address, I went through it, as I usually do with all those utterances
which I consider particularly important, with Mrs. Washington, and she
approved of what I intended to say. On the sixteenth of September, the
day before I was to start for Atlanta, so many of the Tuskegee teachers
expressed a desire to hear my address that I consented to read it to
them in a body. When I had done so, and had heard their criticisms and
comments, I felt somewhat relieved, since they seemed to think well of
what I had to say.

In the course of the journey from Tuskegee to Atlanta both coloured and
white people came to the train to point me out, and discussed with
perfect freedom, in my hearing, what was going to take place the next
day. We were met by a committee in Atlanta. Almost the first thing I
heard when I got off the train in that city was an expression something
like this, from an old coloured man near by: "Dat's de man of my race
what's gwine to make a speech at de Exposition to-morrow. I'se sho'
gwine to hear him."

Atlanta was literally packed, at the time, with people from all parts
of the country, and with representatives of foreign governments, as
well as with military and civic organizations. The afternoon papers
had forecasts of the next day's proceedings in flaring headlines. All
this tended to add to my burden. I did not sleep much that night. The
next morning, before day, I went carefully over what I intended to say.
I also kneeled down and asked God's blessing upon my effort. Right
here, perhaps, I ought to add that I make it a rule never to go before
an audience, on any occasion, without asking the blessing of God upon
what I want to say. . . .

Early in the morning a committee called to escort me to my place in the
procession which was to march to the Exposition grounds.

The procession was about three hours in reaching the Exposition
grounds, and during all of this time the sun was shining down upon us
disagreeably hot. When we reached the grounds, the heat, together with
my nervous anxiety, made me feel as if I were about ready to collapse,
and to feel that my address was not going to be a success. When I
entered the audience-room, I found it packed with humanity from bottom
to top, and there were thousands outside who could not get in.

The room was very large, and well suited to public speaking. When I
entered the room, there were vigorous cheers from the coloured portion
of the audience, and