When he visited the Negro Building in Atlanta
he seemed to give himself up wholly, for that hour, to the
coloured people. He seemed to be as careful to shake hands with
some old coloured "auntie" clad partially in rags, and to take as
much pleasure in doing so, as if he were greeting some
millionaire. Many of the coloured people took advantage of the
occasion to get him to write his name in a book or on a slip of
paper. He was as careful and patient in doing this as if he were
putting his signature to some great state document.
Mr. Cleveland has not only shown his friendship for me in many
personal ways, but has always consented to do anything I have
asked of him for our school. This he has done, whether it was to
make a personal donation or to use his influence in securing the
donations of others. Judging from my personal acquaintance with
Mr. Cleveland, I do not believe that he is conscious of
possessing any colour prejudice. He is too great for that. In my
contact with people I find that, as a rule, it is only the
little, narrow people who live for themselves, who never read
good books, who do not travel, who never open up their souls in a
way to permit them to come into contact with other souls--with
the great outside world. No man whose vision is bounded by colour
can come into contact with what is highest and best in the world.
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