up from slavery-第48章

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Chapter　XVII。　Last　Words

Before　going　to　Europe　some　events　came　into　my　life　which　were　great　surprises　to　me。　In　fact；　my　whole　life　has　largely　been　one　of　surprises。　I　believe　that　any　man's　life　will　be　filled　with　constant；　unexpected　encouragements　of　this　kind　if　he　makes　up　his　mind　to　do　his　level　best　each　day　of　his　lifethat　is；　tries　to　make　each　day　reach　as　nearly　as　possible　the　high…water　mark　of　pure；　unselfish；　useful　living。　I　pity　the　man；　black　or　white；　who　has　never　experienced　the　joy　and　satisfaction　that　come　to　one　by　reason　of　an　effort　to　assist　in　making　some　one　else　more　useful　and　more　happy。

Six　months　before　he　died；　and　nearly　a　year　after　he　had　been　stricken　with　paralysis；　General　Armstrong　expressed　a　wish　to　visit　Tuskegee　again　before　he　passed　away。　Notwithstanding　the　fact　that　he　had　lost　the　use　of　his　limbs　to　such　an　extent　that　he　was　practically　helpless；　his　wish　was　gratified；　and　he　was　brought　to　Tuskegee。　The　owners　of　the　Tuskegee　Railroad；　white　men　living　in　the　town；　offered　to　run　a　special　train；　without　cost；　out　of　the　main　stationChehaw；　five　miles　awayto　meet　him。　He　arrived　on　the　school　grounds　about　nine　o'clock　in　the　evening。　Some　one　had　suggested　that　we　give　the　General　a　〃pine…knot　torchlight　reception。〃　This　plan　was　carried　out；　and　the　moment　that　his　carriage　entered　the　school　grounds　he　began　passing　between　two　lines　of　lighted　and　waving　〃fat　pine〃　wood　knots　held　by　over　a　thousand　students　and　teachers。　The　whole　thing　was　so　novel　and　surprising　that　the　General　was　completely　overcome　with　happiness。　He　remained　a　guest　in　my　home　for　nearly　two　months；　and；　although　almost　wholly　without　the　use　of　voice　or　limb；　he　spent　nearly　every　hour　in　devising　ways　and　means　to　help　the　South。　Time　and　time　again　he　said　to　me；　during　this　visit；　that　it　was　not　only　the　duty　of　the　country　to　assist　in　elevating　the　Negro　of　the　South；　but　the　poor　white　man　as　well。　At　the　end　of　his　visit　I　resolved　anew　to　devote　myself　more　earnestly　than　ever　to　the　cause　which　was　so　near　his　heart。　I　said　that　if　a　man　in　his　condition　was　willing　to　think；　work；　and　act；　I　should　not　be　wanting　in　furthering　in　every　possible　way　the　wish　of　his　heart。

The　death　of　General　Armstrong；　a　few　weeks　later；　gave　me　the　privilege　of　getting　acquainted　with　one　of　the　finest；　most　unselfish；　and　most　attractive　men　that　I　have　ever　come　in　contact　with。　I　refer　to　the　Rev。　Dr。　Hollis　B。　Frissell；　now　the　Principal　of　the　Hampton　Institute；　and　General　Armstrong's　successor。　Under　the　clear；　strong；　and　almost　perfect　leadership　of　Dr。　Frissell；　Hampton　has　had　a　career　of　prosperity　and　usefulness　that　is　all　that　the　General　could　have　wished　for。　It　seems　to　be　the　constant　effort　of　Dr。　Frissell　to　hide　his　own　great　personality　behind　that　of　General　Armstrongto　make　himself　of　〃no　reputation〃　for　the　sake　of　the　cause。

More　than　once　I　have　been　asked　what　was　the　greatest　surprise　that　ever　came　to　me。　I　have　little　hesitation　in　answering　that　question。　It　was　the　following　letter；　which　came　to　me　one　Sunday　morning　when　I　was　sitting　on　the　veranda　of　my　home　at　Tuskegee；　surrounded　by　my　wife　and　three　children：

Harvard　University；　Cambridge；　May　28；　1896。

President　Booker　T。　Washington；

My　Dear　Sir：　Harvard　University　desired　to　confer　on　you　at　the　approaching　Commencement　an　honorary　degree；　but　it　is　our　custom　to　confer　degrees　only　on　gentlemen　who　are　present。　Our　Commencement　occurs　this　year　on　June　24；　and　your　presence　would　be　desirable　from　about　noon　till　about　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　Would　it　be　possible　for　you　to　be　in　Cambridge　on　that　day？

Believe　me；　with　great　regard；

Very　truly　yours；

Charles　W。　Eliot。


This　was　a　recognition　that　had　never　in　the　slightest　manner　entered　into　my　mind；　and　it　was　hard　for　me　to　realize　that　I　was　to　be　honoured　by　a　degree　from　the　oldest　and　most　renowned　university　in　America。　As　I　sat　upon　my　veranda；　with　this　letter　in　my　hand；　tears　came　into　my　eyes。　My　whole　former　lifemy　life　as　a　slave　on　the　plantation；　my　work　in　the　coal…mine；　the　times　when　I　was　without　food　and　clothing；　when　I　made　my　bed　under　a　sidewalk；　my　struggles　for　an　education；　the　trying　days　I　had　had　at　Tuskegee；　days　when　I　did　not　know　where　to　turn　for　a　dollar　to　continue　the　work　there；　the　ostracism　and　sometimes　oppression　of　my　race；all　this　passed　before　me　and　nearly　overcame　me。

I　had　never　sought　or　cared　for　what　the　world　calls　fame。　I　have　always　looked　upon　fame　as　something　to　be　used　in　accomplishing　good。　I　have　often　said　to　my　friends　that　if　I　can　use　whatever　prominence　may　have　come　to　me　as　an　instrument　with　which　to　do　good；　I　am　content　to　have　it。　I　care　for　it　only　as　a　means　to　be　used　for　doing　good；　just　as　wealth　may　be　used。　The　more　I　come　into　contact　with　wealthy　people；　the　more　I　believe　that　they　are　growing　in　the　direction　of　looking　upon　their　money　simply　as　an　instrument　which　God　has　placed　in　their　hand　for　doing　good　with。　I　never　go　to　the　office　of　Mr。　John　D。　Rockefeller；　who　more　than　once　has　been　generous　to　Tuskegee；　without　being　reminded　of　this。　The　close；　careful；　and　minute　investigation　that　he　always　makes　in　order　to　be　sure　that　every　dollar　that　he　gives　will　do　the　most　goodan　investigation　that　is　just　as　searching　as　if　he　were　investing　money　in　a　business　enterpriseconvinces　me　that　the　growth　in　this　direction　is　most　encouraging。

At　nine　o'clock；　on　the　morning　of　June　24；　I　met　President　Eliot；　the　Board　of　Overseers　of　Harvard　University；　and　the　other　guests；　at　the　designated　place　on　the　university　grounds；　for　the　purpose　of　being　escorted　to　Sanders　Theatre；　where　the　Commencement　exercises　were　to　be　held　and　degrees　conferred。　Among　others　invited　to　be　present　for　the　purpose　of　receiving　a　degree　at　this　time　were　General　Nelson　A。　Miles；　Dr。　Bell；　the　inventor　of　the　Bell　telephone；　Bishop　Vincent；　and　the　Rev。　Minot　J。　Savage。　We　were　placed　in　line　immediately　behind　the　President　and　the　Board　of　Overseers；　and　directly　afterward　the　Governor　of　Massachusetts；　escorted　by　the　Lancers；　arrived　and　took　his　place　in　the　line　of　march　by　the　side　of　President　Eliot。　In　the　line　there　were　also　various　other　officers　and　professors；　clad　in　cap　and　gown。　In　this　order　we　marched　to　Sanders　Theatre；　where；　after　the　usual　Commencement　exercises；　came　the　conferring　of　the　honorary　degrees。　This；　it　seems；　is　always　considered　the　most　interesting　feature　at　Harvard。　It　is　not　known；　until　the　individuals　appear；　upon　whom　the　honorary　degrees　are　to　be　conferred；　and　those　receiving　these　honours　are　cheered　by　the　students　and　others　in　proportion　to　their　popularity。　During　the　conferring　of　the　degrees　excitement　and　enthusiasm　are　at　the　highest　pitch。

When　my　name　was　called；　I　rose；　and　President　Eliot；　in　beautiful　and　strong　English；　conferred　upon　me　the　degree　of　Master　of　Arts。　After　these　exercises　were　over；　those　who　had　received　honorary　degrees　were　invited　to　lunch　with　the　President。　After　the　lunch　we　were　formed　in　line　again；　and　were　escorted　by　the　Marshal　of　the　day；　who　that　year　happened　to　be　Bishop　William　Lawrence；　through　the　grounds；　where；　at　different　points；　those　who　had　been　honoured　were　called　by　name　and　received　the　Harvard　yell。　This　march　ended　at　Memorial　Hall；　where　the　alumni　dinner　was　served。　To　see　over　a　thousand　strong　men；　representing　all　that　is　best　in　State；　Church；　business；　and　education；　with　the　glow　and　enthusiasm　of　college　loyalty　and　college　pride；which　has；　I　think；　a　peculiar　Harvard　flavour；is　a　sight　that　does　not　easily　fade　from　memory。

Among　the　speakers　after　dinner　were　President　Eliot；　Governor　Roger　Wolcott；　General　Miles；　Dr。　Minot　J。　Savage；　the　Hon。　Henry　Cabot　Lodge；　and　myself。　When　I　was　called　upon；　I　said；　among　other　things：

It　would　in　some　measure　relieve　my　embarrassment　if　I　could；　even　in　a　slight　degree；　feel　myself　worthy　of　the　great　honour　which　you　do　me　to…day。　Why　you　have　called　me　from　the　Black　Belt　of　the　South；　from　among　my　humble　people；　to　share　in　the　honours　of　this　occasion；　is　not