m work he no doubt was a chief agent in bringing
about this change. Thus early, although he was hardly more than a youth
himself, the future Professor of Tuskegee seems to have seen in what
direction lay his pathway of life. Rightly guided, and taught to turn
their energies and gifts to the best account, the negroes are a very
capable race; but it was being proved on every hand that when left to go
their own way without check or control they were liable to be captivated
by very high-flown notions. As legislators, poets, jurists, artists and
musicians their services were not pressingly in request; but in the
world of a hundred industries there were magnificent openings for all
who were adequately trained. It was fortunate both for himself and his
own people that Booker Washington saw his opportunity and determined
not to be diverted from it by any considerations of self-interest.

Under these conditions it was something like a special providence when
he received an urgent message from General Armstrong asking him to
revisit Hampton to address the students. It had become a custom for some
one of the graduates who had passed through the institution to undertake
this duty periodically, and the request was understood to be one of the
greatest of compliments. The request was, of course, gladly complied
with; and a revisit to the Institute showed that, under General
Armstrong's capable and sympathetic control, the all-round educational
work, and especially the industrial training, which was ever considered
to be of first importance, had made great progress. The General had a
quick eye to see where improvement could be introduced, and his energy
never flagged. Until that time the negro race had not had such a friend,
one who had a genius for seeing in what direction the coloured people
would find that their best interests lay. Thus early he also probably
saw that in his quondam pupil, Booker Washington, he had a comrade who
was in every way fitted to extend the great enterprise. Certain students
who had been prepared by this coloured tutor before being sent on to
Hampton, had done exceedingly well, and this suggested that operations
should be carried on in other directions.

It was characteristic of General Armstrong that he believed the American
Indians, in common with the negroes, were capable of being raised to a
condition of honour and usefulness by education and adequate training.
The institute at Hampton was specially int