Time and time again he said to me,
during this visit, that it was not only the duty of the country
to assist in elevating the Negro of the South, but the poor white
man as well. At the end of his visit I resolved anew to devote
myself more earnestly than ever to the cause which was so near
his heart. I said that if a man in his condition was willing to
think, work, and act, I should not be wanting in furthering in
every possible way the wish of his heart.
The death of General Armstrong, a few weeks later, gave me the
privilege of getting acquainted with one of the finest, most
unselfish, and most attractive men that I have ever come in
contact with. I refer to the Rev. Dr. Hollis B. Frissell, now the
Principal of the Hampton Institute, and General Armstrong's
successor. Under the clear, strong, and almost perfect leadership
of Dr. Frissell, Hampton has had a career of prosperity and
usefulness that is all that the General could have wished for. It
seems to be the constant effort of Dr. Frissell to hide his own
great personality behind that of General Armstrong--to make
himself of "no reputation" for the sake of the cause.
More than once I have been asked what was the greatest surprise
that ever came to me. I have little hesitation in answering that
question.
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