and science and
all those things I had in my head, but they treated me about the same
as they did before. They didn't seem to care about the algebra,
history, and science that were in my head only. Those people never
even began to have confidence in me until we commenced to build a
large three-story brick building, and then another and another, until
now we have forty buildings which have been erected largely by the
labour of our students; and to-day we have the respect and confidence
of all the white people in that section.

There is an unmistakable influence that comes over a white man when he
sees a black man living in a two-story brick house that has been paid
for. I need not stop to explain. It is the tangible evidence of
prosperity. You know Thomas doubted the Saviour after he had risen
from the dead; and the Lord said to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger,
and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my
side." The tangible evidence convinced Thomas.

We began, soon after going to Tuskegee, the manufacture of bricks. We
also started a wheelwright establishment and the manufacture of good
wagons and buggies; and the white people came to our institution for
that kind of work. We also put in a printing plant, and did job
printing for the white people as well as for the blacks.

By having something that these people wanted, we came into contact
with them, and our interest became interlinked with their interest,
until to-day we have no warmer friends anywhere in the country than we
have among the white people of Tuskegee. We have found by experience
that the best way to get on well with people is to have something that
they want, and that is why we emphasise this Christian Industrial
Education.

Not long ago I heard a conversation among three white men something
like this. Two of them were berating the Negro, saying the Negro was
shiftless and lazy, and all that sort of thing. The third man
listened to their remarks for some time in silence, and then he said:
"I don't know what your experience has been; but there is a 'nigger'
down our way who owns a good house and lot with about fifty acres of
ground. His house is well furnished, and he has got some splendid
horses and cattle. He is intelligent and has a bank account. I don't
know how the 'niggers' are in your community, but Tobe Jones is a
gentleman. Once, when I was hard up, I went to Tobe Jones and borrowed
fifty dollars; and he hasn't aske