Good-bys were said at Tuskegee, and we were
in New York May 9, ready to sail the next day. Our daughter
Portia, who was then studying in South Framingham, Mass., came to
New York to see us off. Mr. Scott, my secretary, came with me to
New York, in order that I might clear up the last bit of business
before I left. Other friends also came to New York to see us off.
Just before we went on board the steamer another pleasant
surprise came to us in the form of a letter from two generous
ladies, stating that they had decided to give us the money with
which to erect a new building to be used in properly housing all
our industries for girls at Tuskegee.
We were to sail on the Friesland, of the Red Star Line, and a
beautiful vessel she was. We went on board just before noon, the
hour of sailing. I had never before been on board a large ocean
steamer, and the feeling which took possession of me when I found
myself there is rather hard to describe. It was a feeling, I
think, of awe mingled with delight. We were agreeably surprised
to find that the captain, as well as several of the other
officers, not only knew who we were, but was expecting us and
gave us a pleasant greeting. There were several passengers whom
we knew, including Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, and Edward
Marshall, the newspaper correspondent.
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