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n who represented the best and most progressive element in the South； had their way； and voted to invite a black man to speak on the opening day。 The next thing was to decide upon the person who was thus to represent the Negro race。 After the question had been canvassed for several days； the directors voted unanimously to ask me to deliver one of the opening…day addresses； and in a few days after that I received the official invitation。
The receiving of this invitation brought to me a sense of responsibility that it would be hard for any one not placed in my position to appreciate。 What were my feelings when this invitation came to me？ I remembered that I had been a slave； that my early years had been spent in the lowest depths of poverty and ignorance； and that I had had little opportunity to prepare me for such a responsibility as this。 It was only a few years before that time that any white man in the audience might have claimed me as his slave； and it was easily possible that some of my former owners might be present to hear me speak。
I knew； too； that this was the first time in the entire history of the Negro that a member of my race had been asked to speak from the same platform with white Southern men and women on any important National occasion。 I was asked now to speak to an audience composed of the wealth and culture of the white South； the representatives of my former masters。 I knew； too； that while the greater part of my audience would be composed of Southern people； yet there would be present a large number of Northern whites； as well as a great many men and women of my own race。
I was determined to say nothing that I did not feel from the bottom of my heart to be true and right。 When the invitation came to me； there was not one word of intimation as to what I should say or as to what I should omit。 In this I felt that the Board of Directors had paid a tribute to me。 They knew that by one sentence I could have blasted； in a large degree； the success of the Exposition。 I was also painfully conscious of the fact that； while I must be true to my own race in my utterances； I had it in my power to make such an ill…timed address as would result in preventing any similar invitation being extended to a black man again for years to come。 I was equally determined to be true to the North； as well as to the best element of the white South； in what I had to say。
The papers； North and South； had taken up the discussion of my coming speech； and as the time for it drew near this discussion became more and more widespread。 Not a few of the Southern white papers were unfriendly to the idea of my speaking。 From my own race I received many suggestions as to what I ought to say。 I prepared myself as best I could for the address； but as the eighteenth of September drew nearer； the heavier my heart became； and the more I feared that my effort would prove a failure and a disappointment。
The invitation had come at a time when I was very busy with my school work； as it was the beginning of our school year。 After preparing my address； I went through it； as I usually do with those utterances which I consider particularly important； with Mrs。 Washington； and she approved of what I intended to say。 On the sixteenth of September； the day before I was to start for Atlanta； so many of the Tuskegee teachers expressed a desire to hear my address that I consented to read it to them in a body。 When I had done so； and had heard their criticisms and comments； I felt somewhat relieved； since they seemed to think well of what I had to say。
On the morning of September 17； together with Mrs。 Washington and my three children； I started for Atlanta。 I felt a good deal as I suppose a man feels when he is on his way to the gallows。 In passing through the town of Tuskegee I met a white farmer who lived some distance out in the country。 In a jesting manner this man said： 〃Washington； you have spoken before the Northern white people； the Negroes in the South； and to us country white people in the South； but Atlanta； to…morrow； you will have before you the Northern whites； the Southern whites； and the Negroes all together。 I am afraid that you have got yourself in a tight place。〃 This farmer diagnosed the situation correctly； but his frank words did not add anything to my comfort。
In the course of the journey from Tuskegee to Atlanta both coloured and white people came to the train to point me out； and discussed with perfect freedom； in my hearings； what was going to take place the next day。 We were met by a committee in Atlanta。 Almost the first thing that I heard when I got off the train in that city was an expression something like this； from an old coloured man near by： 〃Dat's de man of my race what's gwine to make a speech at de Exposition to…morrow。 I'se sho' gwine to hear him。〃
Atlanta was literally packed； at the time； with people from all parts of the country； and with representatives of foreign governments； as well as with military and civic organizations。 The afternoon papers had forecasts of the next day's proceedings in flaring headlines。 All this tended to add to my burden。 I did not sleep much that night。 The next morning； before day； I went carefully over what I planned to say。 I also kneeled down and asked God's blessing upon my effort。 Right here； perhaps； I ought to add that I make it a rule never to go before an audience； on any occasion； without asking the blessing of God upon what I want to say。
I always make it a rule to make especial preparation for each separate address。 No two audiences are exactly alike。 It is my aim to reach and talk to the heart of each individual audience； taking it into my confidence very much as I would a person。 When I am speaking to an audience； I care little for how what I am saying is going to sound in the newspapers； or to another audience； or to an individual。 At the time； the audience before me absorbs all my sympathy； thought； and energy。
Early in the morning a committee called to escort me to my place in the procession which was to march to the Exposition grounds。 In this procession were prominent coloured citizens in carriages； as well as several Negro military organizations。 I noted that the Exposition officials seemed to go out of their way to see that all of the coloured people in the procession were properly placed and properly treated。 The procession was about three hours in reaching the Exposition grounds； and during all of this time the sun was shining down upon us disagreeably hot。 When we reached the grounds； the heat； together with my nervous anxiety； made me feel as if I were about ready to collapse； and to feel that my address was not going to be a success。 When I entered the audience…room； I found it packed with humanity from bottom to top； and there were thousands outside who could not get in。
The room was very large； and well suited to public speaking。 When I entered the room； there were vigorous cheers from the coloured portion of the audience； and faint cheers from some of the white people。 I had been told； while I had been in Atlanta； that while many white people were going to be present to hear me speak； simply out of curiosity； and that others who would be