the people had been so often deceived and hoodwinked by
political demagogues and supposed race leaders, that they had no
confidence in any one. But I made a start and opened school in an old
public school building with seven students and fifteen cents in cash. As
the people had no confidence in me, it was hard for me to increase my
enrollment, but I continued to labor with them on the streets and in the
churches until I gradually won their respect. Then we started the
erection of a new school building and from that day until now, both
white and black have taken the deepest interest in the work and we now
have the absolute confidence of all the people.

"The work has constantly grown from year to year and results have been
obtained. From one teacher, seven students and fifteen cents in cash,
thirteen years ago, the institution now has fourteen teachers, upwards
of four hundred students from all over North Carolina, Virginia, South
Carolina and Georgia, and counting land, livestock, five large and three
small buildings, it has a property valuation of $30,000 all free of
debt. Each year our teachers are selected from some of the best schools
of the South; such as Tuskegee Institute, Shaw University, Snow Hill
Institute, Claflin University, Benedict College, etc. Eight industries
are taught, consisting of farming, blacksmithing, wheelwrighting,
sewing, laundering, printing, domestic science and home nursing.

"We are kept in immediate need of money for current and building
expenses, but we are going on accomplishing results with what we have at
hand. Boys and girls are being sent out each year to work among their
fellows. These young men and women are reaching the masses and as a
result, the moral tone of the people is being aroused to the
contemplation of higher ideals and they are at last becoming serious as
to the sober side of life. Excursions, parties and a good time generally
are slowly but surely being relegated to the rear. Our farmers are
studying how to become better farmers and in all walks of life, we are
improving in workshop and the various industries.

"Verily, the school room is doing much in awakening the dormant energies
of the Negro for good. In fact, the school's influence is helping the
people generally. Where there were ignorance and indifference, now we
have a fair measure of intelligence and thrift. The people are buying
homes and property, and in many ways showing signs of aspiration.

"We have