Another
Chicago crank had a scheme by which he wanted me to join him in
an effort to close up all the National banks in the country. If
that was done, he felt sure it would put the Negro on his feet.
The number of people who stand ready to consume one's time, to no
purpose, is almost countless. At one time I spoke before a large
audience in Boston in the evening. The next morning I was
awakened by having a card brought to my room, and with it a
message that some one was anxious to see me. Thinking that it
must be something very important, I dressed hastily and went
down. When I reached the hotel office I found a blank and
innocent-looking individual waiting for me, who coolly remarked:
"I heard you talk at a meeting last night. I rather liked your
talk, and so I came in this morning to hear you talk some more."
I am often asked how it is possible for me to superintend the
work at Tuskegee and at the same time be so much away from the
school. In partial answer to this I would say that I think I have
learned, in some degree at least, to disregard the old maxim
which says, "Do not get others to do that which you can do
yourself." My motto, on the other hand, is, "Do not do that which
others can do as well."
One of the most encouraging signs in connection with the Tuskegee
school is found in the fact that the organization is so thorough
that the daily work of the school is not dependent upon the
presence of any one individual.
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