BOUND TO SUCCEED

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 40.

Here is a letter from a Tuskegee pupil in the Southern Letter—Booker Washington’s paper—of August. It reveals a splendid spirit of energy and sacrifice, and if coupled with humility and wisdom is bound to succeed.

“Louisville, Ala., May 15, 1902.

Dear Teacher: I began teaching here October 14 of last year. The attendance at my school has surpassed that of any school hereabouts. I have 160 pupils in attendance and am assisted in my teaching by my wife and by a young woman, an ex-student of Tuskegee. My greatest need here is a schoolhouse with plenty of room. I am working in that direction. I have purchased a location for the building and want to begin the erection as soon as I can get something ahead. My salary is about fifteen dollars a month. This is very little, but I want to build up the school, and so I am going to stick to it. I hold local Negro conferences, and do all I can to help the farmers of this section. You may not have time to write, but if you will sometimes remember that I am doing all I can to exemplify the Tuskegee spirit, it will be some consolation. G. W. McRae.”

Such a spirit is worth upholding. May God bless the work of Booker Washington and all others working for the elevation of the colored people; and for the matter of that, of any people.