aries mean something more substantial to the school
than they had meant. So long before our time came, I wrote the members
of my class telling them that it should be our aim to give Tuskegee
$1000 at our Anniversary. They readily agreed with me and the class set
itself to the task of raising the $1000. This was done because we felt
that the time had come for the graduates to give more substantial aid to
their Alma-Mater, and as a stimulus to those who are to follow. I think
in a small way it has served that purpose, because these class
anniversary donations have never been less than $500 since that date.

[Illustration: A NEWER TYPE OF HOME IN THE BLACK BELT]

I think of all the talks I have ever made, none have given me the real
joy that this one gave. I feel that this was true for the reason that
this was a giving talk rather than a receiving one. The address is also
given in the appendix.

CHAPTER 10.

ORIGIN OF THE JEANES FUND.

In the fall of 1902 I received a letter from Dr. Washington requesting
me to speak at a meeting in Philadelphia in the interest of Tuskegee.
Miss Cornelia Bowen, also a graduate of Tuskegee, was asked to speak at
the same meeting. We both accepted. During my stay in the city Mr. Henry
C. Davis, a trustee of Tuskegee at the time, gave me a letter of
introduction to Miss Anna T. Jeanes, a wealthy woman who seldom gave to
schools as large as Tuskegee and Hampton, but who would, in all
probability, be interested in my school.

In going to Miss Jeanes's home on Arch Street I had many apprehensions
but I found her very cordial and deeply interested in the welfare of my
people. I told her of my struggle to get an education and how, after
finishing at Tuskegee I had returned to my home in Alabama. I described
the condition of the public schools in the rural districts. She gave
keen interest to this part of my story. Finally, she asked me if I was
aiming to build a large school such as Tuskegee or Hampton. I told her
that I had no such idea; that I only wanted to build a school that could
properly care for three or four hundred students, and try as best I
could to help the little schools throughout that section. When I
returned to Snow Hill I found a check from her for five thousand dollars
for the work at Snow Hill.

Each year after this Miss Jeanes gave me from $300 to $2000 for the work
at Snow Hill. Finally, in the fall of 1906 when she had moved to the
home in Germantown whic