nd Southern. One of its very best and most helpful supporters
and friends is a Southern white man who has helped it in ways
innumerable, and has backed it when the courage of all of us has all but
faltered.

By precept and example the school is helping the black masses of rural
South Carolina to help themselves. The work we do is far different from
that done by any other school in the State; we provide the way for our
students, as at Tuskegee, because of their poverty, to work on the farm
and in the shops during the day and attend school at night. Without this
help most of them would be without any chance to attend school. Our
students are learning to dignify labor. None have yet graduated, as our
school is young and most of those who come to us can not read or write a
word. They are wofully ignorant, but so willing to learn, so earnest,
and so persevering.

During the last school year, 1903-'04, we received from all sources
$18,310.43. This will give some idea as to the scope and importance of
our work, and of my work in disbursing this large sum as the treasurer
of the school.

Our present property valuation is $25,000, and consists of 300 acres of
land, 3 large buildings, a large barn, a schoolhouse for primary
children, 4 cottages, an industrial building, 10 mules, 6 horses, 30
cows, 3 wagons, 3 buggies, etc., all free from indebtedness of any
character. We stay out of debt; that for which we can not pay we do
without.

We afford instruction in the following industries: Farming in its
various branches, shoemaking, carpentry, cooking, sewing, housekeeping,
laundering, millinery in a small way, printing, and blacksmithing.

The training received at Tuskegee has been of so much help to me since
leaving there. I made up my mind after graduation that I would urge my
parents and relatives to cease paying five and six bales of cotton each
year for rent, and instead take the same amount of cotton and buy a
place of their own. I am glad to say, through my efforts in this regard,
they have been placed on a tract of 160 acres of good land, and it is
practically paid for, they paying four bales of cotton a year. They are
doing well and are making something for themselves. This project seemed
a little strange to them for the first two years, but they are now used
to it.

"He that hath a trade," saith Franklin, "hath an estate, and he that
hath a calling, hath a place and honor." Since being out in the world I
have learne