fuel； and washing。 We also gave the students credit on their board bills for all the work which they did for the school which was of any value to the institution。 The cost of tuition； which was fifty dollars a year for each student； we had to secure then； as now； wherever we could。
This small charge in cash gave us no capital with which to start a boarding department。 The weather during the second winter of our work was very cold。 We were not able to provide enough bed…clothes to keep the students warm。 In fact； for some time we were not able to provide； except in a few cases； bedsteads and mattresses of any kind。 During the coldest nights I was so troubled about the discomfort of the students that I could not sleep myself。 I recall that on several occasions I went in the middle of the night to the shanties occupied by the young men； for the purpose of confronting them。 Often I found some of them sitting huddled around a fire； with the one blanket which we had been able to provide wrapped around them； trying in this way to keep warm。 During the whole night some of them did not attempt to lie down。 One morning； when the night previous had been unusually cold； I asked those of the students in the chapel who thought that they had been frostbitten during the night to raise their hands。 Three hands went up。 Notwithstanding these experiences； there was almost no complaining on the part of the students。 They knew that we were doing the best that we could for them。 They were happy in the privilege of being permitted to enjoy any kind of opportunity that would enable them to improve their condition。 They were constantly asking what they might do to lighten the burdens of the teachers。
I have heard it stated more than once； both in the North and in the South； that coloured people would not obey and respect each other when one member of the race is placed in a position of authority over others。 In regard to this general belief and these statements； I can say that during the nineteen years of my experience at Tuskegee I never； either by word or act； have been treated with disrespect by any student or officer connected with the institution。 On the other hand； I am constantly embarrassed by the many acts of thoughtful kindness。 The students do not seem to want to see me carry a large book or a satchel or any kind of a burden through the grounds。 In such cases more than one always offers to relieve me。 I almost never go out of my office when the rain is falling that some student does not come to my side with an umbrella and ask to be allowed to hold it over me。
While writing upon this subject； it is a pleasure for me to add that in all my contact with the white people of the South I have never received a single personal insult。 The white people in and near Tuskegee； to an especial degree； seem to count it as a privilege to show me all the respect within their power； and often go out of their way to do this。
Not very long ago I was making a journey between Dallas （Texas） and Houston。 In some way it became known in advance that I was on the train。 At nearly every station at which the train stopped； numbers of white people； including in most cases of the officials of the town； came aboard and introduced themselves and thanked me heartily for the work that I was trying to do for the South。
On another occasion； when I was making a trip from Augusta； Georgia； to Atlanta； being rather tired from much travel； I road in a Pullman sleeper。 When I went into the car； I found there two ladies from Boston whom I knew well。 These good ladies were perfectly ignorant； it seems； of the customs of the South； and in the goodness of their hearts insisted that I take a seat with them in their section。 After some hesitation I consented。 I had been there but a few minutes when one of them； without my knowledge； ordered supper to be served for the three of us。 This embarrassed me still further