We decided to call the proposed building
Alabama Hall, in honour of the state in which we were labouring.
Again Miss Davidson began making efforts to enlist the interest
and help of the coloured and white people in and near Tuskegee.
They responded willingly, in proportion to their means. The
students, as in the case of our first building, Porter Hall,
began digging out the dirt in order to allow the laying of the
foundations.
When we seemed at the end of our resources, so far as securing
money was concerned, something occurred which showed the
greatness of General Armstrong--something which proved how far he
was above the ordinary individual. When we were in the midst of
great anxiety as to where and how we were to get funds for the
new building, I received a telegram from General Armstrong asking
me if I could spend a month travelling with him through the
North, and asking me, if I could do so, to come to Hampton at
once. Of course I accepted General Armstrong's invitation, and
went to Hampton immediately. On arriving there I found that the
General had decided to take a quartette of singers through the
North, and hold meetings for a month in important cities, at
which meetings he and I were to speak. Imagine my surprise when
the General told me, further, that these meetings were to be
held, not in the interests of Hampton, but in the interests of
Tuskegee, and that the Hampton Institute was to be responsible
for all the expenses.
Pages:
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197