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up from slavery-第52章

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t this meeting。 After ten days of delightful weather; during which I was not seasick for a day; we landed at the interesting old city of Antwerp; in Belgium。

The next day after we landed happened to be one of those numberless holidays which the people of those countries are in the habit of observing。 It was a bright; beautiful day。 Our room in the hotel faced the main public square; and the sights therethe people coming in from the country with all kinds of beautiful flowers to sell; the women coming in with their dogs drawing large; brightly polished cans filled with milk; the people streaming into the cathedralfilled me with a sense of newness that I had never before experienced。

After spending some time in Antwerp; we were invited to go with a part of a half…dozen persons on a trip through Holland。 This party included Edward Marshall and some American artists who had come over on the same steamer with us。 We accepted the invitation; and enjoyed the trip greatly。 I think it was all the more interesting and instructive because we went for most of the way on one of the slow; old…fashioned canal…boats。 This gave us an opportunity of seeing and studying the real life of the people in the country districts。 We went in this way as far as Rotterdam; and later went to The Hague; where the Peace Conference was then in session; and where we were kindly received by the American representatives。

The thing that impressed itself most on me in Holland was the thoroughness of the agriculture and the excellence of the Holstein cattle。 I never knew; before visiting Holland; how much it was possible for people to get out of a small plot of ground。 It seemed to me that absolutely no land was wasted。 It was worth a trip to Holland; too; just to get a sight of three or four hundred fine Holstein cows grazing in one of those intensely green fields。

From Holland we went to Belgium; and made a hasty trip through that country; stopping at Brussels; where we visited the battlefield of Waterloo。 From Belgium we went direct to Paris; where we found that Mr。 Theodore Stanton; the son of Mrs。 Elizabeth Cady Stanton; had kindly provided accommodations for us。 We had barely got settled in Paris before an invitation came to me from the University Club of Paris to be its guest at a banquet which was soon to be given。 The other guests were ex…President Benjamin Harrison and Archbishop Ireland; who were in Paris at the time。 The American Ambassador; General Horace Porter; presided at the banquet。 My address on this occasion seemed to give satisfaction to those who heard it。 General Harrison kindly devoted a large portion of his remarks at dinner to myself and to the influence of the work at Tuskegee on the American race question。 After my address at this banquet other invitations came to me; but I declined the most of them; knowing that if I accepted them all; the object of my visit would be defeated。 I did; however; consent to deliver an address in the American chapel the following Sunday morning; and at this meeting General Harrison; General Porter; and other distinguished Americans were present。

Later we received a formal call from the American Ambassador; and were invited to attend a reception at his residence。 At this reception we met many Americans; among them Justices Fuller and Harlan; of the United States Supreme Court。 During our entire stay of a month in Paris; both the American Ambassador and his wife; as well as several other Americans; were very kind to us。

While in Paris we saw a good deal of the now famous American Negro painter; Mr。 Henry O。 Tanner; whom we had formerly known in America。 It was very satisfactory to find how well known Mr。 Tanner was in the field of art; and to note the high standing which all classes accorded to him。 When we told some Americans that we were going to the Luxembourg Palace to see a painting by an American Negro; it was hard to convince them that a Negro had been thus honoured。 I do not believe that they were really convinced of the fact until they saw the picture for themselves。 My acquaintance with Mr。 Tanner reenforced in my mind the truth which I am constantly trying to impress upon our students at Tuskegeeand on our people throughout the country; as far as I can reach them with my voicethat any man; regardless of colour; will be recognized and rewarded just in proportion as he learns to do something welllearns to do it better than some one elsehowever humble the thing may be。 As I have said; I believe that my race will succeed in proportion as it learns to do a common thing in an uncommon manner; learns to do a thing so thoroughly that no one can improve upon what it has done; learns to make its services of indispensable value。 This was the spirit that inspired me in my first effort at Hampton; when I was given the opportunity to sweep and dust that schoolroom。 In a degree I felt that my whole future life depended upon the thoroughness with which I cleaned that room; and I was determined to do it so well that no one could find any fault with the job。 Few people ever stopped; I found; when looking at his pictures; to inquire whether Mr。 Tanner was a Negro painter; a French painter; or a German painter。 They simply knew that he was able to produce something which the world wanteda great paintingand the matter of his colour did not enter into their minds。 When a Negro girl learns to cook; to wash dishes; to sew; or write a book; or a Negro boy learns to groom horses; or to grow sweet potatoes; or to produce butter; or to build a house; or to be able to practise medicine; as well or better than some one else; they will be rewarded regardless of race or colour。 In the long run; the world is going to have the best; and any difference in race; religion; or previous history will not long keep the world from what it wants。

I think that the whole future of my race hinges on the question as to whether or not it can make itself of such indispensible value that the people in the town and the state where we reside will feel that our presence is necessary to the happiness and well…being of the community。 No man who continues to add something to the material; intellectual; and moral well…being of the place in which he lives is long left without proper reward。 This is a great human law which cannot be permanently nullified。

The love of pleasure and excitement which seems in a large measure to possess the French people impressed itself upon me。 I think they are more noted in this respect than is true of the people of my own race。 In point of morality and moral earnestness I do not believe that the French are ahead of my own race in America。 Severe competition and the great stress of life have led them to learn to do things more thoroughly and to exercise greater economy; but time; I think; will bring my race to the same point。 In the matter of truth and high honour I do not believe that the average Frenchman is ahead of the American Negro; while so far as mercy and kindness to dumb animals go; I believe that my race is far ahead。 In fact; when I left France; I had more faith in the future of the black man in America than I had ever possessed。

From Paris we went to London; and reached there early in July;
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