opened the door and gently closed it, noiselessly and without a word. I
have never since forgotten the proper way in which to open and close
doors. Little details are big essentials in the rounding out of
character. They show the influence of the "Tuskegee spirit." But, after
all, this spirit would not be so irresistible in its influence for good
if the teachers and officers of the institution were not the embodiment
and living example of it. Here, as elsewhere and everywhere, example is
more potent than precept.

Every institution has policies peculiarly its own. It is necessary that
every teacher and officer support that policy to make it effective.
Each instructor has a distinct individuality that becomes a part of the
student, in smaller or greater degree, and at the same time gives force
and strength to the policies of the institution. Though I felt the
influence of every one of the thirty-odd teachers then at Tuskegee, the
individuality of some of these made a very great impression on me. I
remember Mr. W. D. Wilson as a very quiet and effective disciplinarian.
Mr. Warren Logan, the treasurer, has the ability to teach the student
the value of a dollar by making him sacrifice almost beyond the point of
endurance. At the same time, with a smile and a cheerful disposition, he
would make the student feel that his burden was light. Through the
kindness and special interest manifested in me by Mr. M. T. Driver, who
was in charge of wheelwrighting and blacksmithing, I made rapid progress
at my trade. Miss Adella H. Hunt, who has since become the wife of
Treasurer Logan, was then a teacher who had the faculty of touching a
responsive chord in a student. Mrs. Booker T. Washington, then Miss
Margaret J. Murray, impressed me very much. Strong and resourceful in
dealing with students, she always won the best that was in them. My
student-days were almost at an end when she came to Tuskegee.

[Illustration: STUDENTS CANNING FRUIT.]

I shall ever feel grateful to Mr. J. H. Washington for the encouragement
he gave me. Being superintendent of industries, he was then, as he is
now, in constant touch with every male student. He is a believer in, and
a firm advocate of, steady, thorough, earnest work, and is quick to see,
appreciate, and encourage the smallest degree of ability shown by any
student. No time seemed too valuable for him to give in trying to
advance a student in his work. I might add here that the teachers here
n