In 1893 I was married to Miss Margaret James Murray, a native ofMississippi, and a graduate of Fisk University, in Nashville,Tenn., who had come to Tuskegee as a teacher several yearsbefore, and at the time we were married was filling the positionof Lady Principal. Not only is Mrs. Washington completely onewith me in the work directly connected with the school, relievingme of many burdens and perplexities, but aside from her work onthe school grounds, she carries on a mothers' meeting in the townof Tuskegee, and a plantation work among the women, children, andmen who live in a settlement connected with a large plantationabout eight miles from Tuskegee. Both the mothers' meeting andthe plantation work are carried on, not only with a view tohelping those who are directly reached, but also for the purposeof furnishing object-lessons in these two kinds of work that maybe followed by our students when they go out into the world fortheir own life-work.Aside from these two enterprises, Mrs. Washington is also largelyresponsible for a woman's club at the school which bringstogether, twice a month, the women who live on the school groundsand those who live near, for the discussion of some importanttopic. She is also the President of what is known as theFederation of Southern Coloured Women's Clubs, and is Chairman ofthe Executive Committee of the National Federation of ColouredWomen's Clubs.Portia, the oldest of my three children, has learned dressmaking.She has unusual ability in instrumental music. Aside from herstudies at Tuskegee, she has already begun to teach there.Booker Taliaferro is my next oldest child. Young as he is, he hasalready nearly mastered the brickmason's trade. He began workingat this trade when he was quite small, dividing his time betweenthis and class work; and he has developed great skill in thetrade and a fondness for it. He says that he is going to be anarchitect and brickmason. One of the most satisfactory lettersthat I have ever received from any one came to me from Bookerlast summer. When I left home for the summer, I told him that hemust work at his trade half of each day, and that the other halfof the day he could spend as he pleased. When I had been awayfrom home two weeks, I received the following letter from him:Tuskegee, Alabama.My dear Papa: Before you left home you told me to work at mytrade half of each day. I like my work so much that I want towork at my trade all day. Besides, I want to earn all the money Ican, so that when I go to another school I shall have money topay my expenses.Your son,Booker.My youngest child, Earnest Davidson Washington, says that he isgoing to be a physician. In addition to going to school, where hestudies books and has manual training, he regularly spends aportion of his time in the office of our resident physician, andhas already learned to do many of the studies which pertain to adoctor's office.The thing in my life which brings me the keenest regret is thatmy work in connection with public affairs keeps me for so much ofthe time away from my family, where, of all places in the world,I delight to be. I always envy the individual whose life-work isso laid that he can spend his evenings at home. I have sometimesthought that people who have this rare privilege do notappreciate it as they should. It is such a rest and relief to getaway from crowds of people, and handshaking, and travelling, toget home, even if it be for but a very brief while.Another thing at Tuskegee out of which I get a great deal ofpleasure and satisfaction is in the meeting with our students,and teachers, and their families, in the chapel for devotionalexercises every evening at half-past eight, the last thing beforeretiring for the night. It is an inspiring sight when one standson the platform there and sees before him eleven or twelvehundred earnest young men and women; and one cannot but feel thatit is a privilege to help to guide them to a higher and moreuseful life.In the spring of 1899 there came to me what I might describe asalmost the greatest surprise of my life. Some good ladies inBoston arranged a public meeting in the interests of Tuskegee, tobe held in the Hollis Street Theatre. This meeting was attendedby large numbers of the best people of Boston, of both races.Bishop Lawrence presided. In addition to an address made bymyself, Mr. Paul Lawrence Dunbar read from his poems, and Dr.W.E.B. Du Bois read an original sketch.Some of those who attended this meeting noticed that I seemedunusually tired, and some little time after the close of themeeting, one of the ladies who had been interested in it asked mein a casual way if I had ever been to Europe. I replied that Inever had. She asked me if I had ever thought of going, and Itold her no; that it was something entirely beyond me. Thisconversation soon passed out of my mind, but a few days afterwardI was informed that some friends in Boston, including Mr. FrancisJ. Garrison, had raised a sum of money sufficient to pay all theexpenses of Mrs. Washington and myself during a three or fourmonths' trip to Europe. It was added with emphasis that we mustgo. A year previous to this Mr. Garrison had attempted to get meto promise to go to Europe for a summer's rest, with theunderstanding that he would be responsible for raising the moneyamong his friends for the expenses of the trip. At that time sucha journey seemed so entirely foreign to anything that I shouldever be able to undertake that I did confess I did not give thematter very serious attention; but later Mr. Garrison joined hisefforts to those of the ladies whom I have mentioned, and whentheir plans were made known to me Mr. Garrison not only had theroute mapped out, but had, I believe, selected the steamer uponwhich we were to sail.The whole thing was so sudden and so unexpected that I wascompletely taken off my feet. I had been at work steadily foreighteen years in connection with Tuskegee, and I had neverthought of anything else but ending my life in that way. Each daythe school seemed to depend upon me more largely for its dailyexpenses, and I told these Boston friends that, while I thankedthem sincerely for their thoughtfulness and generosity, I couldnot go to Europe, for the reason that the school could not livefinancially while I was absent. They then informed me that Mr.Henry L. Higginson, and some other good friends who I know do notwant their names made public, were then raising a sum of moneywhich would be sufficient to keep the school in operation while Iwas away. At this point I was compelled to surrender. Everyavenue of escape had been closed.Deep down in my heart the whole thing seemed more like a dreamthan like reality, and for a long time it was difficult for me tomake myself believe that I was actually going to Europe. I hadbeen born and largely reared in the lowest depths of slavery,ignorance, and poverty. In my childhood I had suffered for wantof a place to sleep, for lack of food, clothing, and shelter. Ihad not had the privilege of sitting down to a dining-table untilI was quite well grown. Luxuries had always seemed to me to besomething meant for white people, not for my race. I had alwaysregarded Europe, and London, and Paris, much as I regardedheaven. And now could it be that I was actually going to Europe?Such thoughts as these were constantly with me.Two other thoughts troubled me a good deal. I feared that peoplewho heard that Mrs. Washington and I were going to Europe mightnot know all the circumstances, and might get the idea that wehad become, as some might say, "stuck up," and were trying to"show off." I recalled that from my youth I had heard it saidthat too often, when people of my race reached any degree ofsuccess, they were inclined to unduly exalt themselves; to tryand ape the wealthy, and in so doing to lose their heads. Thefear that people might think this of us haunted me a good deal.Then, too, I could not see how my conscience would permit me tospare the time from my work and be happy. It seemed mean andselfish in me to be taking a vacation while others were at work,and while there was so much that needed to be done. From the timeI could remember, I had always been at work, and I did not seehow I could spend three or four months in doing nothing. The factwas that I did not know how to take a vacation.Mrs. Washington had much the same difficulty in getting away, butshe was anxious to go because she thought that I needed the rest.There were many important National questions bearing upon thelife of the race which were being agitated at that time, and thismade it all the harder for us to decide to go. We finally gaveour Boston friends our promise that we would go, and then theyinsisted that the date of our departure be set as soon aspossible. So we decided upon May 10. My good friend Mr. Garrisonkindly took charge of all the details necessary for the successof the trip, and he, as well as other friends, gave us a greatnumber of letters of introduction to people in France andEngland, and made other arrangements for our comfort andconvenience abroad. Good-bys were said at Tuskegee, and we werein New York May 9, ready to sail the next day. Our daughterPortia, who was then studying in South Framingham, Mass., came toNew York to see us off. Mr. Scott, my secretary, came with me toNew York, in order that I might clear up the last bit of businessbefore I left. Other friends also came to New York to see us off.Just before we went on board the steamer another pleasantsurprise came to us in the form of a letter from two generousladies, stating that they had decided to give us the money withwhich to erect a new building to be used in properly housing allour industries for girls at Tuskegee.We were to sail on the Friesland, of the Red Star Line, and abeautiful vessel she was. We went on board just before noon, thehour of sailing. I had never before been on board a large oceansteamer, and the feeling which took possession of me when I foundmyself there is rather hard to describe. It was a feeling, Ithink, of awe mingled with delight. We were agreeably surprisedto find that the captain, as well as several of the otherofficers, not only knew who we were, but was expecting us andgave us a pleasant greeting. There were several passengers whomwe knew, including Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, and EdwardMarshall, the newspaper correspondent. I had just a little fearthat we would not be treated civilly by some of the passengers.This fear was based upon what I had heard other people of myrace, who had crossed the ocean, say about unpleasant experiencesin crossing the ocean in American vessels. But in our case, fromthe captain down to the most humble servant, we were treated withthe greatest kindness. Nor was this kindness confined to thosewho were connected with the steamer; it was shown by all thepassengers also. There were not a few Southern men and women onboard, and they were as cordial as those from other parts of thecountry.As soon as the last good-bys were said, and the steamer had cutloose from the wharf, the load of care, anxiety, andresponsibility which I had carried for eighteen years began tolift itself from my shoulders at the rate, it seemed to me, of apound a minute. It was the first time in all those years that Ihad felt, even in a measure, free from care; and my feeling ofrelief it is hard to describe on paper. Added to this was thedelightful anticipation of being in Europe soon. It all seemedmore like a dream than like a reality.Mr. Garrison had thoughtfully arranged to have us have one of themost comfortable rooms on the ship. The second or third day out Ibegan to sleep, and I think that I slept at the rate of fifteenhours a day during the remainder of the ten days' passage. Thenit was that I began to understand how tired I really was. Theselong sleeps I kept up for a month after we landed on the otherside. It was such an unusual feeling to wake up in the morningand realize that I had no engagements; did not have to take atrain at a certain hour; did not have an appointment to meet someone, or to make an address, at a certain hour. How different allthis was from the experiences that I have been through whentravelling, when I have sometimes slept in three different bedsin a single night!When Sunday came, the captain invited me to conduct the religiousservices, but, not being a minister, I declined. The passengers,however, began making requests that I deliver an address to themin the dining-saloon some time during the voyage, and this Iconsented to do. Senator Sewell presided at this meeting. Afterten days of delightful weather, during which I was not seasickfor a day, we landed at the interesting old city of Antwerp, inBelgium.The next day after we landed happened to be one of thosenumberless holidays which the people of those countries are inthe habit of observing. It was a bright, beautiful day. Our roomin the hotel faced the main public square, and the sightsthere--the people coming in from the country with all kinds ofbeautiful flowers to sell, the women coming in with their dogsdrawing large, brightly polished cans filled with milk, thepeople streaming into the cathedral--filled me with a sense ofnewness that I had never before experienced.After spending some time in Antwerp, we were invited to go with apart of a half-dozen persons on a trip through Holland. Thisparty included Edward Marshall and some American artists who hadcome over on the same steamer with us. We accepted theinvitation, and enjoyed the trip greatly. I think it was all themore interesting and instructive because we went for most of theway on one of the slow, old-fashioned canal-boats. This gave usan opportunity of seeing and studying the real life of the peoplein the country districts. We went in this way as far asRotterdam, and later went to The Hague, where the PeaceConference was then in session, and where we were kindly receivedby the American representatives.The thing that impressed itself most on me in Holland was thethoroughness of the agriculture and the excellence of theHolstein cattle. I never knew, before visiting Holland, how muchit 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 wortha trip to Holland, too, just to get a sight of three or fourhundred fine Holstein cows grazing in one of those intenselygreen fields.From Holland we went to Belgium, and made a hasty trip throughthat country, stopping at Brussels, where we visited thebattlefield 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 forus. We had barely got settled in Paris before an invitation cameto me from the University Club of Paris to be its guest at abanquet which was soon to be given. The other guests wereex-President Benjamin Harrison and Archbishop Ireland, who werein Paris at the time. The American Ambassador, General HoracePorter, presided at the banquet. My address on this occasionseemed to give satisfaction to those who heard it. GeneralHarrison kindly devoted a large portion of his remarks at dinnerto myself and to the influence of the work at Tuskegee on theAmerican race question. After my address at this banquet otherinvitations came to me, but I declined the most of them, knowingthat if I accepted them all, the object of my visit would bedefeated. I did, however, consent to deliver an address in theAmerican chapel the following Sunday morning, and at this meetingGeneral Harrison, General Porter, and other distinguishedAmericans were present.Later we received a formal call from the American Ambassador, andwere invited to attend a reception at his residence. At thisreception we met many Americans, among them Justices Fuller andHarlan, of the United States Supreme Court. During our entirestay of a month in Paris, both the American Ambassador and hiswife, as well as several other Americans, were very kind to us.While in Paris we saw a good deal of the now famous AmericanNegro painter, Mr. Henry O. Tanner, whom we had formerly known inAmerica. It was very satisfactory to find how well known Mr.Tanner was in the field of art, and to note the high standingwhich all classes accorded to him. When we told some Americansthat we were going to the Luxembourg Palace to see a painting byan American Negro, it was hard to convince them that a Negro hadbeen thus honoured. I do not believe that they were reallyconvinced of the fact until they saw the picture for themselves.My acquaintance with Mr. Tanner reenforced in my mind the truthwhich I am constantly trying to impress upon our students atTuskegee--and on our people throughout the country, as far as Ican reach them with my voice--that any man, regardless of colour,will be recognized and rewarded just in proportion as he learnsto do something well--learns to do it better than some oneelse--however humble the thing may be. As I have said, I believethat my race will succeed in proportion as it learns to do acommon thing in an uncommon manner; learns to do a thing sothoroughly that no one can improve upon what it has done; learnsto make its services of indispensable value. This was the spiritthat inspired me in my first effort at Hampton, when I was giventhe opportunity to sweep and dust that schoolroom. In a degree Ifelt that my whole future life depended upon the thoroughnesswith which I cleaned that room, and I was determined to do it sowell that no one could find any fault with the job. Few peopleever stopped, I found, when looking at his pictures, to inquirewhether Mr. Tanner was a Negro painter, a French painter, or aGerman painter. They simply knew that he was able to producesomething which the world wanted--a great painting--and thematter of his colour did not enter into their minds. When a Negrogirl learns to cook, to wash dishes, to sew, or write a book, ora Negro boy learns to groom horses, or to grow sweet potatoes, orto produce butter, or to build a house, or to be able to practisemedicine, as well or better than some one else, they will berewarded regardless of race or colour. In the long run, the worldis going to have the best, and any difference in race, religion,or previous history will not long keep the world from what itwants.I think that the whole future of my race hinges on the questionas to whether or not it can make itself of such indispensiblevalue that the people in the town and the state where we residewill feel that our presence is necessary to the happiness andwell-being of the community. No man who continues to addsomething to the material, intellectual, and moral well-being ofthe 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 largemeasure to possess the French people impressed itself upon me. Ithink they are more noted in this respect than is true of thepeople of my own race. In point of morality and moral earnestnessI do not believe that the French are ahead of my own race inAmerica. Severe competition and the great stress of life have ledthem to learn to do things more thoroughly and to exercisegreater economy; but time, I think, will bring my race to thesame point. In the matter of truth and high honour I do notbelieve that the average Frenchman is ahead of the AmericanNegro; while so far as mercy and kindness to dumb animals go, Ibelieve that my race is far ahead. In fact, when I left France, Ihad more faith in the future of the black man in America than Ihad ever possessed.From Paris we went to London, and reached there early in July,just about the height of the London social season. Parliament wasin session, and there was a great deal of gaiety. Mr. Garrisonand other friends had provided us with a large number of lettersof introduction, and they had also sent letters to other personsin different parts of the United Kingdom, apprising these peopleof our coming. Very soon after reaching London we were floodedwith invitations to attend all manner of social functions, and agreat many invitations came to me asking that I deliver publicaddresses. The most of these invitations I declined, for thereason that I wanted to rest. Neither were we able to accept morethan a small proportion of the other invitations. The Rev. Dr.Brooke Herford and Mrs. Herford, whom I had known in Boston,consulted with the American Ambassador, the Hon. Joseph Choate,and arranged for me to speak at a public meeting to be held inEssex Hall. Mr. Choate kindly consented to preside. The meetingwas largely attended. There were many distinguished personspresent, among them several members of Parliament, including Mr.James Bryce, who spoke at the meeting. What the AmericanAmbassador said in introducing me, as well as a synopsis of whatI said, was widely published in England and in the Americanpapers at the time. Dr. and Mrs. Herford gave Mrs. Washington andmyself a reception, at which we had the privilege of meeting someof the best people in England. Throughout our stay in LondonAmbassador Choate was most kind and attentive to us. At theAmbassador's reception I met, for the first time, Mark Twain.We were the guests several times of Mrs. T. Fisher Unwin, thedaughter of the English statesman, Richard Cobden. It seemed asif both Mr. and Mrs. Unwin could not do enough for our comfortand happiness. Later, for nearly a week, we were the guests ofthe daughter of John Bright, now Mrs. Clark, of Street, England.Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark, with their daughter, visited us atTuskegee the next year. In Birmingham, England, we were theguests for several days of Mr. Joseph Sturge, whose father was agreat abolitionist and friend of Whittier and Garrison. It was agreat privilege to meet throughout England those who had knownand honoured the late William Lloyd Garrison, the Hon. FrederickDouglass, and other abolitionists. The English abolitionists withwhom we came in contact never seemed to tire of talking aboutthese two Americans. Before going to England I had had no properconception of the deep interest displayed by the abolitionists ofEngland in the cause of freedom, nor did I realize the amount ofsubstantial help given by them.In Bristol, England, both Mrs. Washington and I spoke at theWomen's Liberal Club. I was also the principal speaker at theCommencement exercises of the Royal College for the Blind. Theseexercises were held in the Crystal Palace, and the presidingofficer was the late Duke of Westminster, who was said to be, Ibelieve, the richest man in England, if not in the world. TheDuke, as well as his wife and their daughter, seemed to bepleased with what I said, and thanked me heartily. Through thekindness of Lady Aberdeen, my wife and I were enabled to go witha party of those who were attending the International Congress ofWomen, then in session in London, to see Queen Victoria, atWindsor Castle, where, afterward, we were all the guests of herMajesty at tea. In our party was Miss Susan B. Anthony, and I wasdeeply impressed with the fact that one did not often get anopportunity to see, during the same hour, two women so remarkablein different ways as Susan B. Anthony and Queen Victoria.In the House of Commons, which we visited several times, we metSir Henry M. Stanley. I talked with him about Africa and itsrelation to the American Negro, and after my interview with him Ibecame more convinced than ever that there was no hope of theAmerican Negro's improving his condition by emigrating to Africa.On various occasions Mrs. Washington and I were the guests ofEnglishmen in their country homes, where, I think, one sees theEnglishman at his best. In one thing, at least, I feel sure thatthe English are ahead of Americans, and that is, that they havelearned how to get more out of life. The home life of the Englishseems to me to be about as perfect as anything can be. Everythingmoves like clockwork. I was impressed, too, with the deferencethat the servants show to their "masters" and"mistresses,"--terms which I suppose would not be tolerated inAmerica. The English servant expects, as a rule, to be nothingbut a servant, and so he perfects himself in the art to a degreethat no class of servants in America has yet reached. In ourcountry the servant expects to become, in a few years, a "master"himself. Which system is preferable? I will not venture ananswer.Another thing that impressed itself upon me throughout Englandwas the high regard that all classes have for law and order, andthe ease and thoroughness with which everything is done. TheEnglishmen, I found, took plenty of time for eating, as foreverything else. I am not sure if, in the long run, they do notaccomplish as much or more than rushing, nervous Americans do.My visit to England gave me a higher regard for the nobility thanI had had. I had no idea that they were so generally loved andrespected by the classes, nor that I any correct conception ofhow much time and money they spent in works of philanthropy, andhow much real heart they put into this work. My impression hadbeen that they merely spent money freely and had a "good time."It was hard for me to get accustomed to speaking to Englishaudiences. The average Englishman is so serious, and is sotremendously in earnest about everything, that when I told astory that would have made an American audience roar withlaughter, the Englishmen simply looked me straight in the facewithout even cracking a smile.When the Englishman takes you into his heart and friendship, hebinds you there as with cords of steel, and I do not believe thatthere are many other friendships that are so lasting or sosatisfactory. Perhaps I can illustrate this point in no betterway than by relating the following incident. Mrs. Washington andI were invited to attend a reception given by the Duke andDuchess of Sutherland, at Stafford House--said to be the finesthouse in London; I may add that I believe the Duchess ofSutherland is said to be the most beautiful woman in England.There must have been at least three hundred persons at thisreception. Twice during the evening the Duchess sought us out fora conversation, and she asked me to write her when we got home,and tell her more about the work at Tuskegee. This I did. WhenChristmas came we were surprised and delighted to receive herphotograph with her autograph on it. The correspondence hascontinued, and we now feel that in the Duchess of Sutherland wehave one of our warmest friends.After three months in Europe we sailed from Southampton in thesteamship St. Louis. On this steamer there was a fine librarythat had been presented to the ship by the citizens of St. Louis,Mo. In this library I found a life of Frederick Douglass, which Ibegan reading. I became especially interested in Mr. Douglass'sdescription of the way he was treated on shipboard during hisfirst or second visit to England. In this description he told howhe was not permitted to enter the cabin, but had to confinehimself to the deck of the ship. A few minutes after I hadfinished reading this description I was waited on by a committeeof ladies and gentlemen with the request that I deliver anaddress at a concert which was to begin the following evening.And yet there are people who are bold enough to say that racefeeling in America is not growing less intense! At this concertthe Hon. Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., the present governor of NewYork, presided. I was never given a more cordial hearinganywhere. A large proportion of the passengers with Southernpeople. After the concert some of the passengers proposed that asubscription be raised to help the work at Tuskegee, and themoney to support several scholarships was the result.While we were in Paris I was very pleasantly surprised to receivethe following invitation from the citizens of West Virginia andof the city near which I had spent my boyhood days:--Charleston, W. Va., May 16, 1899.Professor Booker T. Washington, Paris, France:Dear Sir: Many of the best citizens of West Virginia have unitedin liberal expressions of admiration and praise of your worth andwork, and desire that on your return from Europe you shouldfavour them with your presence and with the inspiration of yourwords. We must sincerely indorse this move, and on behalf of thecitizens of Charleston extend to your our most cordial invitationto have you come to us, that we may honour you who have done somuch by your life and work to honour us.We are,Very truly yours,The Common Council of the City of Charleston,By W. Herman Smith, Mayor.This invitation from the City Council of Charleston wasaccompanied by the following:--Professor Booker T. Washington, Paris, France:Dear Sir: We, the citizens of Charleston and West Virginia,desire to express our pride in you and the splendid career thatyou have thus far accomplished, and ask that we be permitted toshow our pride and interest in a substantial way.Your recent visit to your old home in our midst awoke within usthe keenest regret that we were not permitted to hear you andrender some substantial aid to your work, before you left forEurope.In view of the foregoing, we earnestly invite you to share thehospitality of our city upon your return from Europe, and give usthe opportunity to hear you and put ourselves in touch with yourwork in a way that will be most gratifying to yourself, and thatwe may receive the inspiration of your words and presence.An early reply to this invitation, with an indication of the timeyou may reach our city, will greatly oblige,Yours very respectfully,The Charleston Daily Gazette, The Daily Mail-Tribune; G.W.Atkinson, Governor; E.L. Boggs, Secretary to Governor; Wm. M.O.Dawson, Secretary of State; L.M. La Follette, Auditor; J.R.Trotter, Superintendent of Schools; E.W. Wilson, ex-Governor;W.A. MacCorkle, ex-Governor; John Q. Dickinson, President KanawhaValley Bank; L. Prichard, President Charleston National Bank;Geo. S. Couch, President Kanawha National Bank; Ed. Reid, CashierKanawha National Bank; Geo. S. Laidley, Superintended CitySchools; L.E. McWhorter, President Board of Education; Chas. K.Payne, wholesale merchant; and many others.This invitation, coming as it did from the City Council, thestate officers, and all the substantial citizens of both races ofthe community where I had spent my boyhood, and from which I hadgone a few years before, unknown, in poverty and ignorance, inquest of an education, not only surprised me, but almost unmannedme. I could not understand what I had done to deserve it all.I accepted the invitation, and at the appointed day was met atthe railway station at Charleston by a committee headed byex-Governor W.A. MacCorkle, and composed of men of both races.The public reception was held in the Opera-House at Charleston.The Governor of the state, the Hon. George W. Atkinson, presided,and an address of welcome was made by ex-Governor MacCorkle. Aprominent part in the reception was taken by the colouredcitizens. The Opera-House was filled with citizens of both races,and among the white people were many for whom I had worked when Iwas a boy. The next day Governor and Mrs. Atkinson gave me apublic reception at the State House, which was attended by allclasses.Not long after this the coloured people in Atlanta, Georgia, gaveme a reception at which the Governor of the state presided, and asimilar reception was given me in New Orleans, which was presidedover by the Mayor of the city. Invitations came from many otherplaces which I was not able to accept.